Black holes may be among the most mysterious phenomena in the universe, but innovations in astrophysics are bringing scientists ever closer to unlocking their secrets.

Princeton University physics professors Steven Gubser and Frans Pretorius review Einstein’s theories of relativity and what they say about the existence of black holes. They explain some of the fantastical properties of black holes, and discuss how recent findings from LIGO, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, may provide the first physical evidence of these extraordinary cosmic occurrences.

This Frontiers Lecture took place at the Museum’s Hayden Planetarium on December 11, 2017.

Read a full transcript of this podcast here: https://www.amnh.org/explore/news-blogs/podcasts/frontiers-lecture-demystifying-black-holes-with-steven-gubser-and-frans-pretorius

Subscribe to the Science@AMNH podcast on iTunes, Soundcloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Support for Hayden Planetarium Programs is provided by the Schaffner Family and the Horace W. Goldsmith Endowment Fund.