Black Hole Breakthroughs

Scientific discovery can happen in two ways: “Eureka!” moments of sudden understanding, where researchers glean unexpected insight into new phenomena. Or, a slower, less glamorous hunt for truth that happens day-after-day, for years. But both methods can lead to new understandings that pushes the field forward for future breakthroughs. In this episode: the sudden realization that led to the discovery of the first ever black hole, and another more methodical search for the moment that a star dies and a black hole is born. Guests: Jeremy Schnittman Paul Murdin Christopher Kochanek Image: Created by Jeremy Schnittman; a simulation of a black hole accretion disk, and also inspired by “Interstellar”.