New Books in Science Facing Infinity: Black Holes and Our Place on Earth
Nov 13, 2025
Dr. Jonas Enander, a science communicator and former cosmology researcher, dives into humanity’s long fascination with black holes, starting from John Michell’s 1783 hypothesis. He discusses how the first image of a black hole reignited interest in these cosmic wonders. Enander explains misconceptions, the science of black holes, and how their study linked to innovations like Wi-Fi. He also reflects on humanity's technical triumphs and failures in addressing climate change, prompting profound thoughts on our cosmic perspective and connection to these mysterious entities.
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Black Holes Are Places, Not Vacuum Cleaners
- A black hole is a place where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape.
- Black holes form when enough mass compresses into a small volume, making gravity 'gone wild.'
Local Gravity, Not Cosmic Vacuuming
- Black holes don't roam space sucking everything up; their influence is strong only nearby.
- If the Sun became a black hole of equal mass, planets would keep orbiting unchanged, just without light.
An 18th-Century Cleric Imagined Dark Stars
- John Michell, an 18th-century cleric, calculated that some stars could have escape velocities exceeding light speed.
- His 'dark stars' idea spread but faded as wave theories of light complicated the picture.
