ThoughtGallery.org > SciCafe: When Black Holes Collide

SciCafe: When Black Holes Collide

Black holes are one of the most intriguing phenomena in the universe. They form when stars die and collapse upon themselves, generating such a massive gravitational force that not even light can escape. They are dark against the dark sky. When black holes collide, the energy of the event generates intense gravitational waves. These waves were predicted by Einstein in his theories, but scientists have only recently been able to detect them experimentally. Monumental detectors have been able to record the “songs” of these gravitational waves from space. Barnard College professor and astronomer Janna Levin shares her scientific research on the first recordings of a gravitational wave from the collision of two black holes 1.3 billion years ago.

About the Speaker

Janna Levin is the Tow Professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University. She has contributed to an understanding of black holes, the cosmology of extra dimensions, and gravitational waves in the shape of spacetime. She is also director of sciences at Pioneer Works. Her previous books include How the Universe Got Its Spots and a novel, A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines, which won the PEN/Bingham Prize. She was recently named a Guggenheim Fellow. Her latest book, Black Hole Blues and Other Songs from Outer Space, is the inside story on the discovery of the century: the sound of spacetime ringing from the collision of two black holes over a billion years ago.











When: Wed., Dec. 7, 2016 at 7:00 pm
Where: American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
212-769-5100
Price: Free
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Black holes are one of the most intriguing phenomena in the universe. They form when stars die and collapse upon themselves, generating such a massive gravitational force that not even light can escape. They are dark against the dark sky. When black holes collide, the energy of the event generates intense gravitational waves. These waves were predicted by Einstein in his theories, but scientists have only recently been able to detect them experimentally. Monumental detectors have been able to record the “songs” of these gravitational waves from space. Barnard College professor and astronomer Janna Levin shares her scientific research on the first recordings of a gravitational wave from the collision of two black holes 1.3 billion years ago.

About the Speaker

Janna Levin is the Tow Professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University. She has contributed to an understanding of black holes, the cosmology of extra dimensions, and gravitational waves in the shape of spacetime. She is also director of sciences at Pioneer Works. Her previous books include How the Universe Got Its Spots and a novel, A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines, which won the PEN/Bingham Prize. She was recently named a Guggenheim Fellow. Her latest book, Black Hole Blues and Other Songs from Outer Space, is the inside story on the discovery of the century: the sound of spacetime ringing from the collision of two black holes over a billion years ago.

Buy tickets/get more info now