The Hitchhiker's Guide to Black Holes

Title: The Hitchhiker's Guide to Black Holes
Speaker: Rene Breton, Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Manchester

Black holes capture the imagination like no other cosmic object. But beyond the mystery and movie myths, what are they really? How can gravity become so strong that even light cannot escape—and how do we know such objects truly exist? In this talk, we will explore how black holes form, how astronomers detect them through light and gravitational waves, and what would happen if an astronaut were to venture too close to one of them. Blending striking ideas with real observations, this talk separates science from fiction and reveals why black holes are among the most compelling discoveries of modern physics.

Key Audience Takeaways

• To obtain a general understanding of what black holes are and marvel at their extreme physics where reality meets science fiction.

Doors - 7:30pm - first come first served on seating

Intros - 7:50pm

Talk - 8pm

Q&A - 8:40pm