/ Modified feb 2, 2024 10:46 a.m.

Black holes continue to raise questions about basic physics

The mere existence of the objects was only theoretical 100 years ago.

Black Hole Lecture First image of a black hole released in 2022.
Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration

Black holes continue to mystify scientists more than a hundred years after Albert Einstein and others theorized about their existence. University of Arizona professor Sam Gralla says studying black holes has implications for challenging much of what we know about physics.

“We all dream of changing everything, and you do have to consider ideas that seem a little insane, but you have to find somewhere you can do calculations where you can ultimately make predictions for experiments," he said. "Because experiment is the ultimate arbiter of what is true.”

Gralla will be the lead-off speaker for this year’s College of Science free lecture series February 7. This year's theme focuses on surprise twists that have transformed science.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona