Black holes at New Scientist Live
As part of New Scientist Live a professor of theoretical physics in Mathematical Sciences will be talking about black holes and the discovery of gravitational waves.
Professor Marika Taylor, whose research interests include string theory, gravitational physics and quantum field theory, will be presenting the story of black holes: what evidence we have for their existence, how they form and what they mean for the future of physics. In the last century, black holes have moved from being a disputed idea at the edge of physics to playing a central role in our understanding of the cosmos. They are also thought laboratories that illuminate theories of the fundamental laws of physics, and researchers are busier than ever trying to make sense of what they mean.
Marika has worked extensively on the fundamental physics of black holes, following a PhD with Stephen Hawking. Her research group is trying to understand what would happen if you fall inside a black hole and what the inside of a black hole really looks like.
New Scientist Live is a festival of ideas and discovery, launching at ExCeL London next week with Marika's presentation on Sunday 25 September. With areas dedicated to four main themes – Brain & Body, Technology, Earth and Cosmos – the show will demonstrate the role science plays in shaping the world around us.
"Black holes have been at the forefront of research for over forty years. Conditions within a black hole are so extreme that they can teach us important lessons about fundamental theories of physics."