The Secret World Of Black Holes - Dr Becky Smethurst

Dr Becky Smethurst is an astrophysicist, author, YouTuber and a Junior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. Black holes are the weirdest, densest, most mysterious objects in the universe. However they're not black, and they're not holes. In fact pretty much everything you think you know about them is probably wrong. Expect to learn why galaxies don't actually orbit black holes, why the biggest black hole in the universe needed an entirely different name, whether black holes can form without neutron stars, what happens when two black holes collide, why nothing can go faster than the speed of light and much more... Sponsors: Get $100 off plus an extra 15% discount on Qualia Mind at https://neurohacker.com/modernwisdom (use code MW15) Get a Free Sample Pack of all LMNT Flavours at https://www.drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom (discount automatically applied) Our Sponsor LetsGetChecked - get 25% discount on your at-home testosterone test at https://trylgc.com/wisdom (use code: WISDOM25) Extra Stuff: Buy Dr Becky's book - https://amzn.to/3SLqnZJ Follow Dr Becky on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/DrBecky Get my free Reading List of 100 books to read before you die → https://chriswillx.com/books/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom #physics #blackholes #space - 00:00 Intro 00:23 What’s Wrong with the Name ‘Black Holes?’ 09:19 The Formation of Black Holes 16:37 Supermassive Black Holes 26:43 What Happens When Two Black Holes Meet? 29:32 The Latter Stages of the Universe 34:27 The Universe’s Speed Limit 43:38 Can Black Hole’s Form without a Neutron Star? 50:48 What’s Next After the James Webb Telescope? 55:01 Where to Find Dr Smethurst - Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - https://chriswillx.com/books/ Listen to all episodes on audio: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

Dr Becky SmethurstguestChris Williamsonhost

Oct 8, 202256mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: October 8, 2022
Duration: 56m
Channel: Modern Wisdom
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Dr Becky Smethurst is an astrophysicist, author, YouTuber and a Junior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. Black holes are the weirdest, densest, most mysterious objects in the universe. However they're not black, and they're not holes. In fact pretty much everything you think you know about them is probably wrong. Expect to learn why galaxies don't actually orbit black holes, why the biggest black hole in the universe needed an entirely different name, whether black holes can form without neutron stars, what happens when two black holes collide, why nothing can go faster than the speed of light and much more... Sponsors: Get $100 off plus an extra 15% discount on Qualia Mind at https://neurohacker.com/modernwisdom (use code MW15) Get a Free Sample Pack of all LMNT Flavours at https://www.drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom (discount automatically applied) Our Sponsor LetsGetChecked - get 25% discount on your at-home testosterone test at https://trylgc.com/wisdom (use code: WISDOM25) Extra Stuff: Buy Dr Becky's book - https://amzn.to/3SLqnZJ Follow Dr Becky on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/DrBecky Get my free Reading List of 100 books to read before you die → https://chriswillx.com/books/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom #physics #blackholes #space - 00:00 Intro 00:23 What’s Wrong with the Name ‘Black Holes?’ 09:19 The Formation of Black Holes 16:37 Supermassive Black Holes 26:43 What Happens When Two Black Holes Meet? 29:32 The Latter Stages of the Universe 34:27 The Universe’s Speed Limit 43:38 Can Black Hole’s Form without a Neutron Star? 50:48 What’s Next After the James Webb Telescope? 55:01 Where to Find Dr Smethurst - Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - https://chriswillx.com/books/ Listen to all episodes on audio: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

SPEAKERS

Dr Becky Smethurst
guest
Chris Williamson
host

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Modern Wisdom, featuring Dr Becky Smethurst and Chris Williamson, The Secret World Of Black Holes - Dr Becky Smethurst explores redefining Black Holes: Bright Dark Stars, Limits, and Cosmic Futures Astrophysicist Dr. Becky Smethurst explains why the term “black hole” is misleading, emphasizing that these are dense 3D stellar remnants, often among the brightest objects in the universe due to glowing infalling gas. She explores how black holes form (from massive stars, neutron stars, and direct collapse), what we know about their structure, and what remains fundamentally unknowable beyond the event horizon. The conversation covers supermassive and ultra-massive black holes, their role in galaxies, the apparent “mass gap” of intermediate black holes, and the ultimate growth limits black holes may reach. They also discuss gravitational waves, Hawking radiation, the speed limit of the universe, and the next generation of telescopes that will push black hole research forward.

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