Seeing the Unseeable: How We Discover Black Holes

Smadar Naoz Professor / UCLA Department of Physics & Astronomy

Black holes are invisible, yet we know they are out there—from the remains of dead stars to giants millions of times heavier than the Sun. But how can we study something that swallows even light? In this talk, we’ll explore the clever ways astronomers find black holes: by watching stars dance around them, listening to the ripples of gravitational waves, and catching the dramatic flashes of stars torn apart. From the giant black hole at the heart of our own galaxy to the smallest hidden ones, we’ll see how scientists piece together clues to illuminate the darkest objects in the universe.

Recommend grade levels for this talk: 3rd-5th