Black holes and coffee - Scientists & Engineers on Sofas (and other furnishings)

Ivy Kupec from the National Science Foundation talks with Dan Evans, an astronomer from the Smithsonian Institution, about black holes. They discuss what black holes are, how they emit X-ray flares, and their formation. The conversation covers the merging of black holes, their abundance in the universe, and the simplicity and complexity of these cosmic phenomena. Dan shares insights into his research on black hole spin and jets, and the future of black hole imaging with the Event Horizon Telescope.

What is the main topic of discussion between Ivy Kupec and Dan Evans?

• The history of the Smithsonian Institution

• The life of Ivy Kupec

• The study of black holes

• The formation of stars

How do black holes emit light if they are black?

• They are illuminated by nearby stars

• They glow in the dark

• They emit X-ray flares when material falls into them

• They reflect sunlight

What are the two types of black holes mentioned?

• Stellar mass and supermassive

• Young and old

• Small and large

• Visible and invisible

What is believed to be the origin of stellar mass black holes?

• The collision of two galaxies

• The explosion of a star into a supernova

• The collapse of a planet

• The merging of two black holes

How are black holes detected if they are invisible?

• By observing their gravitational effects

• By listening to their sound

• By capturing their scent

• By measuring their temperature

What is one of the main goals of current black hole research?

• To create artificial black holes

• To discover new galaxies

• To measure the spin of black holes

• To find new planets

What is the Event Horizon Telescope designed to do?

• Capture the sound of black holes

• Image the silhouette of a black hole

• Measure the temperature of black holes

• Detect the color of black holes