Black Holes: The Edge of All We Know
The quest to understand the most mysterious object in the universe.
Black holes stand at the limit of what we can know. To explore that edge of knowledge, the Event Horizon Telescope links observatories across the world to simulate an earth-sized instrument. With this tool the team pursues the first-ever picture of a black hole, resulting in an image seen by billions of people in April 2019. Meanwhile, Hawking and his team attack the black hole paradox at the heart of theoretical physics—Do predictive laws still function, even in these massive distortions of space and time? Weaving them together is a third strand, philosophical and exploratory using expressive animation. “Edge” is about practicing science at the highest level, a film where observation, theory, and philosophy combine to grasp these most mysterious objects.
- Year: 2020
- Country: United States of America
- Genre: Documentary
- Studio: Sandbox Films, Collapsar
- Keyword: physics, black hole, space, curious, meditative, mysterious, calm, candid, thoughtful, complex, wonder, inspirational, provocative, factual, dramatic, suspenseful, admiring, appreciative, bold, celebratory, dignified, enthusiastic, excited, gentle, hopeful, impartial, informative, joyful, matter of fact, modest, objective, optimistic, powerful, sincere
- Director: Peter Galison
- Cast: Sheperd Doeleman, Stephen Hawking, Sasha Haco, Andrew Strominger, Malcolm Perry, Gopal Narayanan
Physics. Yes, this is one of those documentary topics where you understand less than half of what you hear, and even with most of what you understand it is difficult to picture or place into perspective. A black hole larger than several planets millions of miles away, an entity of nothingness that swallows everything that comes near it but which we can’t see. Sure, I’m with you. It is tempting to state that the goal of the scientists in this show is to take a picture of a black hole. But of course to them the journey is nearly more important than the result. So much has been learned in the 20 years plus they have pursued this, not merely about black holes but about how the universe works. Again, however, it is hard for me to appreciate all of it because it is all theoretical and seems to have nothing to do with the lives we live on this blue speckled planet. So at times the information is fascinating, while at other times you are rolling your eyes and thinking, “Come back people, say something I can understand. Throw me a bone here.” No wonder people believe in gods. So much easier to think that a sole violent, demanding and all-powerful jerk snapped his fingers and cremated and maintains this complete mess of a universe. So watch and learn, if your brain can hold some of it.