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Astronomy and space

Astronomy and space

The story behind the first-ever image of a black hole

10 Apr 2019 Matin Durrani

The news that scientists have captured the first images of a black hole is a massive breakthrough in the world of astronomy.

In the latest episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast, Michael Banks and Tushna Commissariat from the Physics World editorial team explain how the black hole at the centre of the huge Messier 87 galaxy was imaged, why astronomers didn’t try to look for the black hole at the centre of the Milky Way (despite it being nearer), and what implications the observation has for our understanding of black holes.

The podcast also includes a report from Anna Demming about a programme at King’s College London bringing arts students and PhD physics students together, while Susan Curtis brings you some highlights from the world of physics.

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