Black Holes, Storytelling and Cosmic Perspective with Dr Tanya Hill
Episode notes
What does a dragonfly have to do with a black hole?
Astronomer and science communicator Dr Tanya Hill explores black holes, the power of analogy, and why science needs creativity as much as it needs facts.
Tanya explains why an event horizon is a true point of no return, and how a story about dragonfly nymphs can make that otherwise abstract idea feel real.
We also discuss the hidden choices behind astronomical images, whether space goes on forever, why children ask some of the best questions about the universe, and what looking up can do to our sense of perspective.
Dr Tanya Hill is Senior Curator of Astronomy at Museums Victoria. Her research background includes supermassive black holes, and she now develops Planetarium shows that bring astronomy to wider audiences.
If this conversation leaves you with more questions than answers, it has probably done its job.