BLACK HOLES:
Portals to the Holy Grail of Theoretical Physics?

OVERVIEW:

I. What is Gravity?

Einstein vs. Newton:

Gravity: Space as a Rubber Sheet:

II. What are Black Holes?

A black hole is:

Black Hole Geometry

Wormholes

Some Properties of Black Holes:

How do black holes form?

III. How are black holes seen?

Black Hole as a Distorting Lense

Black Hole Detection via Microlensing

Black Holes in Binary Star Systems:

Black Hole Candidate

Black Holes in the Center of Galaxies:

Tourist photos of a distant black hole:

The Black Holes at the Center of Our Galaxy:

IV Why are black holes important?
“Wrong again Albert”-- S. Hawking, Star Trek, ‘93

The Information Loss Puzzle

Portal to the Holy Grail?