Black Holes and the Structure of Spacetime

Black holes are astronomical objects so dense and massive that not even light can escape their intense gravitational pull. The existence of the extreme objects spawns many theoretical paradoxes, the resolution of which requires physicists to rethink their conception of space and time.

In this lecture, Juan Maldacena will discuss the fascinating and surprising history of black holes. He will explain how black holes have gone from seemingly impossible objects to a powerful tool for establishing new perspectives on the quantum nature of spacetime. He will discuss how quantum mechanics control the surface boundary and interior of black holes, leading to the possibility of incredible physics such as wormholes.