Die unwiderstehliche Anziehung der Schwerkraft

A Journey to Black Holes

The irresistible pull of gravity extends far beyond our planet – all the way to the mysterious phenomenon of black holes. Astrophysicist Luciano Rezzolla, who conducts research and teaches in Germany, is among the first to have successfully captured photographic images of a supermassive black hole. In this book, he takes us on a journey to explore the deepest secrets of the cosmos and the astonishing yet enigmatic phenomenon of gravity.

Why does an apple fall from the tree instead of floating into space? In school, we were taught that gravity is the force that keeps us and objects on the surface of our planet as it rotates around itself and the sun. However, our bodies were familiar with gravity long before, as evidenced by the grasp reflex that newborns exhibit in response to potential threats. Over the years, we learn to cope with gravity and sometimes dream of overcoming it. Yet its irresistible pull extends far beyond our planet – reaching the mysterious phenomenon of black holes, which generate immense gravity in their vicinity. How is it possible to photograph them when, by definition, they capture all the light that hits them? With common sense, a talent for storytelling, and immense knowledge paired with passion, Luciano Rezzolla guides us in uncovering one of the deepest secrets of the cosmos. Step by step, under his guidance, we approach the truth about a phenomenon that not only our bodies but also our curiosity cannot resist.

In 2019, Luciano Rezzolla and his team were the first to photograph a black hole. What holds the world together. For all readers of Carlo Rovelli, "Seven Brief Lessons on Physics.".