Licht im Dunkeln

Heino Falcke is conducting groundbreaking research on the most mysterious phenomenon of the universe and the boundaries of space and time.

It is a global sensation: On April 10, 2019, Heino Falcke presents the first image of a black hole – a turning point in astronomy. Heino Falcke explains how this came to be, from humanity's first gazes toward the sky to modern astrophysics, the study of black holes, and the yet-to-be-revealed secrets of the universe – and what this means for him and for us as humans.

Since time immemorial, we have turned our gaze to the heavens. From the need to understand the world and life, astronomy has emerged. Heino Falcke tells a brief history of the universe and how we have perceived it, leading to the big questions we ask the stars. He describes how he, in an unprecedented global collaborative effort with his international colleagues, transformed the entire world into a giant telescope, allowing them to gaze into the greatest mystery of the universe, a black hole. But what does this mean for the future of astrophysics? What role can humanity play in the universe? And what can we learn about God and the world, and about ourselves, from outer space? Heino Falcke, a devout Christian and world-renowned scientist, takes us on an extraordinary, fascinating, and entertaining journey to the horizon of space and time. A plea for humility and curiosity.

Heino Falcke is, for me, the man of the year 2019, and the photo he and his team captured of the black hole in the M87 galaxy has long become an iconic image. Falcke is not only a fantastic scientist but also a gifted storyteller.