CoG Hosts Nobel Laureate Reinhard Genzel for a Public Talk on Black Holes

The Center of Gravity is honoured to host Nobel Laureate Reinhard Genzel whose lecture "Experimental Evidence for the Existence of Black Holes and Their Cosmic Evolution" will be presented as part of the Center's Colloquia Series.

Black holes are among the most mysterious objects predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity. The equations tell us that their gravity is so extreme that not even light can escape, and the physics they involve touches some of the deepest unsolved problems in science. For decades, their existence remained uncertain: are they real physical objects, or just mathematical curiosities?

Today, also thanks to the groundbreaking work of Prof. Reinhard Genzel, we know for certain: black holes exist and a gigantic one even lies at the center of our own galaxy. This discovery goes far beyond confirming a prediction, revealing the laws of nature under the most extreme conditions, where gravity, space, and time reach their limits. This lecture offers a rare opportunity to hear firsthand how one of the greatest discoveries of modern astrophysics was made, how black holes grow and evolve over cosmic time, shaping the formation and evolution of galaxies throughout the history of the universe, and how they may hold the key to some of the deepest mysteries in physics.

The colloquium will take place on Tuesday 21st of April 2026, at 4 pm, in NBI's Auditorium A. Everyone is welcome to join, as the colloquia are specifically aimed at a broad public.

The Center of Gravity Colloquia

With the new Center of Gravity Colloquia series, we aim to showcase the future of gravity research across a broad spectrum. The series is designed to highlight exciting scientific advances, explore the foundations of the field’s most pressing open questions, and share the fascination and wonder of fundamental physics with a wide and diverse audience.

The Venue
The Niels Bohr Institute
Blegdamsvej 17, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
Auditorium A - Building C

April 9, 2026, 3:16 p.m.