How Close Can You Safely Get to a Black Hole? | Janna Levin
From NOVA Presents by GBH
April 8, 2026 · 2 min · Season 4
About this episode
Astrophysicist Janna Levin discusses the nature of black holes and their detectability.
Black holes aren’t the cosmic monsters Hollywood makes them out to be. Astrophysicist Janna Levin explains why they’re so hard to detect, why they’re not as destructive as you might assume, and how you could safely orbit much closer than you think. For more, check out the extended interview with Janna Levin. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
People in this episode
Guest: Janna Levin
Topics covered
- black holes
- astrophysics
- cosmic phenomena
- space exploration
- safety in space
Keywords
- black holes
- Janna Levin
- astrophysics
- space safety
- cosmic monsters
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NOVA, GBH
More episodes of NOVA Presents
- Are Black Holes Dark Matter? · June 11, 2026 · 32 min
- Why Dark Matter Matters · June 9, 2026 · 28 min
- Battle to Beat Malaria · May 12, 2026 · 22 min
- How Many Leaves Are on a Tree? | Kirk Johnson · April 29, 2026 · 2 min
- Decoding the Great Pyramid · April 28, 2026 · 22 min
- The Air You Breathe Is Bacteria Poop | Peter Girguis · April 22, 2026 · 1 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the NOVA Presents podcast page.