
Can gravitational waves teach us about the inside of a black hole?
We know a lot about black holes, but have recent discoveries unlocked any secrets?
Asked by: Vincent Morris, Beckenham
Advertisement
The recent detection of gravitational waves from the merger of two black holes was a success for astrophysics. But from the outside it is impossible to tell anything about the inside of a black hole. The shape of the signal detected by LIGO revealed the masses of the two merging black holes, which led to an estimate of how powerful the event was at its source. But no observations, including those of gravitational waves, can probe beyond the event horizon of a black hole.
Advertisement
Get more fascinating Q&As from BBC Focus magazine by following @sciencefocusQA
Authors
Advertisement
Advertisement
Sponsored Deals

May Half Price Sale
- Save up to 52% when you subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine.
- Risk - free offer! Cancel at any time when you subscribe via Direct Debit.
- FREE UK delivery.
- Stay up to date with the latest developments in the worlds of science and technology.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Advertisement