Black holes are the ‘thought experiment’ par excellence, where the big three of physics - quantum mechanics, general relativity and thermodynamics - meet and fight it out, dragging in brash newcomers such as information theory and strings for support.
Though a unification of gravity and quantum field theory still evades string theorists, many of the mathematical tools and ideas they have developed find applications elsewhere. In this month’s Perimeter Institute public lecture, Dr Amanda Peet of Toronto University will talk about how they can help tackle black holes.
