Talk: What does a black hole really look like?
This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2026.
Black holes, once considered purely theoretical, are now observed through groundbreaking imaging techniques. Astronomers use global networks of telescopes, such as the Event Horizon Telescope, to capture images of black holes millions of light-years away. Whilst these images don’t show the actual black hole itself, they reveal the glowing, distorted light from matter and spacetime around it.
Dr Rahul Kumar Walia, a Royal Society Newton International Fellow at University College London, will explore how gravity bends light in extreme ways and how these observations allow us to test fundamental ideas in physics, offering new insights into the nature of gravity, spacetime, and the universe itself.
Attending the event
This event will be held in Theatre 2 at the Royal Society on Tuesday 30 June 2026, 6.20pm – 6.40pm.
- This event is for 18+ only
- Free to attend as part of Summer Science Exhibition on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to seat availability. We recommend that visitors arrive 10-15 minutes before the session
- Eventbrite tickets for Summer Science Exhibition are recommended, with only a limited number of walk-up tickets released on the day
- This talk will take place in person
- A recording of this talk will be available later on the
- Live subtitles will be available
- Travel and accessibility information and details on planning your visit - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements
- Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café
For all enquiries, please email us.