by jsendak | Sep 6, 2025 | Cosmology & Computing
Black holes are some of the most mysterious and intriguing objects in the universe. These massive cosmic entities are formed when a star collapses under its own gravity, creating a region of space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. At the center of every black hole lies a singularity, a point of infinite density and zero volume where the laws of physics as we know them break down.
The concept of a singularity was first introduced by physicist Albert Einstein in his theory of general relativity. According to general relativity, when a massive star collapses into a black hole, all of its mass is concentrated into a single point at the center of the black hole. This point is known as a singularity, and it is surrounded by an event horizon, a boundary beyond which nothing can escape the black hole’s gravitational pull.
The singularity at the center of a black hole is a point of infinite density, where the laws of physics as we know them cease to apply. At this point, the gravitational pull is so strong that even light cannot escape, leading to the formation of a black hole’s event horizon. This makes it impossible for us to directly observe a black hole’s singularity, as no information can escape from within the event horizon.
Despite our inability to directly observe black hole singularities, scientists have been able to study them indirectly through the effects they have on their surrounding environment. For example, the extreme gravitational pull of a black hole’s singularity can cause nearby objects to orbit around it at high speeds, creating powerful gravitational waves that can be detected by instruments here on Earth.
One of the most intriguing aspects of black hole singularities is the concept of a “naked singularity,” where the singularity is not hidden behind an event horizon. If a black hole were to lose mass or angular momentum, it is theoretically possible for its singularity to become exposed, allowing us to directly observe it. However, the existence of naked singularities remains a topic of debate among physicists, as they would challenge our current understanding of the laws of physics.
In conclusion, black hole singularities are some of the most enigmatic and mysterious objects in the universe. These points of infinite density lie at the heart of every black hole, shrouded in darkness and mystery. While we may never be able to directly observe a black hole’s singularity, studying their effects on their surrounding environment can provide valuable insights into the nature of these cosmic phenomena. The study of black hole singularities continues to push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe, challenging us to rethink our fundamental understanding of physics and the nature of reality.
by jsendak | Sep 6, 2025 | Science
In Hollywood, sometimes familiarity breeds contempt. For Dame Julie Andrews—who turns 90 on 1 October—the extraordinary cultural impact of her first two films, Mary Poppins (1964) and especially The Sound of Music (1965), was the climax of a decade-long rise to fame, but one which peaked too quickly. She had made her Broadway debut in The Boy Friend (1954) and went on to star in the most successful show of the decade, My Fair Lady (1956). Television appearances including the starring role in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1957)—said to be the most-watched event in American TV history, with over 100 million viewers—and partnering with comedienne Carol Burnett for the Emmy Award-winning Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall (1962) led to more fame. During her return to Broadway in Camelot (1960) opposite Richard Burton, she was spotted by Walt Disney for Mary Poppins, leading to her Academy Award for Best Actress, and the rest is history.
The Demise of the Hollywood Musical
Yet the saturation of The Sound of Music across British and American society led to a fixed image that made it difficult for Andrews to thrive. Her excellent performance in the anti-war drama The Americanization of Emily (1964) was overlooked because of the success of her two ‘nanny musicals’. Her follow-up 1960s musicals were successively less successful: Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) performed adequately, but Star! (1968) and Darling Lili (1970) were box office bombs, the latter apparently losing over $20 million and confirming that the musical was over. Within just a few years, Dame Julie had gone from the toast of the town to a financial risk, reflecting the rapid fall of grace of the film musical of whom she was the 1960s’ greatest star. Where could she go from here?
Andrews the actress
When I was asked to come up with suggestions for a strand of Widescreen Weekend to celebrate Andrews’ 90th birthday, I was keen to celebrate aspects of her career that aren’t so well known, and in particular the non-singing roles that she incorporated into her career to show her versatility. In 1966, she made two such films. Hawaii is an epic showing the destruction of colonialism in Hawaiian islands that deserves consideration for inclusion at a future Widescreen Weekend, but we’ve chosen Torn Curtain to show what happened when the Queen of the Musical worked with the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock.
Although this Cold War thriller was famously rushed into production to fit into Dame Julie’s hectic schedule, from the very beginning of the movie we can see how she is already trying to push against the image people expected from Mary Poppins: she is shown in bed with Paul Newman, and their characters are not married. The initial chunk of the film is significantly seen from her character’s perspective, as she wonders whether Newman’s character is about to defect to East Germany and decides to pursue him. Despite the film’s flaws, it’s intriguing to see Andrews’ contemporary, adult performance.
Performing disability
After the disaster of Darling Lili, Andrews mainly appeared in movies directed by her second husband, the great Blake Edwards: another thriller, The Tamarind Seed (1974), 10 (1979) and S.O.B. (1981). This was not a prolific output for someone who had been the great box office draw of the mid-1960s. But the recalibration of her career into genres other than the musical meant that Dame Julie’s range as an actress was more and more on show.
I’m excited to see Duet for One (1986), one of the most obscure and curious movies she has made. It’s an adaptation of a play about a celebrated violinist who is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and has to come to terms with the end of her life as an artist, which coincides with the break-up of her marriage. The film includes Alan Bates, Rupert Everett and Liam Neeson, and is a compelling portrayal of a performer in psychological crisis. What makes it even more poignantly compelling is the knowledge that a decade later, botched vocal surgery brought Andrews’s own singing career to an end, life mirroring art with painful verisimilitude.
Queer icon
Dame Julie has always been a favourite of the queer community, and the last film in our strand features a queer performance of her own: her final screen musical, Victor/Victoria (1982). Here, Andrews appears in Blake Edwards’ own adaptation of the 1933 German film Viktor und Viktoria, playing a soprano who becomes a female impersonator to revive her desperate career. The gender-bending plot spoke closely to Dame Julie’s queer audience, enhanced by the camp performances of Broadway stalwarts Robert Preston and Lesley Ann Warren. With a score by veteran Henry Mancini, the movie proves that Andrews still had the ability to be part of a successful screen musical—at a time when the genre was mostly dead.
Beyond The Sound of Music?
Julie Andrews’s extraordinary performance as Maria von Trapp continues to define her career, six decades on from its original release. Yet beyond The Sound of Music, there is plenty more to enjoy of her career, including the autobiographical That’s Life (1986), her TV reunion with Sound of Music co-star Christopher Plummer in On a Golden Pond (2001), the gritty AIDS drama Our Sons (1991) and of course her appearances in The Princess Diaries (2001–4) that led a whole new generation of viewers to fall in love with her warmth and intelligence as an actress. It’s a testament to her abilities that she made the last sixty years really count as an artist, and her three movies in this year’s Widescreen Weekend give us a welcome chance to re-evaluate her versatility as a performer.
by jsendak | Sep 5, 2025 | AI
OpenAI’s new research explains why language models hallucinate. The findings show how improved evaluations can enhance AI reliability, honesty, and safety.
by jsendak | Sep 5, 2025 | AI
OpenAI invites researchers to its Bio Bug Bounty. Test GPT-5’s safety with a universal jailbreak prompt and win up to $25,000.
by jsendak | Sep 5, 2025 | AI
OpenAI and the Greek Government have launched “OpenAI for Greece” to bring ChatGPT Edu into secondary schools and support responsible AI learning. This partnership aims to boost AI literacy, fuel local start-ups, and drive national economic growth.
