Black holes ain't as black as they are painted.
Analyse
The statement is a direct quote from Stephen Hawking's 1976 lecture, later published under the same title. It reflects his work on black hole thermodynamics and Hawking radiation, which challenges the notion that black holes are entirely 'black' (i.e., they emit no radiation). The phrasing is informal but accurately attributed to him.
Achtergrond
In 1974, Hawking theorized that black holes could emit radiation (Hawking radiation), contradicting the classical view that nothing escapes them. The 1976 lecture popularized this idea, using the playful title to highlight the paradox.
Samenvatting verdict
Stephen Hawking did use this phrase as the title of a 1976 lecture and subsequent publication.
Geraadpleegde bronnen
— Hawking, S. W. (1976). *Black Holes and Thermodynamics*. Physical Review D, 13(2), 191–197.
— Hawking, S. W. (1976). *Black Holes ain't as black as they are painted*. Lecture notes, Oxford.
— Hawking, S. W. (1988). *A Brief History of Time*. Bantam Books.