Cheltenham Science Festival
June 9, 2025
Probably one of the best events I have ever done. Cheltenham is one of my favourite towns so it was great to be there for the Cheltenham Science Festival. Even more brilliant to be talking in the 122-year-old marble-pillared town hall, one of those pinch-yourself venues. It was great to have such a big audience – always gives you a boost. Years ago I did an event with one person in the audience, and she was doing her knitting and it was raining outside, so it was clear she had only come in to keep dry! My talk in Cheltenham was on black holes, the subject of my latest book, A Crack in Everything. And it was great that, afterwards at the booksigning, so many children came up to ask me questions. Many of their questions had no answers – What is at the heart of a black hole? Where does a black hole go when it evaporates via Hawking radiation? “There are plenty of unanswered questions in science,” I said. “Hopefully, when you grow up, you will help answer them!”
“If you remember one thing about my talk today, please remember the name of the co-discoverer of black holes: Louise Webster.”
They even had flying saucer sweets in the Science Festival Green Room!
Cream & jam scones in the Science Festival Green Room. Luxury!
The fabulous 122-year-old Cheltenham Town Hall
Spa waters, anyone?
My event in the programme
Taking black hole questions from the audience, with head of programming, Marieke Navin
In the Green Room, with BBC Sky at Night’s Chris Lintott
Signing a copy of A CRACK IN EVERYTHING for a very tall woman with a very small head!
Someone has left their doll!