A child’s black hole question reshaped an astronomy guide’s approach

Kirsten Banks was in the first year of a science degree when she began guiding groups of about 20 visitors at Sydney Observatory. In an edited book extract published by the Guardian on 2 November 2026, she recalled using telescopes, a planetarium and a 3D theatre to introduce audiences to astronomy.

During one cloudy evening’s tour, Banks described how uneven gravitational forces near a black hole could stretch a person into a spaghetti-like shape. A girl aged about eight asked whether blood would become the sauce. The response prompted Banks to use stars rather than humans in future explanations and reminded her that curiosity can take unexpected forms.

The account highlights a practical challenge in public science communication: an example intended for families can invite an interpretation the speaker did not anticipate. Banks’s recollection connects that lesson to her observatory work, where visual demonstrations and visitors’ questions helped her explain phenomena beyond what the telescopes could show.