{"id":15267755,"date":"2026-08-24T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/art-helped-this-astrophysicist-make-sense-of-math\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T10:33:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T14:33:24","slug":"art-helped-this-astrophysicist-make-sense-of-math","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/art-helped-this-astrophysicist-make-sense-of-math\/","title":{"rendered":"Art helped this\u00a0astrophysicist make sense of math\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Ronald Gamble first learned about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.snexplores.org\/article\/scientists-say-black-hole\">black holes<\/a> as a teen, he read\u00a0as much as\u00a0he could\u00a0about\u00a0them.\u00a0But\u00a0he noticed that researchers still had much to learn about how they worked.\u00a0\u201cThe mystery of black holes really drove me to study them,\u201d\u00a0he says.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Around the same age, Gamble\u00a0started painting.\u00a0This love for art soon found its way into his homework.\u00a0Applying\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.snexplores.org\/article\/scientists-say-geometry\">geometry<\/a> from art to describe physics was\u00a0\u201ca game changer,\u201d\u00a0he says. Sketching\u00a0in his physics notebooks helped him \u201csee\u201d\u00a0the math\u00a0and better understand how mathematical languages worked.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"wp-block-sciencenews-inline-related-post alignleft\">\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.snexplores.org\/article\/explainer-what-are-black-holes\">Explainer: What are black holes?<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As\u00a0a theoretical astrophysicist,\u00a0Gamble\u00a0still combines the\u00a0two.\u00a0 He\u00a0studies\u00a0how\u00a0black holes\u00a0warp the shape of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.snexplores.org\/article\/scientists-say-spacetime-definition-pronunciation\">spacetime<\/a> around them.\u00a0Space and time weave together to form the fabric of the universe. A black hole\u2019s immense <a href=\"https:\/\/www.snexplores.org\/article\/scientists-say-mass\">mass<\/a> and strong <a href=\"https:\/\/www.snexplores.org\/article\/scientists-say-magnetism-definition-pronunciation\">magnetic field<\/a>\u00a0stretches and bends light\u00a0into curved paths.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using\u00a0complex math, theorists like Gamble can draw these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.snexplores.org\/article\/scientists-say-force\">forces<\/a> in four <a href=\"https:\/\/www.snexplores.org\/article\/scientists-say-dimension-definition-pronunciation\">dimensions<\/a>.\u00a0These scientists are the ones \u201con chalkboards or\u00a0whiteboards, coming up with\u00a0new\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.snexplores.org\/article\/scientists-say-model-definition-pronunciation\">models<\/a> to translate what we see in reality into math,\u201d he says.\u00a0The same math that explains how a shadow casts around a vase can be applied to light bending around a black hole.\u00a0Sometimes, Gamble pictures himself as\u00a0Marvel\u2019s\u00a0Iron Man.\u00a0\u201cI feel like Tony Stark every other day.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gamble splits his time&nbsp;between&nbsp;NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.,&nbsp;and the University of Maryland College Park.&nbsp;In this interview,&nbsp;he&nbsp;shares his&nbsp;advice and&nbsp;experience with\u202f<em>Science News Explores<\/em>. (This interview has been edited for content and readability.)&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What inspired you to pursue your career?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I read a lot of comics growing up. My mom was a sci-fi\u00a0[science fiction]\u00a0nerd, so I grew up watching\u00a0<em>Star Wars<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<em>Star Trek.<\/em>\u00a0I would imagine these things in movies, not realizing that you could study them in real life and make a career out of it \u2014 that you could be paid to study black holes and come up with a bunch of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.snexplores.org\/article\/scientists-say-equation\">equations<\/a>\u00a0to describe them.\u00a0It&#8217;s\u00a0crazy to think about, but you can do it if you know the math.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My Ph.D.\u00a0was the first one in astrophysics across my entire school. I had to carve this path out for myself but also leave breadcrumbs for everybody else who wants to do this behind me.\u00a0Getting there took<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>a lot of perseverance and navigating by trial and error.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u00a0didn&#8217;t\u00a0attend an Ivy League\u00a0school,\u00a0or\u00a0large\u00a0college campus. I went to North Carolina Agricultural\u00a0and Technical State University.\u00a0That&#8217;s\u00a0an HBCU \u2014\u00a0historically\u00a0Black college or university \u2014 in Greensboro, North Carolina.\u00a0Our physics department was very small,\u00a0but we got a lot of support.\u00a0My advisors drove me into my career field. They really made me the physicist I am today \u2014 where I can now stand on my own two feet, do science independently and lead it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who inspired you to&nbsp;combine art and science?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I&#8217;ve\u00a0been painting since I was 16. My mom was also a\u00a0biologist\u00a0and a painter.\u00a0Her paintings were on our walls at home. If\u00a0the art\u00a0was there,\u00a0the science\u00a0was\u00a0right next to it.\u00a0In college, I double majored in physics and fine arts\u00a0and\u00a0minored\u00a0in art history.\u00a0I&#8217;m\u00a0inspired by so many artists throughout history. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.moma.org\/collection\/works\/79018\" rel=\"noopener\">Salvador Dali&#8217;s\u00a0\u201cPersistence of Memory\u201d<\/a>\u00a0was partly influenced by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.snexplores.org\/article\/quantum-world-mind-bogglingly-weird\">quantum mechanics<\/a> and the theory of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.snexplores.org\/article\/einstein-taught-us-its-all-relative\">general relativity<\/a>.\u00a0That&#8217;s\u00a0what he visualized in his head and put into a painting.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ronald Gamble studies&nbsp;supermassive&nbsp;black holes and their spacetime geometry. Here, he explains his work as a theoretical astrophysicist.&nbsp;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do you get your best ideas?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I study how things move, so I like to be outside observing motion.&nbsp;Then I write down the equation.&nbsp;Being a theorist, I could work virtually anywhere, so I&#8217;m not tied down to a laptop or a lab.&nbsp;As far as sketching out the equations, you can do that anywhere.&nbsp;So&nbsp;I&#8217;ve&nbsp;worked from beaches, planes, trains&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;places like that. In physics,&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;trying to figure out what nature is telling you and translate it into a mathematical language.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What&#8217;s&nbsp;one of your biggest failures, and how did you get past it?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I failed calculus the first time and had to take it two more times after that.&nbsp;I relied too much on my ability to know mathematics very well, and it hurt my ability to mature my study habits.&nbsp;I needed to know this math to do the physics that I wanted to do.&nbsp;The threat of not being able to pursue the career that I wanted really&nbsp;drove&nbsp;me to study mathematics more intimately.&nbsp;So&nbsp;I started studying with three notebooks: one for my notes, one for drawings of my notes, and then one that I&nbsp;actually did&nbsp;my work in.&nbsp;I had to learn not to take for granted the things that&nbsp;I was&nbsp;good at.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What piece of advice do you wish you&nbsp;had been&nbsp;given when you were younger?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make sure that the loudest voice in your head is your own. Also&nbsp;make sure that voice is not your biggest competitor. Your inner critic cannot be louder than your inner motivator. You&nbsp;have to&nbsp;outshine and outperform yourself to grow, but you also&nbsp;have to&nbsp;give yourself the grace to fail. You learn the most in your failures.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What should students know about pursuing careers in art and physics?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, do not be afraid of&nbsp;the math.&nbsp;The math&nbsp;will take you farther than you realize, and it will help you get everything you need to advance in&nbsp;your&nbsp;career. If&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;not good at it,&nbsp;that&#8217;s&nbsp;okay.&nbsp;You&nbsp;don\u2019t&nbsp;have to be an expert, but&nbsp;don\u2019t&nbsp;shy away from it. Second, do not allow your imagination to fade away as you advance in science.&nbsp;Keep your imagination and interest in science close together.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inmi-source\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.snexplores.org\/article\/art-helped-this-astrophysicist-make-sense-of-math\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Science \u2013 sciencenewsforstudents<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ronald Gamble takes cues from the arts to study supermassive black holes and their spacetime geometry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15267757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[218],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15267755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440.webp",797,450,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440-300x169.webp",300,169,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440-620x350.webp",620,350,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440-768x434.webp",768,434,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440.webp",797,450,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440.webp",797,450,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440.webp",797,450,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440.webp",797,450,false],"ignition_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440-670x446.webp",670,446,true],"ignition_item_lg":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440.webp",797,450,false],"ignition_article_media":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440-510x450.webp",510,450,true],"ignition_minicart_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440-160x160.webp",160,160,true],"profile_24":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440-24x24.webp",24,24,true],"profile_48":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440-48x48.webp",48,48,true],"profile_96":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440-96x96.webp",96,96,true],"profile_150":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440-150x150.webp",150,150,true],"profile_300":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15267755-equation-wall-science-1440-300x300.webp",300,300,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"news.iNthacity","author_link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/author\/atombo\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/articles\/science\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Science<\/a>","tag_info":"Science","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15267755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15267755"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15267755\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15267756,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15267755\/revisions\/15267756"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15267757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15267755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15267755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15267755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}