This fundamental constant of nature remains the same even near a black hole
The fine-structure constant determines the strength of electromagnetic interactions
![orbits around supermassive black hole in Milky Way](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/022020_ec_finestructureconstant_feat.jpg?fit=1028%2C579&ssl=1)
A gang of stars circles the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way (orbits illustrated). Scientists observed five such stars to show that the fine-structure constant is the same near a black hole as it is on Earth.
ESO/L. Calçada/spaceengine.org (CC BY 4.0)