Black holes and two-dimensional gravity

Black holes are fascinating astrophysical objects that are indirectly observed. From a theoretical point of view, black holes provide a fruitful laboratory to study the nature of gravity and its interplay with quantum mechanics. In this talk I will discuss a recent development surrounding the black hole information paradox that is often refered to as the ‘’island formula’’. Within this scope I will review important aspects of two-dimensional models of gravity, which allow solving backreaction problems explicitly. Time permitting I will relate these advances to developments in understanding de Sitter spacetime.