Black holes are some of the most mysterious and frightening objects in the Universe. They do not emit light, violate the usual laws of physics, and still remain largely incomprehensible even to scientists. But it is thanks to these anomalies that we are getting closer to solving the mystery of the universe. What do we know about black holes today, and why do they cause both admiration and fear?
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What is a black hole?
A black hole is a region of space with such a powerful gravitational pull that nothing, not even light, can escape it. Theoretically, if you cross its boundary – the event horizon – there is no turning back. Everything that gets inside will disappear forever (or almost?).
Black holes are formed when a large-mass star collapses under its own gravity after the end of its “life cycle”. The core contracts, and the outer layers can be thrown into space. As a result, an object with almost infinite density is formed – a singularity – surrounded by an event horizon.
What types of black holes are there?
Modern science distinguishes several types:
1. Supermassive
Mass: from millions to billions of solar masses.
Located in the centers of galaxies, including the Milky Way.
Example: Sagittarius A* in the center of our galaxy.
2. Stellar
Formed from collapsed stars.
Mass: from 3 to 20 solar masses.
3. Intermediate
Less studied, can have a mass of hundreds of solar masses.
4. Microscopic (hypothetical)
Possible under certain quantum conditions or at the moment of the birth of the Universe.
Not yet discovered.
How are they found if they are “black”?
Surprisingly, we never see black holes themselves. We notice their influence on the surrounding space:
Bending of light from nearby objects.
Behavior of stars that move around the “invisible center”.
X-rays from matter falling in (accretion disks).
Gravitational waves – as in the case of the collision of two black holes, registered by LIGO in 2015.
And, of course, the main discovery: in 2019, humanity saw for the first time the “shadow” of a black hole in the galaxy Messier 87. The photo taken by the Event Horizon Telescope project became a scientific sensation.
What are we afraid of?
1. Absorption of everything around
The fear that black holes can “suck in” everything is exaggerated. To be dangerous, a black hole must be very close. We are at a safe distance even from the nearest known one.
2. Distortion of space and time
According to Einstein’s theory of relativity, time slows down near a black hole. This is not science fiction – it is reality. But we do not yet know what happens to matter inside the event horizon. Perhaps all known laws of physics collapse there.
3. Rupture of matter – spaghettification
Objects falling into a black hole experience a huge difference in gravity between their heads and feet – they are literally “stretched into a thread”. This process is called spaghettification.
