Despite the huge achievements in the field of physics and astronomy, there are many phenomena, the essence of which has not been fully disclosed. These phenomena include mysterious black holes, all information about which is only theoretical and cannot be verified in practice.
Do black holes exist?
Even before the advent of the theory of relativity, astronomers expressed the theory of the existence of black funnels. After the publication of Einstein's theory, the issue of gravity was revised and new assumptions appeared in the problem of black holes. It is unrealistic to see this space object, because it absorbs all the light that enters its space. Scientists prove the existence of black holes, based on the analysis of the movement of interstellar gas and the trajectory of the movement of stars.
The formation of black holes leads to a change in the space-time characteristics around them. Time seems to shrink under the influence of huge gravity and slows down. Stars caught in the path of the black funnel may deviate from their path and even change direction. Black holes absorb the energy of their twin star, which also manifest themselves.
What does a black hole look like?
Much of the information about black holes is hypothetical. Scientists study them by their effects on space and radiation. It is not possible to see black holes in the universe, because they absorb all the light entering the nearby space. From special satellites, an X-ray image of black objects was made, on which a bright center is visible, which is the source of radiation of the rays.
How are black holes formed?
A black hole in space is a separate world that has its own unique characteristics and properties. The properties of cosmic holes are determined by the reasons for their appearance. Regarding the appearance of black objects, there are such theories:
- They are the result of collapses occurring in space. It can be a collision of large cosmic bodies or a supernova explosion.
- They arise due to the weighting of space objects while maintaining their size. The reason for this phenomenon has not been determined.
A black funnel is an object in space that has a relatively small size with a huge mass. The black hole theory says that every cosmic object can potentially become a black funnel if, as a result of some phenomena, it loses its size, but retains its mass. Scientists even talk about the existence of many black microholes - miniature space objects with a relatively large mass. This discrepancy between mass and size leads to an increase in the gravitational field and the appearance of a strong attraction.
What is in a black hole?
A black mysterious object can only be called a hole with a big stretch. The center of this phenomenon is a cosmic body with increased gravity. The result of such gravity is a strong attraction to the surface of this cosmic body. In this case, a vortex flow is formed, in which gases and grains of cosmic dust rotate. Therefore, a black hole is more correctly called a black funnel.
It is impossible to find out in practice what is inside a black hole, because the level of gravity of the cosmic funnel does not allow any object to escape from its zone of influence. According to scientists, there is complete darkness inside a black hole, because light quanta disappear in it irrevocably. It is assumed that space and time are distorted inside the black funnel, the laws of physics and geometry do not apply in this place. Such features of black holes can presumably lead to the formation of antimatter, which is currently unknown to scientists.
Why are black holes dangerous?
Sometimes black holes are described as objects that absorb surrounding objects, radiation and particles. This view is incorrect: the properties of a black hole allow it to absorb only what falls within its zone of influence. It can draw in cosmic microparticles and radiation coming from twin stars. Even if the planet is near the black hole, it will not be absorbed, but will continue to move in its orbit.
What happens if you fall into a black hole?
The properties of black holes depend on the strength of the gravitational field. Black funnels attract to themselves everything that falls into their zone of influence. At the same time, spatio-temporal characteristics change. Scientists who study all about black holes disagree about what happens to things in this funnel:
- some scientists suggest that all objects that fall into these holes are stretched or torn to pieces and do not have time to reach the surface of the attracting object;
- other scientists argue that all the usual characteristics are bent in holes, so objects seem to disappear there in time and space. For this reason, black holes are sometimes called gateways to other worlds.
Types of black holes
Black funnels are divided into types, based on the method of their formation:
- Black stellar mass objects are born at the end of the life of some stars. The complete combustion of the star and the end of thermonuclear reactions leads to the compression of the star. If at the same time the star undergoes a gravitational collapse, it can transform into a black funnel.
- Super massive black funnels. Scientists say that the core of any galaxy is a supermassive funnel, the formation of which is the beginning of the emergence of a new galaxy.
- Primordial black holes. This may include holes of various masses, including microholes formed due to discrepancies in the density of matter and the strength of gravity. Such holes are funnels formed at the beginning of the birth of the Universe. This also includes objects such as a hairy black hole. These holes differ in the presence of rays that look like hairs. It is assumed that these photons and gravitons store some of the information falling into the black hole.
- quantum black holes. They appear as a result of nuclear reactions and live for a short time. Quantum funnels are of the greatest interest, since their study can help answer questions about the problem of black space objects.
- Some scientists distinguish this kind of space objects, a hairy black hole. These holes differ in the presence of rays that look like hairs. It is assumed that these photons and gravitons store some of the information falling into the black hole.
The closest black hole to Earth
The nearest black hole is 3000 light years away from Earth. It is called V616 Monocerotis, or V616 Mon. Its weight reaches 9-13 solar masses. The binary partner of this hole is a star half the mass of the Sun. Another funnel relatively close to Earth is Cygnus X-1. It is located 6 thousand light years from Earth and weighs 15 times more than the Sun. This black hole also has its own binary partner, the movement of which helps to trace the influence of Cygnus X-1.
Black holes - interesting facts
Scientists talk about black objects such interesting facts:
- If we take into account that these objects are the center of galaxies, then to find the largest funnel, you should find the largest galaxy. Therefore, the largest black hole in the universe is a funnel located in the galaxy IC 1101 at the center of the Abell 2029 cluster.
- Black objects actually look like multi-colored objects. The reason for this lies in their radio-magnetic radiation.
- There are no permanent physical or mathematical laws in the middle of a black hole. It all depends on the mass of the hole and its gravitational field.
- Black funnels gradually evaporate.
- The weight of black funnels can reach incredible sizes. The largest black hole has a mass of 30 million solar masses.
Black holes are the most attractive celestial bodies. But what if, instead of figuratively drawing your attention, one of them starts drawing the Earth towards itself? A British astrophysicist spoke about what could happen in this case.
Black holes enjoy enduring popularity in modern culture. It is unlikely that any other type of space objects (except asteroids and meteorites, of course) attracts so many researchers and those simply interested in space. Interest in black holes is fueled by the hadron collider and the recent discovery of gravitational waves.
Just in connection with the latest discovery, it can be argued that black holes still exist. So, we may well meet with them. Astrophysicist Kevin Pimblet from the University of Hull in the UK told what would happen if our planet starts falling into a black hole. According to Pimbblet, there are several scenarios for the development of events.
The most interesting and difficult to present and understand was the scenario called " spaghettification". Let's take a closer look at this process.
The part of our planet that is closer to the black hole will be attracted somewhat faster. So the matter will begin to gradually flow in a thin stream towards the black hole, becoming thinner and longer. As a result, the Earth will take the form of an infinitely long thread, which will disappear from view at the edge of the event horizon. The same will happen with all objects on the planet. And only then, after a sufficiently long time, the black hole will suck in all the matter that makes up the Earth.
How the human senses will work at this time is unknown. It is possible that when falling into a black hole, earthlings will not notice anything unusual. At least if it is a very large black hole - that's how the physics of the event horizon works.
Another scenario suggests a less original and more unambiguous development of events. If the black hole is located in the center of the quasar, the planet will be burned on the way. And there is no need to talk about any unique physical processes in this case.
Well, the last scenario proposed by Pimbblet seems quite fantastic. According to the scientist, there is some probability that as a result of the attraction of the Earth by a black hole, the planet will not disappear forever. No, the planet known to us will be destroyed. But instead of it, a certain “hologram” will appear, an inaccurate copy.
Unfortunately, all options are now unconfirmed hypotheses. We know too little about black holes. Thanks to research done with the giant LIGO interferometer, we only know that they exist. But what is in a black hole, beyond the event horizon, and whether the human brain operating in three-dimensional space is able to imagine it, remains one of the most interesting mysteries of modern science.
Black holes are the only cosmic bodies capable of attracting light by gravity. They are also the largest objects in the universe. We're not likely to know what's going on near their event horizon (known as the "point of no return") anytime soon. These are the most mysterious places of our world, about which, despite decades of research, very little is known so far. This article contains 10 facts that can be called the most intriguing.
Black holes don't suck in matter.
Many people think of a black hole as a kind of "cosmic vacuum cleaner" that draws in the surrounding space. In fact, black holes are ordinary cosmic objects that have an exceptionally strong gravitational field.
If a black hole of the same size arose in the place of the Sun, the Earth would not be pulled inward, it would rotate in the same orbit as it does today. Stars located near black holes lose part of their mass in the form of stellar wind (this happens during the existence of any star) and black holes absorb only this matter.
The existence of black holes was predicted by Karl Schwarzschild
Karl Schwarzschild was the first to apply Einstein's general theory of relativity to justify the existence of a "point of no return". Einstein himself did not think about black holes, although his theory makes it possible to predict their existence.
Schwarzschild made his suggestion in 1915, just after Einstein published his general theory of relativity. That's when the term "Schwarzschild radius" came about, a value that tells you how much you have to compress an object to make it a black hole.
Theoretically, anything can become a black hole, given enough compression. The denser the object, the stronger the gravitational field it creates. For example, the Earth would become a black hole if an object the size of a peanut had its mass.
Black holes can spawn new universes
The idea that black holes can spawn new universes seems absurd (especially since we are still not sure about the existence of other universes). Nevertheless, such theories are being actively developed by scientists.
A very simplified version of one of these theories is as follows. Our world has exceptionally favorable conditions for the emergence of life in it. If any of the physical constants changed even slightly, we would not be in this world. The singularity of black holes overrides the usual laws of physics and could (at least in theory) give rise to a new universe that would be different from ours.
Black holes can turn you (and anything) into spaghetti
Black holes stretch objects that are close to them. These objects begin to resemble spaghetti (there is even a special term - "spaghettiification").
This is due to the way gravity works. At the moment, your feet are closer to the center of the Earth than your head, so they are being pulled more strongly. At the surface of a black hole, the difference in gravity starts to work against you. The legs are attracted to the center of the black hole faster and faster, so that the upper half of the torso cannot keep up with them. Result: spaghettification!
Black holes evaporate over time
Black holes not only absorb the stellar wind, but also evaporate. This phenomenon was discovered in 1974 and was named Hawking radiation (after Stephen Hawking, who made the discovery).
Over time, the black hole can give all its mass into the surrounding space along with this radiation and disappear.
Black holes slow down time around them
As you get closer to the event horizon, time slows down. To understand why this happens, one must turn to the "twin paradox," a thought experiment often used to illustrate the basic tenets of Einstein's general theory of relativity.
One of the twin brothers remains on Earth, while the other flies off on a space journey, moving at the speed of light. Returning to Earth, the twin finds that his brother has aged more than he, because when moving at a speed close to the speed of light, time passes more slowly.
As you approach the event horizon of a black hole, you will be moving at such a high speed that time will slow down for you.
Black holes are the most advanced power plants
Black holes generate energy better than the Sun and other stars. This is due to the matter revolving around them. Overcoming the event horizon at great speed, the matter in the orbit of a black hole is heated to extremely high temperatures. This is called blackbody radiation.
For comparison, during nuclear fusion, 0.7% of matter is converted into energy. Near a black hole, 10% of matter becomes energy!
Black holes warp space around them
Space can be thought of as a stretched rubber band with lines drawn on it. If you put an object on the plate, it will change its shape. Black holes work the same way. Their extreme mass attracts everything to itself, including light (the rays of which, continuing the analogy, could be called lines on a plate).
Black holes limit the number of stars in the universe
Stars arise from gas clouds. In order for star formation to begin, the cloud must cool.
Radiation from black bodies prevents gas clouds from cooling and prevents the formation of stars.
Theoretically, any object can become a black hole.
The only difference between our Sun and a black hole is the strength of gravity. It is much stronger at the center of a black hole than at the center of a star. If our Sun were compressed to about five kilometers in diameter, it could be a black hole.
Theoretically, anything can become a black hole. In practice, we know that black holes arise only as a result of the collapse of huge stars, exceeding the mass of the Sun by 20-30 times.
