BLACK HOLES

To calculate the detailed structure of a black hole requires the use of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. However, understanding the concept of a black hole is rather straightforward. Black Holes were predicted in the late 1700's by Michell (1783) and Laplace (1796) based on a rather simple argument.

A black hole is an object whose escape speed is equal to c, the speed of light ===> light cannot escape from the object and so the object should appear black!

Do Black Holes Exist?

HST press release

HST press release

Formation of Stellar Mass Black Holes

Stellar mass black holes may be produced by the collapse of the cores of massive stars during supernova outbursts.

Time Travel

Cosmic Censorship asserts that naked singularities cannot exist, that is, singularities have to be cloaked by event horizons. This is very good for us in that the strange things which happen near singularities are hidden from our Universe. However, suppose that Cosmic Censorship wasn't 't true, what sorts of things might happen? Hmmmm?