Black Hole Facts

If you are into science, astronomy or even science fiction, you probably are amazed at the phenomenon called black holes. Black holes by their very name convey mystery and intrigue and while man has theorized about the existence of black holes since the late 1700’s, we are still a long way off to knowing precisely what black holes are and how they behave today.

What is a Black Hole?
One of the questions most people have about black holes is exactly what they are. Black holes are theorized to be areas of space in which the gravitational field is so strong and powerful that nothing can escape and break passed its grasp. In fact, black holes show up as completely void areas of space, because not even light can escape the strong gravitational forces. It is believed that a black hole is caused by a large star imploding onto itself creating tremendous density and thus incredibly strong gravitation forces.

The Life of a Black Hole
Black holes as stated above are caused by a large star- much larger than our own sun imploding. These large stars run out of fuel which is necessary for nuclear reaction. Unfortunately, as the star runs out of fuel, the effect of normally pushing energy out is outweighed by its own gravity which continues to grow exponentially until the star incredibly crushes itself. It crushes itself to such a degree that its mass becomes super dense creating incredible forces of gravity that do not let anything escape its force. It should be noted that a black hole does not last for ever, while it does not allow light to escape, x-ray radiation is emitted and eventually black holes become smaller and smaller till eventually they disappear.

Where are Black Holes Located?
One of the most noticeable aspects of black holes is that they usually can be easily located due to the fact that they are completely void areas of space. Black holes have been located throughout our universe in several galaxies. It was theorized that there was even a black hole in our galaxy- the Milky Way, however for a long period of time the evidence was not complete. Recently however, a black hole was discovered in our own galaxy- actually in the center turning many astronomers’ theories on their heads.

For more information regarding black holes, the Smithsonian Magazine has a fascinating article on the subject. To read it, please visit our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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Black Holes: A Scientific Phenomenon

If you are remotely into science, one phenomenon that is a constant draw of much theory and thought is the black hole. Black holes are one of the most powerful forces in the universe and while little is known about these incredible wonders, this fact hasn’t stopped most of the top science fiction writers, TV series and movies to insert them into plenty of story lines. No matter what type of science fiction show you watch these days, a black hole is bound to pop up somewhere during the season.

The Truth About Black Holes
Black holes are a phenomenon that are still largely unknown. Today, thousands of scientists study these immense objects and continue to theorize on how they are created, their powerful forces and where they are located. Since black holes are believed to be stars that have imploded onto themselves, the shear force they create is strong enough that nothing can escape their gravitational force- not even light. With no light to escape, black holes are black voids in space. For a long time it was uncertain whether there was a black hole in our galaxy (the Milky Way), however, recently new evidence has been examined and now many in the field believe that one does exist in our galaxy- a big surprise to many.

Read More About Black Holes
For those interested in black holes, the Smithsonian Magazine has a fantastic article on the subject. You can read about it at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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