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The Nature and Behavior of Black Holes

-- | August 11, 2012

Question: This is a short interview to gain better understanding in the nature and behavior of black holes and their influence in the universe for writing a research essay. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

— Carlos

Answers:

(1) How would you describe the origin of black holes?

Black holes originate when stars with a mass more than about 3 solar masses run out of fuel to support the fusion processes in their cores. With no energy to support its mass, the star collapses, ultimately forming a black hole. For much more information see the HubPages description of origins and formation of black holes.

(2) How probable is the destruction of our universe by a black hole?

Highly improbable. Black holes do ingest any objects in their immediate surroundings, but a single black hole cannot adversely affect the entire universe.

(3) Are black holes needed for the existence of the universe?

They do play a critical role in the evolution of galaxies. Black hole formation at the center of a galaxy may help trigger the star formation process in those galaxies, thus feeding the life cycle of star formation and evolution in a galaxy. Black holes are not, though, necessary to form the universe.

(4) In a recent documentary by the National Geographic, it was stated that black holes have a “creative” nature. What are your comments on this?

I am not sure what National Geographic meant by calling Black Holes “creative”. They do play a role in the formation of stars and the evolution of galaxies, but I would not call that a “creative” nature.

(5) Do you see it as a possibility that a black hole might be the beginning of the existence of our universe?

No, because the Big Bang was an expanding process, whereas Black Holes are a contracting process. They are similar phenomena in that they both involve singularities, but are very different manifestations of the singularity phenomena.

Jeff Mangum

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