What is Inside a Black Hole?

For centuries, scientists, astronomers and casual space enthusiasts alike have been left with more questions than answers on the elusive phenomenon that is a black hole. These mysterious cosmic phenomena have been captivating the minds of those interested in astrophysics since the theory was first postulated in 1917 by German astronomer Karl Schwarzschild.

What is a Black Hole?

At its basic level, a black hole is a region in space where the force of gravity is so intense, its pull is so great that not even light can break free from its captivating tendrils. Premised most famously by the physicist Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, black holes are formed when a star much bigger than our Sun runs out of fuel, runs out of energy and collapses in on itself, forming a void of absolute nothingness where the laws of physics break down. These objects are characterized by a single point in space known as the singularity and an event horizon, the edge of the black hole which marks the line of no return.

What Lies Within the Depths of a Black Hole?

The answer might be more mysterious than one would expect. Our current knowledge about black holes is that within the depths of the event horizon, space and time essentially cease to exist, leaving many scientists fumbling in the dark for deeper insights. We do, however, have a few plausible theories about what resides within the black hole. It is a generally accepted belief that within the event horizon, the black hole contains an infinite amount of dense matter, essentially a never-ending singularity with the mass of an entire galaxy or even an entire universe packed into it. This includes the spiral galaxies and solar systems, containing billions upon billions of stars, dust, gas and asteroids, all condensed down into an infinitely small point.

There is much left to be studied of the mysterious and powerful manifestation of a black hole, and although we are left with more questions than answers, it is exciting to have the opportunity to unlock the secrets of these enigmatic cosmic objects.