Last night I was watching a documentary about the universe and I learned pretty interesting things. They talked about black holes, how they are created and how scientists can find and track them. Did you know that a black holes are the remains of a star that died?
When a star dies, it explodes and implodes at the same time, compressing all the matter of which it consisted before into 1 very tiny center, usually not larger as a pea. However - due to this extreme compression - the gravity these small centers create is incredible. Such a tiny black hole is capable of tearing planets and stars apart, resulting in a field of melting star, and at the same time creating beams that transport the 'undigestable' matter into space, often crossing several galaxies.
In our galaxy alone, a few million black holes should exist, but scientists have only located a few right now. Right in the center of our galaxy one mean black hole exists, and it would tear the sun apart in no time, should it cross it's path.
Although very interesting and scaring a the same time, we shouldn't worry too much : if the sun or the earth get into the reach of a black hole, it'll be over before we even realize it. Hey... why not make a movie about it?
PIB : Planets in Black - yeah... the black hole's back! Nod your head....
There was a fascinating artcile in the New Scientist last year about how some atoms may revolve around really realy really small black holes instead of normal atomic nuclei. This would account for all the missing ones (as well as lots of other cool stuff I can't remember right now). Of course most of this kind of thing is theoretical and just about impossible to improve, but I love thinking about it. But the I'm keen on superstring theory too. :-D
Superstring? You mean like a really really special thong? ;)