Column Chronicles: A history of the Black Hole, part 2

A history of the Black Hole, part 2

Frank Cotolo
August 10, 2023

What does it mean for a galaxy to have one or more Black Holes inside of it?

Ricky "The Toad" Eckermen, a scientist and part-time Blackjack card-counter, has a theory. "More than one Black Hole in a galaxy means competition. They'll try to suck each other into eternal darkness. That being said, I'm going to hold with one Black Hole even though that's more dangerous."

A single Black Hole, say some and not others, may not be ablt to stop sucking planets into it. "If it does," said scientist Ryan Sparkle, "it'll go for the biggest planets first and suck its way down to the smallest. That includes all the moons of the planets because some of them are larger than some planets. The Black Hole won't care if it sucks in a whole planet or the moons of planets larger than it."

"Or," argues Prof. Orlov Corpusle, "it turns out a Black Hole can weigh planets and show a propensity for sucking the small ones in and then the large ones."

There are also theories about the inside of a Black Hole. Here are a few from some very smart astophysicists:

"Even though we all think it's dark inside, we agree that there may pockets of light that appear around Christmas time." - E.B.

"It's crowded inside, for sure, and things bump into one another, which is why a Black Hole spits stuff out from its back side." - U.F.

"It should not be called a back side where it spits stuff out." - A.A.E.

"Black holes cannot spit." - O.P.

"I don't think there is an inside. I think there is only an outside that looks like it has an inside." - C.T.

There is much more to be learned about Black Holes but not much may ever be known unless it can be explored up close.

"If you sent a thousand astronauts into a Black Hole," said Ryan Sparkle, "none would survive. Even if they were wearing good space helmets."

Frank Cotolo can be found hosting the talk and interview programme Cotolo Chronicles. You can send him an e-mail at this address: frank@148.ca.