Rethinking the origins of the universeQuoteBy merging two seemingly conflicting theories, Laura Mersini-Houghton, a physics professor at UNC-Chapel Hill in the College of Arts and Sciences, has proven, mathematically, that black holes can never come into being in the first place. The work not only forces scientists to reimagine the fabric of space-time, but also rethink the origins of the universe.
"I'm still not over the shock," said Mersini-Houghton. "We've been studying this problem for a more than 50 years and this solution gives us a lot to think about."
QuoteIn 1974, Stephen Hawking used quantum mechanics to show that black holes emit radiation. Since then, scientists have detected fingerprints in the cosmos that are consistent with this radiation, identifying an ever-increasing list of the universe's black holes.
But now Mersini-Houghton describes an entirely new scenario. She and Hawking both agree that as a star collapses under its own gravity, it produces Hawking radiation. However, in her new work, Mersini-Houghton shows that by giving off this radiation, the star also sheds mass. So much so that as it shrinks it no longer has the density to become a black hole.
Before a black hole can form, the dying star swells one last time and then explodes. A singularity never forms and neither does an event horizon. The take home message of her work is clear: there is no such thing as a black hole.
http://unc.edu/spotlight/rethinking-the-origins-of-the-universe/ (http://unc.edu/spotlight/rethinking-the-origins-of-the-universe/)
Well from reading what I have access to, I'd say it sounds like she might be right. Very interesting.
My dad is a quantum mathematician but we are not speaking right now or I'd ask him for his views. Aren't families great eh? ::)
Tres interesant! Super novae, anyOne?
As for families... Heh, yeah.