Wonder Project
“What is on the other side of a black hole?”
Theorists and scientists have developed several strong and backed theories regarding black holes. However, recently, a new theory came out that sparked my interest, what if black holes were wormholes to alternate universes? In order to broaden our understanding about this concept, we must understand the previous theories of what happens inside a black hole. Furthermore, understand the concepts of wormholes and alternate realities.
Formed when stars die and collapse in on themselves, black holes contain all its matter in a minuscule space. Black holes pull so much gravity that nothing, not even can light escape. They can be as small as a marble but contain an equal mass of a mountain. Or, they can be supermassive, holding a mass of 1 million times our Sun. Several hypotheses exist about the contents about a black hole; however, one can never truly know what lies inside. The strongest and most common concept is Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity, which suggests that the center of black hole would be so dense that everything would be compressed into a small point. These small points, also known as points of singularities, are infinitely small. Furthermore, all concepts of space and time are completely thrown away. White holes are the exact opposite of black holes. The dictionary defines these “as a hypothetical region of spacetime and singularity that cannot be entered from the outside, although energy-matter, light, and information can escape from it.”
Understanding the multiverse, is a step closer to understanding this new theory. In another version of the universe, I could be writing this same essay about starfish, or instead of writing this essay all together, I could be surfing in Hawaii. The very concept of the multiverse can be dated back to ancient times; even writer Edgar Allan Poe wrote a poem about a “limitless succession of Universes.” So, what exactly is a multiverse? It is the idea of other alternate universes, beyond the observable universe. Several scientific studies and theories propose that these multiverses contain different theoretical scenarios. These alternate realities live in different planes and bubbles outside our universe and are continuously generating to create an infinite number of scenarios. Science journalist Tom Siegfried states that “we cannot explain all the features of our universe if there is only one of them.”
Fully comprehending the theory is very complex, but after gaining some knowledge about black holes, we can inquire further about the multiverse. As mentioned, the new theory claims that we can travel through wormholes which lead to multiverses. Theoretically, an alternate reality would appear on the other sides of black holes, “white holes.” This theory suggests that our universe would also be nested within a black hole as part of the larger multiverse. The theory, also a mathematical equation, defies Albert Einstein’s original prediction of space time singularities and other theories about black holes. The equation depicts the spiraling motion of falling into a black hole, created by Indiana University physicist, Nikodem Poplawski.
Poplawski explains that matter entering a black hole would not collapse into a single point. Alternatively, it would get shot out the opposite side of the black hole, the “white hole.” Referring to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, a singularity takes up no space, and is infinitely hot and dense. However, Poplawski argues that the matter that would have been transformed into these singularities would rather, be used to form new realities, and all galaxies, planets, and stars within. Poplawski’s theory also answers the mysteries of the Big Bang. The Big Bang theory starts with a point of singularity, yet no one can explain how this point of singularity came to be. Therefore, Poplaski theorizes that the creation of the universe began with a white hole instead. “It is kind of a crazy idea, but who knows?” said Poplaski. Studies show that some of our black holes do rotate. In order to solidify Poplaski’s theory, scientists must prove that our universe appears to be rotating. This rotation could be inherited from its parent object and therefore prove the validity of this theory.
New universes existing inside of black holes are not a new concept, Damien Easson studied this concept as well. After doing extensive research on the theory, I ended up believing in it also. Like Poplawski said, “who knows.” Some argue that the multiverse is all comic books and science fiction nonsense. But the theory is something that makes sense to me and gives some sort of deeper meaning or reasoning to my human existence. Maybe after new research or theories get explored, I will change my point of view. However, for now, based off of the science, and research, I firmly believe that black holes may be the pathway to alternate universes.
Works Cited:
Chown, Marcus. “What Is on the Other Side of a Black Hole?” BBC Science Focus Magazine, 8 Oct. 2022, www.sciencefocus.com/space/what-is-on-the-other-side-of-a-black-hole/.
Crookes, David, and Daisy Dobrijevic. “Where Do Black Holes Lead To?” Space.Com, 5 Jan. 2022, www.space.com/where-do-black-holes-lead.html.
Drake, Nadia. “What Is the Multiverse-and Is There Any Evidence It Really Exists?” Science, 14 Mar. 2023, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/what-is-the-multiverse.
Dunbar, Brian. “What Is a Black Hole?” NASA, 21 May 2015,www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-is-a-black-hole-k4.html.
Than, Ker. “Every Black Hole Contains Another Universe?” Science, 3 May 2021, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/100409-black-holes-alternate-universe-multiverse-einstein-wormholes?loggedin=true&rnd=1686162350676.
Video:
Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains Wormholes and Black Holes, YouTube, 2 Jan. 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtA7O3AOCPU&ab_channel=InsiderBusiness. Accessed 18 June 2023.