The Physics of Gravitational Collapse
Black holes: understanding the event horizon and singularity requires analyzing the death of massive stars. When stellar cores collapse, gravity overcomes internal pressure, creating a singularity of infinite density. Surrounding this core is the event horizon: the boundary where escape velocity exceeds light speed. While Hawking radiation suggests information might eventually evaporate, the information paradox remains a central challenge in modern science. Recently, the Event Horizon Telescope provided empirical evidence of these phenomena, capturing the shadow of a black hole. This imaging confirms general relativity while pushing physicists toward a unified theory of quantum gravity, bridging the gap between cosmic scales and subatomic particles.