What is a black hole?

A black hole is a region in space in which the gravitational force is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it. It is formed when a massive star runs out of fuel and collapses in on itself, creating a point of infinite density called a singularity.

Black holes are surrounded by an invisible boundary called the event horizon, which marks the point of no return. Any object that crosses the event horizon is sucked into the black hole, where it is crushed by the immense gravitational forces within.

Despite their name, black holes are not actually holes, but rather objects with mass. They can be detected by their effects on nearby matter, such as stars that orbit them or gas that swirls around them. Scientists study black holes to learn more about the fundamental laws of the universe and the nature of space and time.