➽ Magic Words

Black Holes

A black hole in space is a region where matter has collapsed in on itself and results in lots and lots of something we can’t see! It is an area of such intense gravity, nothing - not even light - can escape. Scientists only know black holes are there because of their effect on what is around them. Matter that gets too close to a black hole, gets drawn into it. As this happens, the matter heats up under pressure and creates a spectacular light show.

Most black holes form from the remnants of a large star that dies in a supernova explosion. Find out how.

All black holes affect time. Near a black hole’s edge (known as the “event horizon”), time slows down to a near standstill. Imagine if it were possible to orbit a black hole right at its edge for a period of time. When you left that orbit and arrived back to earth, thousands of years could have passed--even though you only appear an hour older!

We know black holes exist and that we wouldn’t survive entering one. But scientists think there are there wormholes in space through which you could travel! Find out more here

What are other ways you can tell something exists even though you can’t see it?
Can you imagine what it might be like to live in a world without light? Sit or lie down in a comfortable position and close your eyes for 3 minutes (have someone time you). When you open your eyes, tell your Reader what you experienced when you could not see. What did you hear? What did you smell? What did you feel? Tell the LibrarianTeller.
Using your imagination, draw a picture of an object well outside a black hole and then a picture showing what might happen to that object as it travels across the event horizon (the edge of the black hole). Send it to the LibrarianTeller for display.