PBS Space Time Season 2018 Episode 20 What Survives Inside a Black Hole?

PBS Space Time season 2018 episode 20 is titled "What Survives Inside a Black Hole?" and delves into the mysterious and fascinating world of black holes. Presented by astrophysicist Matt O'Dowd, the episode explores the nature of black holes and what happens to matter that enters them.

The episode opens with a brief explanation of what a black hole is and how it is formed. O'Dowd explains that black holes are created when massive stars collapse in on themselves, creating incredibly dense concentrations of matter with powerful gravitational fields. Anything that gets too close to a black hole is pulled in and cannot escape, leading to the popular notion that black holes are "vacuum cleaners" of the universe.

However, as O'Dowd explains, the reality of what happens when matter enters a black hole is much more complex and intriguing than simply being sucked into a void. The show explores the idea that in order to truly understand what happens inside a black hole, we must first understand the nature of gravity itself.

To begin, O'Dowd looks at the concept of space-time and how it is warped by the presence of massive objects. He uses the example of a ball on a trampoline, with the weight of the ball causing the trampoline to sag and create a "well" that represents the distortion of space-time. This idea is applied to black holes, with their massive gravitational fields creating deep wells that suck in matter and even light.

Next, the show explores the idea of the event horizon - the boundary beyond which nothing can escape a black hole's gravitational pull. O'Dowd notes that while the event horizon is often referred to as a point of no return, it is actually a fuzzy boundary within which matter can move around before it is finally consumed by the black hole. In fact, recent research has suggested that some matter may be able to escape from black holes, albeit in a highly altered form.

The episode also looks at the idea of singularities, which are theoretical points of infinite density and gravity that exist at the center of black holes. O'Dowd notes that while singularities are not proven to exist, they are still a valuable concept in helping scientists understand the behavior of black holes.

Towards the end of the episode, O'Dowd explores the idea that some matter entering a black hole may actually survive in some form. While this may seem impossible given the intense gravity and crushing forces at work inside a black hole, there are theoretical mechanisms by which matter may be able to resist complete destruction. For example, some types of particles may be able to "tunnel" through the event horizon and escape, while others may survive in the form of a "firewall" around the black hole's perimeter.

Overall, "What Survives Inside a Black Hole?" is an engaging and thought-provoking exploration of one of the most enigmatic and fascinating objects in our universe. By examining the nature of gravity, the episode helps viewers understand the complex processes at work inside black holes and the possible ways in which matter may be able to survive their tremendous gravitational forces.