A Strange Black Hole Mystery Has Stumped Physicists Since 1993. Researchers May Finally Have the Answer
Researchers have made progress in understanding how black holes may emerge from critical collapse, a phenomenon first suggested in 1993. A new theoretical framework provides a formula for how spacetime crystals could collapse into black holes, offering precise parameters for exploration. Further empirical testing is needed to validate these findings and their implications for black hole formation in the early universe.
- ▪In 1993, Matthew Choptuik proposed that black holes could emerge from critical collapse.
- ▪A recent study has provided a formula for how spacetime crystals might collapse into black holes.
- ▪Theoretical results from the study could help astronomers explore black hole formation in the universe's early days.
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| Original publisher | Gizmodo |
| Canonical URL | https://gizmodo.com/a-strange-black-hole-mystery-has-stumped-physicists-since-1993-researchers-may-finally-have-the-answer-2000762518 |
| Publication time | Fri, 22 May 2026 15:35:10 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-22T15:42:02.431Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-22T15:42:02.431Z |
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In 1993, Canadian physicist Matthew Choptuik demonstrated black holes may emerge spontaneously from critical collapse, during which spacetime curvatures organize themselves into a defined, repeating crystal-like pattern. But researchers weren’t quite able to describe this nicely in formulaic language—until now.cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({"playerId":"92b7b46b-43ed-4e0e-b21b-2c999302d9d7","settings":{"advertising":{"macros":{"AD_UNIT":"/23178111854/od.gizmodo.com/article","CHILD_UNIT":"article","POST_ID":"2000762518","POST_TYPE":"post","CHANNEL":"science","SECTION":"space","SUBSECTION":"","CATEGORIES":"space","TAGS":"astrophysics,black-holes,general-relativity","NOP":"0"},"timeBeforeFirstAd":0}}}).render("cnx-player-main")}); A team of theoretical physicists say it’s found the long-sought…
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