Part 1 of 4 - Who's Afraid of a Big Black Hole? - BBC Horizon

Black holes are one of the most destructive forces in the universe, capable of tearing a planet apart and swallowing an entire star. Yet scientists now believe they could hold the key to answering the ultimate question - what was there before the Big Bang?

The trouble is that researching them is next to impossible. Black holes are by definition invisible and there's no scientific theory able to explain them. Despite these obvious obstacles, Horizon meets the astronomers attempting to image a black hole for the very first time and the theoretical physicists getting ever closer to unlocking their mysteries. It's a story that takes us into the heart of a black hole and to the very edge of what we think we know about the universe.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Black
• Hole
• Destructive
• Universe
• Big
• Bang
• Invisible
• Theory
• Astronomy
• Mystery

[ThermalHD]

What is it with the world, only 2469 have watched this since 20 nov 2010, amazing to be on a planet with 7 billion ignorant people.

[CooCurrent]

@kristensing1 Please stop trolling!

[A55K1KKR]

@lmos26 This programme, and many other good Horizon episodes are available to download from Stagevu.com, free and easy viewing for anyone who`s interested.

[lmos26]

@A55K1KKR im frome the USA :(

[A55K1KKR]

@lmos26 `Whos afraid of big black holes` was on last nite on bbc4, this program is currently on the iplayer and available for download. EXCELLENT viewing.

[advers1078]

@STEPHENWRAYSFORD33 we all need a dim few to realise we're bright, hence the light bulb.

[SOCOMHEADQUARTERS]

@EnlightenU I see. Black Holes are a nightmare and well just to tell you i don't want to corsbond with one. It will stretch your body a thousand miles. So basicly your dead before what ever happend to you. Imagine yourself being stretched out a thousand miles. Mind bogling.

[schnides1974]

awsome info and speculation.

[EnlightenU]

A concentration of Gravitational waves colliding in the fabric of space, near a dying star, create black holes as water energy create whirlpools. The harmonics of the stars termination creates the point or center anchor for gravitational waves to create the Black hole. Just sayn....

[lmos26]

BBC keeps removing their science videos, why do this? why not share this with the world? Because of youtube and BBC being on it, I became familiar with great minds like Brian Cox and so on, I have learned so much and continue to "try" and enjoy them BUT they just keep on disappearing.

[Buckachow]

Professor Leonard at 0:57

[suwanshree]

If parallel universes and the multi-verse are real then possibly black holes are formed when the supernova explosion is big enough (10 solar masses or something) that it rips the fabric of our universe and a hole is formed drawing matter into it which is then released in the multi-verse....Or it might be just me ive just been watching too much space videos lately....