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The Question

(Submitted March 30, 1997)

I have a question about Black Holes, can Black Holes transport you to other galaxies, like I see in Star Trek or in Star Wars movies, or is it just show biz? Are Black Holes transports to other worlds, other universes?

The Answer

In principle, the mathematics of black holes show that they might be able to transport you to another region of space or possibly another universe. However, the mathematics also shows that the connection only lasts for a fraction of a second at a time, and that the link to other universes depends on a specific set of conditions which scientists do not believe to have existed. Even if it were likely, however, the strong gravity field of the black hole tears apart any material falling into the hole. So it would not come out the other end looking anything like how it went in.

Jim Lochner

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