Could Black Holes Be Portals to Other Universes?

David Shiga writes "Astronomers have identified many objects out there that they think are black holes. But could they be portals to other universes called wormholes, instead? According to a new study by a pair of physicists, we wouldn't be able to tell the difference. They have discovered that wormholes with the right shape would look identical to black holes from the outside. But while a trip into a black hole would mean certain death, a wormhole might spit you out into a parallel universe with its own stars and planets. Exotic effects from quantum physics might produce wormholes naturally from collapsing stars, one of the physicist says, and they might even be produced in future particle accelerator experiments."

Event Horizon

[Anonymous Coward]

We can't travel through wormholes, hasn't everyone seen Event Horizon?

Could Black Holes Be Portals to Other Universes?

[XnavxeMiyyep]

A question that was never asked before today!

I can only imagine

[wmwilson01]

"Err... Captain, are you *sure* that's a wormhole and not just a blackhole?" "Shush! If there's one thing I learned at Starfleet Academy it's the difference between a wormhole and a

Going into confusion...

[bitRAKE]

What would a blackhole going through a wormhole look like?

(Or is that when the 503 error happens?)

Life imitates art, doesn't it?

[semifamous]

I always knew that black holes were portals.
I mean, isn't this basic science? You go in one side and you come out the other.

It's kinda like Pac-Man, right?

Wow, what an original idea!

[caywen]

I simply never thought of black holes and wormholes that way. Going to another universe/dimension/time/etc - gosh that's something that I don't think even science fiction has considered. I always thought they were just kind of, um, holes or something.

Just like putting

[geekoid]

a portable hole into a bag of holding!

Boxes?

[eggman9713]

But, but, Professor Farnsworth's boxes are the gateways to other universes!

Let's throw the hardened convicts in there

[atari2600]

You know, the really really bad guys. Give them a ship with food, guns and other building blocks for "civilization". If they make it, well we win. If they don't, well too bad but that relieves the load on prisons. What? It worked for Australia didn't it? Ok laugh now - that was supposed to be funny.

Hmmm, come to think about it; not a bad idea at all.

Re:Into the Unknown: The Circle

[Pollardito]

a wormhole that's a loop and leads back to itself reminds me more of European Vacation: "Hey look kids, there's Big Ben, and there's Parliament."

Re:Wow, what an original idea!

[aled]

I always thought they were just kind of, um, holes or something.

Tubes.

Re:easy to test...

[mdahl]

Getting there is no problem. Just have Ballmer fling a chair its way and wait a few seconds.

Oh, well, that's different

[Deadstick]

But while a trip into a black hole would mean certain death, a wormhole might spit you out into a parallel universe

...dead.

rj

Re:Wow, what an original idea!

[Jarjarthejedi]

Hmm...seems more like a Truck to me...I mean, you get in and may or may not come out...reminds of hitchhiking and it's even dependant on what kind of effects you have on you!

is this like saying

[semiotec]

toilets are in fact, gateways to other people's homes? perhaps someone could make a pretty picture to make this argument more plausible.

Are you nuts?

[geekoid]

Basically he is saying send all the religeos nuts into a ship and blast them to the nearest workhole. That. Plan. Is . BRILLIANT!

Re:what would happen on the other side?

[instagib]

> I am largely talking out of my ass

Which proves that sound waves come out of black holes ...

Re:Universal gravity

[Brad1138]

It sounds like your teacher may have had the misconception that the universe is an expanding sphere, with stars and galaxies on the inside, and a void outside into which the matter expands.

It sounds like you may not be familiar with this [appstate.edu].

Re:Going into confusion...

[rs79]

"What would a blackhole going through a wormhole look like?"

Utah.

Re:We could

[Dr. Eggman]

Bad idea. I fear the consequences of allowing the two most dense entities in the universe to cross paths:

Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.

Re:Into the Unknown: The Circle

[rasputin465]

Black holes are where god divided by zero

Re:Logical contradiction

[lipbone]

Oh shut your fucking piehole. BTW, just in case you think that I'm being offensive, I'm not. My language has evolved more than yours. You probably crave order and stability you lite-weight moron.

Something more obscure?

[fahrbot-bot]

Rigel's bored, "Wormhole. Normal space. Wormhole." So instead, and considering slashdot's current technical problems, how about something more obscure.

Ask and ye shall receive...

Towns, rivers, palaces,
all mixed up in an inextricable whirl.

Over there, Miss Honeychurch,
the villa of my dear friend Lady Laverstock,
at present busy with a Fra Angelico definitive study.

And, on your left - no, just there -
Mr. Henry Burridge lives.

- A Room With a View

Merchant-Ivory fans will need no explaination, but in case the relevance isn't obvious, the scene is an open carriage ride through the country with Mr. Emerson showing the sights to Miss Honeychurch, "...and on your left..."

Re:If this were true...

[Dachannien]

Only if His Noodly Appendage wills it so.