In the realm of cosmic mysteries, dark matter and black holes hold top billing. Now, a groundbreaking research paper suggests a fascinating connection between black holes and dark matter, proposing the existence of parasitic black holes dwelling inside stars and influencing their cosmic dynamics.
The startling theory, detailed in The Astrophysical Journal, posits that black holes might be concealed within stars across the universe, acting as internal parasites slowly consuming their host stars from the inside out. While this concept might evoke a sense of cosmic horror, the implications are far-reaching, even considering the potential existence of parasitic black holes within our own sun.
The paper delves into the possibility that these parasitic black holes, often referred to as “primordial” black holes, could have formed in the early moments following the Big Bang, as per a theory developed by renowned physicist Stephen Hawking in the 1970s. While the whereabouts of these primordial black holes remain unknown, the idea that they could reside inside stars is a novel and intriguing hypothesis.
According to the researchers, these primordial black holes might have found a home within neutron stars, situated at their cores and gradually siphoning away the stars’ energy from within. Hawking himself has suggested the possibility of our sun harboring one of these primordial black holes.
Demonstrating the existence of parasitic black holes presents a formidable challenge, but scientists are undeterred. The hypothesis proposes that if a black hole the size of a dwarf planet resided within a star, it would rapidly consume the host star’s energy. Within a billion years, the star, instead of being powered by fusion as usual, would derive its energy from the internal black hole. This hypothetical celestial object is dubbed a “Hawking Star,” adding a layer of irony to its intriguing nature.
The next phase in exploring this captivating hypothesis involves studying stars believed to potentially harbor parasitic black holes, searching for telltale signatures of a black hole engine within their cosmic workings.
