B Does a Star's Fuel Running Out Lead to a Black Hole or Stellar Plasma?

[bcrowell]

The mathematics of GR extends beyond the event horizon, and says that the shape of space-time is such that there are no possible paths forward in time which stay in one place. Every possible path ends up in the singularity after a limited time.

I find it really helpful to use Penrose diagrams when thinking about this kind of thing. My book Relativity for Poets has a nonmathematical introduction to Penrose diagrams in section 11.5.

 

[PeterDonis]

doesnt string theory explain how the universe began?

"String theory" isn't really one theory, it's a whole infinite set of "theories" (meaning models of the universe). So it currently doesn't give a single explanation of how the universe began. Nor does it give, at this point, a single explanation of what happens inside a black hole, which is what you originally asked about in this thread. If you want to ask about how the universe began, you should start a new thread in the cosmology forum (but be aware that, as I've said, we don't currently have a single good answer to that question, all you'll get are our best current hypotheses).

 

[rootone]

The trouble with string theory is that while it's really elegant, there is no more evidence of it being true than the theory that there is a god.

 

[bcrowell]

The trouble with string theory is that while it's really elegant, there is no more evidence of it being true than the theory that there is a god.

Discussion of string theory would be more on topic in a separate thread in the BTSM forum.

 

[berkeman]

Thread closed temporarily for Moderation...

 

[PeterDonis]

Some overly speculative posts have been deleted. The thread appears to have run its course and will remain closed.