Evidence of inexistence in black holes?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of black holes, specifically questioning whether the interior of a black hole is an empty void and exploring concepts related to time and spacetime within this context. Participants engage in theoretical considerations and speculative ideas about the implications of being inside a black hole.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if there is evidence that the inside of a black hole is an "empty oblivion of nothingness" and proposes the idea of a negative index of timespace.
  • Another participant asserts that there can be no observational evidence from inside the event horizon and challenges the definition of "empty oblivion of nothingness."
  • It is noted that locally, the experience inside the event horizon may not differ from outside, suggesting that one could live an entire life without noticing anything unusual.
  • Some participants discuss the concept of a "negative index of timespace," with one suggesting it could relate to time running backwards, possibly linking it to the idea of white holes.
  • A participant expresses uncertainty about their understanding of these concepts, asking if their assumptions are incorrect and acknowledging their limited background in physics.
  • Another participant critiques the logic of the assumptions made about light and time within a black hole, stating that the ideas presented do not align with established physics principles.
  • One participant emphasizes that information from inside the event horizon is unknowable, reiterating the limits of understanding black holes.
  • A later reply humorously suggests that one could see what is on the other side of the event horizon by crossing it, while questioning the continuity of identity in such a scenario.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with some agreeing on the unknowability of the interior of black holes while others contest specific interpretations and assumptions about time and light. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing ideas presented.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of observational evidence from inside black holes, the ambiguity in definitions of terms like "negative index of timespace," and unresolved logical inconsistencies in the claims about light behavior and time reversal.

Pragz
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Is there any hard evidence that the inside of a black hole is simply an empty oblivion of nothingness? I've been mulling over some thoughts on time, and this has been grinding progress.

I'm currently trying to find if the possibility of its center being a negative index of timespace is indeed possible.
 
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There is no, and can be no observational evidence from inside the event horizon. But theoretically, the interior does not seem to qualify as what you describe. On that note, what exactly is 'an empty oblivion of nothingness' ?
Also, what is a 'negative index of timespace[sic]'?
 
Note that locally there is nothing at all funny about the inside of an event horizon. That is, if you were inside the event horizon falling -- and confined to a small box, you wouldn't notice anything strange at all. Indeed, one can imagine a very large black hole such that you could live your entire life inside the event horizon and not notice anything strange.

And I echo zhermes' concern, what do you mean by 'negative index of timespace' (spacetime?)
 
"negative index of timespace" sounds like an analogy for a white hole.

"negative index" in this case meaning time running backwards.

It sounds like the OP is proposing the whole 'black holes lead to white holes' idea.
 
Yes, timespace should have been spacetime. My bad.

By negative index, I was essentially referring to what has already been stated: time running backwards. Not necessarily a white hole, but a reverse in time outside relative to yourself. And I'm only just realizing that testing this would be impossible:

Assuming that the inside does essentially work backwards, all light would be stopped at the event horizon. Light passing through would achieve higher speeds (it has negative distance and time to pass through, relative to our universe) and reach the "other side" faster than instantly, but would be instantly slowed to our current speed of light and thus unable to escape the horizon.

Please tell me if I'm completely wrong on these assumptions. I've still only taken high school Physics classes, so I'm no where near able to know if there are facts backing me. >.<
 
Let me start out by praising your interest in physics, and your desire to keep exploring it.

That said, there's basically nothing correct about what you've said :) sorry.

Pragz said:
By negative index, I was essentially referring to what has already been stated: time running backwards. Not necessarily a white hole, but a reverse in time outside relative to yourself. And I'm only just realizing that testing this would be impossible:
What you've written here doesn't really make literal sense, but trying to read between the lines... like Nabeshin says, it fundamental to the nature of general relativity (which predicts black holes in the first place) that an observer inside the event horizon doesn't locally experience anything differently than on the outside. Also, if time was reversed (somehow) on the inside (which there is really *no* reason to believe is the case), there would be all sorts of causality issues and discontinuities at the event horizon.

Pragz said:
Assuming that the inside does essentially work backwards, all light would be stopped at the event horizon. Light passing through would achieve higher speeds (it has negative distance and time to pass through, relative to our universe) and reach the "other side" faster than instantly, but would be instantly slowed to our current speed of light and thus unable to escape the horizon.
This part makes even less sense (I don't mean to be rude or derisive, just being blunt).
You're saying both that light can't cross the horizon, and that light speeds up across is---doesn't make sense. Also, negative distance and time doesn't really mean anything either---in the context that would be effectively the same.

Also, 'faster than instantly' doesn't make any sense. Its not only contrary both special and general relativity and classical physics, but also just logic itself.

Pragz said:
Please tell me if I'm completely wrong on these assumptions. I've still only taken high school Physics classes, so I'm no where near able to know if there are facts backing me. >.<
You are completely wrong :)
And that's the first step in learning.

It sounds like you have a true interest in the material, and like you're a sharp person---you should pick up a physics book and try to learn the material. People like stephen hawking, leonard susskind, etc etc have spent their entire lives doing little but study these subjects, and only then are they able to postulate new possibilities etc. There's a lot of background you need before you can dive into black holes.

Good luck!
 
Since it impossible to recover information from inside the event horizon, the answer is - UNKNOWABLE. I hope that helps.
 
Zhermes, I am completely new to this forum ... just saw it 1/2 hr ago, joined immediately and have been mostly just browsing ever since. I am VERY pleased to have read your reply 2 boxes above because of the way it combines politeness with bluntness, along with your having started off encouraging knowledge. If the rest of the forum comes close to your standards, I'm sure I'll love it here.
 
Chronos said:
Since it impossible to recover information from inside the event horizon, the answer is - UNKNOWABLE. I hope that helps.

You can see what's on the other side of the event horizon if you cross it yourself... :wink:
 
  • #10
Hurkyl said:
You can see what's on the other side of the event horizon if you cross it yourself... :wink:

But would you still be considered "yourself" on crossing it? :rolleyes:

A bit like saying you can see the future 'yourself' if someone digs you out of your wooden sleeping box in a thousand years. A sound idea with only one drawback - it kinda ignores the nice little bit in between called death. :wink:
 

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