Scientists are exploring a bold new theory: tiny black holes formed shortly after the Big Bang, known as primordial black holes (PBHs), could be tunneling through planets, asteroids, and even everyday objects on Earth.
According to a recent study published in Physics of the Dark Universe, these elusive cosmic entities might leave microscopic traces of their passage, providing potential evidence for their existence.
PBHs are theoretical objects as heavy as mountains but as small as hydrogen atoms, making them incredibly difficult to detect. Unlike black holes that form from collapsing stars, PBHs are believed to have emerged in the universe’s earliest moments, when dense pockets of matter may have collapsed under their own gravity.
Could PBHs Hold the Key to Dark Matter?
Physicists have long speculated that PBHs might be linked to dark matter, the mysterious substance that makes up 85% of the universe’s mass. However, no direct evidence for PBHs has been found despite decades of research. This new study suggests looking in unconventional places, such as planets, ancient rocks, or even hollowed-out celestial bodies, to detect their presence.
A Microscopic Journey Through Earth
The researchers propose that PBHs might burrow through planets, potentially hollowing them out by absorbing their dense cores. On Earth, they could create microscopic tunnels smaller than a human hair without causing any noticeable damage. These “cosmic tunnels” may hold clues to their existence.
While the odds of a PBH passing through an object—even a billion-year-old boulder—are incredibly slim (estimated at 0.0001%), scientists argue that searching for traces in ancient materials or unusual planetary structures is worth the effort.
The Search for Hollowed-Out Objects
Astronomers are also encouraged to search for asteroids or small planets that might have captured PBHs. Such objects could exhibit hollowed-out cores, providing observable evidence of these elusive black holes.
Physicist Dejan Stojkovic, a co-author of the study, emphasizes the need for new approaches. “What has been done before hasn’t worked. We need new frameworks to uncover these hidden forces of the universe,” he said.
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