What is the life cycle of a black hole?

The first phase:

First formations

All black holes are formed from the gravitational collapse of a star with a powerful core. The star is created when huge gas clouds bind together due to attractive forces and create a hot core which is then combined with the energy of the gas clouds. Then, a nuclear reaction occurs and the start starts to burn continuously. A star can burn for millions or even billions of years depending on how much gas there is. The star manages to avoid collapsing at this point because of the equilibrium achieved by itself. Next, the gravitational pull from the core of the star is equal to the pull of the gases forming, so the star can go through several different stages. Usually if the star is small in mass, most of the gases will be consumed while some of it escapes. It is then called a White Dwarf. If the star was to have a larger mass however, then it may possibly Supernova, meaning that the nuclear fusion within the star simply goes out of control causing the star to explode. A black hole is one of the last option that a star may take. If the core of the star is so massive, then those gases will collapse inward, forced into the core by the gravitational force laid upon them. After a black hole is created, the gravitational force continues to pull in space debris and other type of matters to help add to the mass of the core, making the hole stronger and more powerful. Most black holes ar in a constant spinning motion.

Astronomer Misty Bentz

Interview with Brentz

“It doesn’t matter if it’s gas that’s falling onto it, If it’s another star that gets ripped apart and falls onto it, if its a planet that got ripped apart and fell onto it—whatever goes in adds to the mass of the back hole. That accretion process, eating little bits of stuff over a long period of time, that’s one way that black holes grow over the history of the Universe.” Bentz says. They grow most efficiently when they swallow gas up. Gas falls into a black hole like water drains down a bathtub, and gas acts similarly in a black hole. Due to the gravity of the black hole, the gas thins out into a disc, then falls in.

The death process

How they die

The idea is that if a black hole were sitting there by itself, it would eventually be worn down by subatomic particles. This is what happens: All over the universe, pairs of subatomic particles pop into existence. They are next to each other, and one is a particle, the other is a antiparticle. After they spring into the universe, they smack into each other and vanish into energy again. If this happens near a black hole without more mass joining it, eventually the black hole will radiate away. However, it would take years, trillions and trillions of years just to make a dent. Brentz estimates it would take around 10^54 years before the first black holes start dying.

5 interesting facts

Interesting facts

1. A black hole is called a black hole because we cannot see it, as light is also sucked in.

2. Our milky way probably has black holes.

3. There are three categories of black holes:

1) Primordial black holes - smallest ones.

2) Stellar black holes - normal ones.

3) Super black hoes - biggest ones.

4. We don't know if wormholes exist.

5. Black holes are often used in science fiction. Examples include: event horizon, star trek, battle-star galactica, superman, transformers, treasure island and more.

Some more facts:

More:

Black holes weren't discovered until X-ray astronomy was used.

Black holes are only dangerous if you get too close to it. The "Point of no return" is called point horizon. This is where the gravity is so strong you cannot escape it. The closer you get to a black hole, the slower time runs. Material that gets sucked in can never escape.