A picture of the Gamma Ray Observatory, which can be used to detect primordial black holes
NASA

Did the Big Bang create any black holes? Wouldn't the universe evolve differently if some of the original energy had disappeared in black holes?

When an object has a really high energy, it can form a black hole. This is called a primordial black hole. Primordial black holes were formed near the beginning of the universe.

Primordial black holes are really small compared to other black holes. A really small black hole can give off a lot of energy. We have tried to detect this energy but we can't.

Energy doesn't disappear when it forms a black hole. Even though it's stuck in the black hole it still has gravity. The gravity can affect other things in the universe just like if the black hole hadn't been formed.


Submitted by Surjeet (Madras, India)
(April 1, 1998)

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