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singularity

astronomy
Also known as: Schwarzschild singularity

Quick Summary

A singularity, in astronomy, is a point of zero volume and infinite density. It is thought to be the incredibly dense center of a black hole, formed when a massive star collapses inward after a supernova. This extreme density warps space-time, causing time to slow down dramatically near the black hole's event horizon.

The concept of a singularity is also central to the big bang theory, which posits that the universe began as a singularity—an extremely hot, dense point containing all of space, time, and energy. This singularity then underwent a vast expansion, not an explosion, to form the universe we know today. The exact origins of this initial singularity remain a mystery.

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