What is a black hole?

A black hole is a region in space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it. This intense gravitational pull happens because a large amount of mass is compressed into a very small area. The boundary around a black hole, beyond which nothing can return, is called the event horizon. Black holes typically form when very massive stars reach the end of their life cycle. After burning through their fuel, these stars can collapse under their own gravity during a supernova explosion. If the remaining core's mass is sufficiently large, it compresses into a black hole. Because the gravitational pull near the black hole is so extreme, even light cannot escape once it passes the event horizon, which is why black holes appear "black" or invisible to us. Scientists study black holes by observing the effects they have on nearby matter, such as stars and gas clouds, which can emit X-rays and other radiation as they spiral into the black hole. Black holes are fascinating objects that challenge our understanding of physics and continue to be a major area of research in astrophysics.