For decades, scientists have theorized the existence of primordial black holes (PBHs), tiny black holes that may have formed in the early universe. These mysterious objects could be responsible for 85% of the universe’s total mass, making them a crucial area of research. A new study co-led by the University at Buffalo proposes thinking both big and small to confirm their existence.
According to researchers, PBHs could leave behind two types of signatures: large hollow planetoids or microscopic tunnels in everyday materials like rocks, metal, and glass. The study suggests that a PBH trapped within a rocky object out in space would consume its liquid core and leave it hollow. Alternatively, a faster PBH might leave behind straight tunnels large enough to be visible by a microscope if passing through solid material.
The researchers calculated the likelihood of finding such signatures and found that searching for them would not require much resources. They also determined that the potential payoff – confirming the existence of primordial black holes – would be immense.
While the probability of a PBH passing through an object on Earth is small, the study proposes focusing on solid marks that have existed for thousands, millions, or even billions of years. The researchers found that areas of space may have been denser than their surroundings after the Big Bang, causing them to collapse and form primordial black holes.
The scientists’ work was supported by the National Science Foundation and National Science and Technology Council (Taiwan). As one researcher noted, “We don’t need a straightforward extension of the existing models. We probably need a completely new framework altogether.”
The study’s findings highlight the importance of theoretical research in addressing some of the universe’s most pressing mysteries.
Source: https://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2024/12/primordial-black-holes-may-be-hiding-in-planets-or-even-everyday-objects-here-on-Earth.html