Why Black Holes Could Delete The Universe – The Information Paradox

Summary

Black holes, the universe's most powerful entities, are capable of tearing stars apart and potentially erasing the universe. They form when immense matter is compressed into a minuscule space, creating an event horizon beyond which nothing, not even light, can escape. Black holes radiate their mass away through Hawking radiation, losing mass incredibly slowly over vast periods. This process raises the information paradox, as information seems to be destroyed within them, contradicting quantum mechanics. The holographic principle offers a potential resolution, suggesting that information is stored as a 2D surface area on the event horizon, implying the universe might be a hologram. This profound concept challenges our understanding of reality and physics.

Takeaways

• 🌀 Black holes are the most powerful cosmic entities, capable of tearing stars apart into subatomic particles.
• 🔴 A black hole forms when an immense amount of matter is compressed into a minuscule space, resulting in near-infinite gravity at its center.
• 🚫 Nothing, not even light, can escape a black hole once it crosses the event horizon, which is the point of no return.
• 💧 Falling into a black hole is likened to swimming in a river leading to a waterfall, where the water accelerates until it's impossible to escape.
• 🌡 Black holes emit Hawking radiation, a process where they lose mass extremely slowly, taking unimaginable amounts of time to evaporate completely.
• 🔥 The concept of information is crucial in physics, as it defines the arrangement and properties of particles, distinguishing different forms of matter.
• 📚 Quantum mechanics posits that information is indestructible, meaning it can change forms but is never truly lost.
• 💢 The information paradox arises from the apparent loss of information when it enters a black hole, challenging our fundamental understanding of physics.
• 🌌 The holographic principle suggests that information is stored on the surface of a black hole, making it a highly efficient storage medium.
• 🔄 The idea that black holes might encode three-dimensional information on a two-dimensional surface implies that our 3D universe could also be a projection of a 2D reality.
• 🔍 Black holes may hold the key to unraveling the true nature of reality, prompting a deeper exploration of physics and the universe.

Q & A

What is the most powerful entity in the universe as described in the transcript?

The most powerful entity in the universe, as described, is a black hole, which has the immense power to rip whole stars into atom-sized pieces.

How does the concept of a black hole form?

A black hole forms when an extraordinary amount of matter is concentrated in a tiny space, resulting in a center with gravity so strong that it can rip anything into its elementary particles.

What is the event horizon of a black hole and how does it relate to the black hole's perception?

The event horizon is the outer border of a black hole. It is perceived as the point of no return, beyond which nothing, not even light, can escape the black hole's gravitational pull, leading to the black hole's characteristic appearance as a sphere of blackness.

What is Hawking radiation and how does it affect black holes?

Hawking radiation is the process by which black holes radiate their mass away, similar to how a hot pot loses water as steam on a stove. This process is extremely slow, but it accelerates over time, leading to the eventual evaporation and disappearance of black holes.

Why is the potential deletion of information by black holes a problem?

The potential deletion of information by black holes is a problem because it contradicts the principles of quantum mechanics, which state that information is indestructible. This creates the information paradox, challenging our fundamental understanding of physics and the nature of reality.

What does the arrangement of particles tell us about information?

The arrangement of particles, such as carbon atoms, determines the information content, which in turn defines the properties and identity of the substance. Different arrangements result in different forms of matter, like coal, diamond, or even a living organism, highlighting the importance of information in the structure of the universe.

How does the holographic principle propose to resolve the information paradox?

The holographic principle suggests that the information swallowed by a black hole is not lost but is instead encoded on its event horizon, similar to how a hologram encodes a three-dimensional image on a two-dimensional surface. This means that the information is stored in a flat, two-dimensional form, potentially resolving the information paradox by preserving the information.

What is the implication of the holographic principle on our understanding of the universe?

If the holographic principle is correct, it implies that our three-dimensional reality is encoded on a two-dimensional surface, essentially suggesting that the universe is a hologram. This would fundamentally change our understanding of space and reality, as it would mean that everything we perceive as 3D is actually encoded on a flat surface.

How does the concept of a black hole being like a hard drive relate to the holographic principle?

The concept of a black hole being like a hard drive relates to the holographic principle in that black holes can store vast amounts of information on their surfaces, similar to how data is stored on a hard drive. Each bit of information increases the surface area of the black hole, effectively painting the information on its event horizon.

What is the significance of the Swiss National Science Foundation and Alessandro Sfondrini in the context of this video?

The Swiss National Science Foundation supported the creation of the video, and Alessandro Sfondrini provided scientific advice, ensuring the accuracy and credibility of the information presented about black holes and the nature of reality.

What does the script suggest about the future of black holes and the universe?

The script suggests that in the far future, black holes will continue to evaporate through Hawking radiation, eventually disappearing and leaving behind only radiation. This process, however, could lead to a deeper understanding of the universe's nature and potentially resolve the information paradox without requiring a complete overhaul of our physical laws.

Outlines

00:00

🌌 The Enigma of Black Holes

This paragraph delves into the mysteries of black holes, the universe's most powerful entities. It explains that black holes form when an immense amount of matter is compressed into a minuscule space, creating a gravitational force so strong that not even light can escape. The concept of the event horizon is introduced as the point of no return when approaching a black hole. The paragraph also touches on the phenomenon of Hawking radiation, where black holes lose mass over an incredibly long period, and the potential problem of black holes deleting fundamental information, leading to the information paradox.

05:02

💡 Resolving the Information Paradox

The second paragraph explores potential resolutions to the information paradox posed by black holes. It discusses the implications of information loss on our understanding of physics and presents three possibilities: information could be lost, hidden, or safely stored. The holographic principle is introduced as a solution where black holes store information on their surface area, akin to a hologram. This idea suggests that the three-dimensional universe might be encoded on a two-dimensional surface, fundamentally altering our perception of reality. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the strangeness and complexity of the universe, with black holes playing a crucial role in understanding its nature.

Keywords

💡Black holes

Black holes are astronomical objects with gravitational fields so intense that nothing, not even light, can escape from them. They are formed when a massive star collapses under its own gravity after a supernova explosion. In the video, black holes are described as the most powerful entities in the universe, capable of ripping stars apart and potentially deleting the universe itself by destroying information.

💡Event horizon

The event horizon is the boundary around a black hole beyond which nothing can escape, not even light. It is often likened to the point of no return when approaching a black hole. The video uses the analogy of swimming in a river leading up to a waterfall to explain the concept of the event horizon, where crossing it means certain doom as one cannot escape the black hole's gravitational pull.

💡Hawking radiation

Hawking radiation is a theoretical process first proposed by physicist Stephen Hawking, where black holes can lose mass and energy by quantum effects near the event horizon. This phenomenon suggests that black holes are not entirely black but emit small amounts of thermal radiation due to quantum effects near the event horizon. The video explains that black holes radiate their mass away through this process, albeit at an incredibly slow rate.

💡Information paradox

The information paradox is a problem in theoretical physics that arises from the conflict between the principles of quantum mechanics, which states that information cannot be destroyed, and the properties of black holes, which seemingly destroy information when objects fall into them. The video discusses this paradox and its implications for our understanding of the universe, suggesting that black holes might delete fundamental information, which is a serious issue for physics.

💡Quantum mechanics

Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics that describes the behavior and interactions of particles at the atomic and subatomic scales. It is one of the two main pillars of modern physics, along with general relativity. The video refers to quantum mechanics to explain the indestructible nature of information, which is a key concept in the information paradox related to black holes.

💡Holographic principle

The holographic principle is a concept in theoretical physics suggesting that the information about a volume of space can be thought of as encoded on a boundary to the region—much like a hologram. In the context of the video, this principle is used to propose a solution to the information paradox, where the information swallowed by black holes is stored on their event horizons, thus not lost but encoded in a different form.

💡Cosmic housekeeping

In the video, 'cosmic housekeeping' is a metaphor used to describe how black holes manage and store information. It likens the process of a black hole growing its surface area to accommodate more information to the act of cleaning and organizing a room filled with laundry baskets. This metaphor helps to illustrate the concept that black holes can store vast amounts of information on their surfaces.

💡Information

Information, in the context of the video, is understood as the arrangement or pattern of particles that distinguishes one thing from another. It is not a physical entity but rather a property that defines the structure and identity of matter. The video emphasizes the importance of information in the universe and how its potential loss within black holes presents a paradox.

💡Gravitational pull

Gravitational pull is the attractive force that objects exert on each other due to their mass. In the context of black holes, this force is so strong at the center that it results in a singularity where space and time are infinitely curved. The video describes the gravitational pull of black holes as being so intense that it can rip stars into atom-sized pieces.

💡Singularity

A singularity in the context of black holes is a point at the center where the laws of physics as we know them break down, and the density becomes theoretically infinite. It is a region of space where the gravitational force is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it. The video implies that at the core of a black hole lies a singularity where the conventional understanding of space and time ceases to exist.

💡Universe

The universe encompasses all of space, time, matter, and energy, including galaxies, stars, planets, and all forms of matter and energy. In the video, the universe is portrayed as a complex and strange entity, with black holes potentially holding the key to understanding its true nature. The discussion of black holes and information paradox leads to the idea that our universe might be a hologram, fundamentally altering our perception of reality.

Highlights

Black holes are the most powerful cosmic entities, capable of tearing stars apart into atom-sized pieces.

Black holes may have the potential to delete the universe itself due to their extreme properties.

A black hole forms when an enormous amount of matter is compressed into a minuscule space.

At the center of a black hole, gravity is so strong it rips objects into their fundamental particles.

Nothing, not even light, can escape a black hole, which is why they appear as black spheres.

The event horizon marks the point of no return when approaching a black hole, akin to a waterfall in a river.

Black holes radiate their mass away through a process known as Hawking radiation.

Hawking radiation causes black holes to lose an incredibly small amount of their mass over vast periods of time.

In the far future, black holes will evaporate and disappear, leaving behind only radiation.

The disappearance of black holes poses a problem as it might result in the loss of fundamental information.

Information, as a property of particle arrangement, is considered indestructible according to quantum mechanics.

The idea that information can be lost within black holes leads to the information paradox, challenging our understanding of physics.

One solution to the information paradox is that information is lost forever, which would require a complete overhaul of physics.

Another possibility is that information is hidden, transferred into a separate, unobservable part of the universe.

A third option suggests that information is safe and not lost, implying we may have misunderstood black holes' handling of information.

Black holes may store information on their surface, expanding their event horizon to accommodate more data.

The holographic principle posits that black holes store information in a two-dimensional form on their event horizon.

If the holographic principle is correct, it implies that our three-dimensional universe might be encoded on a two-dimensional surface.

The concept of black holes as holograms suggests that everything inside them is encoded on a flat surface, like a 3D image on a hologram.

The science behind black holes and the nature of the universe is complex, involving string theory and advanced mathematics.

Black holes could be the key to unlocking the true nature of reality, challenging our current understanding of physics and the cosmos.

Transcripts

Black holes are the most powerful things in the universe, strong enough to rip whole stars into atom sized pieces

Well, this is scary enough. They have an even more powerful and dark property: they might delete the universe itself.

Black holes in a nutshell

A black hole appears when an extraordinary amount of matter is concentrated in a tiny space.

At their center, gravity is almost infinitely strong and whatever gets too

close is ripped into its elementary particles.

Not even light can escape black holes, and so we perceive them as spheres of blackness.

If you were to fall into a black hole, nothing bad would happen until well after you crossed its outer border: the event horizon.

You can imagine this as swimming in a river that ends in an enormous waterfall.

As you float along, imperceptibly, the stream gets faster and faster, even if you can't see the waterfall yet.

You could swim to safety, until without even noticing it, you cross the point of no return.

No matter how fast you try to swim now, the stream will pull you towards certain death.

Nothing can escape a black hole waterfall once it gets too close.

This border completely separates black holes from the rest of the universe: we can't access them unless we're willing to never return.

So there's no way of telling what's really going on inside black holes,

but we have a few ideas about what's going on right at their very edges.

Black holes radiate their mass away, like a hot pot on a stove losing its water as steam.

This is called Hawking radiation.

Black holes constantly lose an extremely tiny amount of their mass,

a process that's unbelievably slow.

It will take a black hole with a mass of our sun 10,000 billion billion billion billion billion billion years to lose 0.0000001% of its mass.

This is happening constantly and unstoppably, and as it goes on it speeds up more and more.

In the far far future when the last star in the universe has been dead for trillions of years,

black holes will become tinier and tinier until they evaporate and disappear, leaving behind just a bit of radiation.

But this is a problem, because in the process of disappearing black holes might delete something fundamental: information.

2 - What is information?

Information is nothing tangible. It's typically understood as a property of the arrangement of particles. What does this mean?

Imagine a bunch of carbon atoms. Arrange them in a certain way and you get coal.

Arrange them in a different way, and you get a diamond.

The atoms are the same, what changes is the information. If we make this more complex and add in a few more atoms,

we get a banana.

Change the arrangement of the atoms, and we get a squirrel.

The basic building blocks of everything in the universe are the same,

and don't care if they're part of a bird or a rock or a cup of coffee.

Without information everything in the universe would be the same.

According to the theory of quantum mechanics information is indestructible.

It might change shape,

but it can never be lost: for example if you burn a piece of paper, you get ash.

That ash will never become paper again.

But, if you were able to carefully collect every single carbon atom in the ash, and measured the exact properties of the smoke and heat

radiating from the fire, you could, in theory reconstruct the paper.

The information of the paper is still in the universe. It's not lost,

it's just hard to read.

If you could somehow measure every single atom and particle and wave of radiation in the universe,

you could see and track every bit of information there is.

Hypothetically, you could see the entire history of the universe right back to the Big Bang.

And here black holes trip us up.

Information tells us how things are different from each other and what used to be what.

Black holes do the opposite: they take different things and make them the same. They destroy information.

This creates the information paradox, and this is a serious problem.

The information paradox

It's fundamental for all our laws of physics that information can never be lost.

Existing, not existing. Without information, everything is relative.

When it comes to our understanding of reality, we need absolutes.

How could we solve this paradox?

There are a few possibilities.

1) Information is lost.

Irretrievably and forever.

This means we have to nix all our laws of physics, throwing out a lot of stuff

that's worked very well so far and to start from scratch

What those new laws of physics would look like, or what that means for us, nobody knows.

This is a little frightening, but also kind of exciting.

2) Information is hidden.

Maybe a little part of the black hole splits off and forms a baby universe.

The information would be transferred into this new weird place, where we could never observe or interact with it,

but technically it would not be lost.

It's like having a broken hard drive with all your family photos, that you could never access.

Sure, it's nice that they've not been deleted, but also not very helpful.

Or maybe black holes don't disappear completely after the end of their life cycles,

but a little piece is left, an information diamond.

like a clown car filled with an infinite amount of information clowns.

But there's a third option:

Information is safe after all, not lost or hidden.

Perhaps we've just been looking at this whole thing the wrong way.

We know that black holes trap information and might delete it later, but we never thought about what they do with it in the meantime.

Where do black holes store their information?

Cosmic housekeeping

Let's create a black hole with dirty laundry.

First, we fill up a room with laundry baskets: the more laundry you want to store, the more baskets you put in the room.

But at some point every single basket is full, and the room is completely stacked, not a single extra sock fits in.

The room is at maximum capacity.

But if we still squeeze the sock in with a lot of energy and violence, the room collapses in on itself and forms a black hole.

But the capacity of the room itself has not changed, fitting in more stuff or information is still impossible.

So what happens if we throw more laundry into it?

The room itself gets a little bit bigger to make space for the new information.

It turns out a black hole grows its surface by a tiny pixel for each bit of information we throw into it.

In a nutshell, more information means more surface area.

The information gets painted on the surface, similar to what happens when we throw a stone into a pond.

After the stone sinks to the bottom we can't see it anymore,

but we can tell that something went in from the ripples on the surface of the pond.

Even the smallest black hole can store more information on its surface than all the data ever produced in human history.

They do this by storing information in a type of pixel that is unbelievably tiny.

Black holes are the ultimate hard drive.

This is a bit like taking a paper back, and turning it into an e-book, two things that look completely different.

But their content is the same -- it's just encoded and memorized in another way.

Black holes swallowing stars and planets is a bit like transferring a whole library onto an e-reader.

This solution is called the holographic principle, but if it's correct then everything we thought we knew about the universe is wrong.

The universe is a hologram

If information is actually stored on the boundary of a black hole, the Hawking radiation has a chance of learning about the information

encoded there, and can carry it away.

So, information is not lost when black holes fade away,

and we do not need to redo physics: the information paradox is resolved.

But we still have to change our understanding of reality in a fundamental way.

If everything that falls into the black hole is stored on its event horizon, that basically means that three-dimensional stuff is encoded on a flat surface.

We have a name for this: a hologram.

A hologram is like a 3D photo, a flat piece of plastic that encodes a three-dimensional image.

A black hole is like a hologram, because everything inside it is encoded on its event horizon.

A person inside a black hole will experience their usual three-dimensional life.

but for us on the outside they are flattened images on the surface of the black hole.

The consequence of this is counterintuitive, but stay with us for a moment.

Black holes are very extreme objects, but they're still bound to the same rules as everything else.

So if this crazy duality between 2D and 3D works for black holes, then it might work for the whole universe, and you in it.

Since a person inside a black hole would not realize that they're encoded on a flat surface,

we might share the same fate: you really might be stretched over a flat screen at the end of the universe.

The science behind this is complicated and really weird, with toy universes to play with, string theory and a lot of maths.

We'll talk about this more in another video.

Regardless of what the true nature of the universe really is, we just know that it's strange and complicated,

and we have to do a lot more physics to understand it.

But black holes might be key to understanding the nature of reality itself.

This video was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation, and realized with the scientific advice of Alessandro Sfondrini.