Could a naked singularity, the bare core of a black hole, be sitting at the centre of our galaxy - an object so dense it would shred the known laws of physics? Singularities exist in the heart of every black hole, according to Einstein's general theory of relativity. When matter collapses under its own gravity, it forms either a point of infinite density. But each of these singularities is cloaked by a so-called event horizon – where light and everything else is inexorably sucked inwards. So we could never see one. Unless, that is, there are black holes that spin at extreme speeds. A spinning black hole drags nearby space around with it, and if it spins fast enough, then light and matter could escape from right by the singularity, (the Kerr Newman area. If you recall the story I read a couple of weeks ago, Stephen Baxter's Pilot. The story describes an encounter with a black hole and this area, check it out! pac) because they would be flung outwards by the dizzying rotation. This gravitational tornado would have no event horizon, and the singularity would be exposed. Astronomers could start looking for these naked singularities in the centre of our galaxy. It seems that even though they can't be viewed directly, the effects on the surrounding space would be very observable. Such immense forces would create what is called a "gravity lens effect" which would distort light from other stars or galaxies as it passes through the area.
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thanks to Shaun A. Saunders for the post
