• Question: how can a dwarf turn inside out in order to turn into the black hole?

    Asked by sodiumpolyacrylate to Mike, Suze, Will on 23 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Mike Dodd

      Mike Dodd answered on 23 Jun 2011:

      Hey SPA,
      I’m not actually sure. I think it’s time that Suze calls up her “Neutron Star Dude” 🙂
      But there is a great website from NASA all about stars and formation of black holes. Sorry I couldn’t actually answer your question. Have fun with the awesome pictures from NASA http://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/how-do-stars-form-and-evolve/

    • Photo: Suze Kundu

      Suze Kundu answered on 23 Jun 2011:

      Hello SPA! hey Mikey Pops 🙂

      I think that a black hole could technically form when a star runs out of hydrogen fuel to fuse together to make helium. When it runs out, you can get a gravitational collapse, where the star sort of falls in on itself. I have a feeling that this only happens with really HUGE stars, and I don’t know whether any variety of dwarf star would be big enough.

      Basically, I’m as curious as you, with no answers to offer! OK, you can have Space Boy, or Neutron Star Dude. You decide. I’ll go and ask them both in the meantime!

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