The laws of oecumenical relativity suggest that it is possible for an object to have such a density that nothing , not even light , can escape . That is a black hole . There are a few defining characteristic for these objects . They lean to have an issue celestial horizon , the control surface that separates them from the rest of the universe – once you cross it , you ca n’t add up back . And the mathematics also place to the mien of a singularity at the core . Which is an enormous problem .

A uniqueness is a problem because the laws of physics – at least as we acknowledge them – hang aside . Density is uncounted there , and it is a lieu where both general relativity and quantum machinist do n’t figure out anymore . Researchers have been trying to get rid of singularities for many decades , suggesting many alternative . A new paper , a collaboration of unlike groups , suggests two new one .

The troublesome recognised eyeshot of smuggled holes is called the standard black hole . The two new proposals are called even dark holes ( we cognize , confusing ) and black-market hole mimickers . A standard black hole has a uniqueness at its nub , an event horizon , and an unstable light ringing , which has been snapped by theEvent Horizon Telescopein the case of M87 * and Sagittarius A * , the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way .

![The event horizon telescope image ofM87*. An orange donut with some brighter spots is seen around a dark center where the black hole is](https://assets.iflscience.com/assets/articleNo/79080/iImg/83693/m87-s-black-hole-l (1).png)

The EHT image of M87.Image credit: Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration*

A even black hole would have the light doughnut and the out horizon , but also an inside apparent horizon , which would enclose a core or a wormhole throat instead of a uniqueness . This would be aspacetimeregion that traps count there for an infinite or finite time .

The black fix mimicker has a light closed chain , but does not have a horizon . It has a control surface , but that does n’t intend it needs to be a square aerofoil ; it could let things in , and peradventure it could be the way of life to pass into a wormhole or to meet an ultracompact adept .

The proposals are certainly out - there , but are these two scenarios really different from your standard black mess , yield we have not pick up of singularity for about a one C ? The important affair is working out if these alternative have effects that make them endure asunder . Something like the Event Horizon Telescope ’s clear pack might not tell us much about that .

Schematic views of the three alternatives.  the standard black hole predicted by classical general relativity, with both a singularity and an event horizon; the regular black hole, which eliminates the singularity but retains the horizon; and the black hole mimicker, which reproduces the external features of a black hole but has neither a singularity nor an event horizon.

Standard, regular, or a black hole mimicker?Image credit: Sissa Medialab. Background image sourced from ESO/Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit (eso.org/public/images/eso1101a/)

“ But all is not lost , ” co - author Stefano Liberati , from SISSA , order in astatement . “ veritable black holes , and specially mimickers , are never exactly monovular to stock black holes – not even outside the horizon . So observation that probe these regions could , indirectly , tell us something about their interior structure . ”

Astrophysical uncertainties might be hide discernible signatures , and so the team can not serve questions once and for all . There might be more insight coming fromgravitational wavedetectors as they dig into the whole black maw .

“ Current ( LIGO / Virgo / KAGRA , the EHT ) and planned ( LISA , TianQin , Taiji , Einstein Telescope , Cosmic Explorer , Black Hole Explorer ) observational musical instrument suggest another several decades of future incoming data – which would be extremely utile in not letting the theoretician get too far off lead , ” the squad write in the paper .

“ What lie down ahead for gravity research , ” concluded Liberati , “ is a truly exciting metre . We are embark an era where a immense and undiscovered landscape is opening up before us . ”

The study has been accepted by theJournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physicsand is uncommitted on theArXiv .