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Whose work first proved that black holes could be a real astrophysical possibility?
Quick Answer
John Michell proposed the idea of “dark stars” in 1783. He reasoned that gravity could be so strong that light could not escape.
The Full Story
John Michell, an English natural philosopher, described the possibility of stars so massive that their escape velocity would exceed the speed of light. He published this idea in 1783, long before modern relativity. Michell’s concept was an early theoretical precursor to black holes. Although the physics was incomplete by modern standards, the insight was remarkably ahead of its time.
Key Facts
1.Michell’s paper was published in 1783
2.He proposed “dark stars”
3.The idea depended on escape velocity
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"The 18th-century idea that predicted black holes"
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