Want to find a black hole? Pick up a rock

Explore tiny primordial black holes in old rocks with no special equipment.

: Scientists De-Chang Dai and Dejan Stojkovic propose that primordial black holes, formed shortly after the Big Bang, can leave tiny holes in materials. This hypothesis suggests that black holes with Earth's mass might pierce through regular matter, creating observable holes 0.1 micron wide. By examining ancient rocks, glass, or dense old objects, they believe individuals could find traces of these elusive entities. While chances are slim, the cost of exploring is low, and any discovery would significantly impact cosmology and the understanding of dark matter.

De-Chang Dai and Dejan Stojkovic propose that primordial black holes, theorized to have formed in the universe's first second, might create microscopic holes as they pass through matter. With masses comparable to even tiny black holes, they could form holes 0.1 micron wide, visible through a standard optical microscope.

The authors encourage investigating old objects, noting that while the likelihood is minuscule, the potential rewards are groundbreaking. Should such black holes exist, they could provide evidence of ancient cosmological phenomena and introduce new ideas about dark matter — a mysterious substance comprising 85% of the universe's mass.

The researchers suggest these explorations require minimal equipment and pose little risk, suggesting an accessible scientific endeavor. Finding even indirect evidence of primordial black holes could offer unprecedented insights into both black holes and the formation of the universe itself.

Primordial Black Holesdark mattercosmology