This strange “spacetime crystal” can suddenly become a black hole
Science Daily · 2026-08-30
Physicists from Goethe University Frankfurt and TU Wien have mathematically described how a strange, crystal-like state of spacetime could transform into a microscopic black hole. This research, published on August 30, 2026, details how under specific critical conditions, spacetime can organize itself into a repeating pattern, forming a "spacetime crystal." While this state could simply dissolve, the addition of a tiny amount of energy can trigger its collapse into a black hole. The researchers developed an exact formula for this phenomenon, which computer simulations first indicated was possible in 1993, by simplifying complex calculations through analyzing the problem in a hypothetical setting with infinitely many dimensions before translating the solution back to our four-dimensional universe. This new method allows for analytical study of black hole formation and extreme spacetime behaviors, potentially reducing reliance on numerical simulations.