Little Black Holes Everywhere

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Jul 28, 2023

Join physicist Matt O'Dowd, a professor and host of 'PBS Space Time,' as he unpacks the enigmatic Tunguska event of 1908. He delves into theories linking tiny black holes to this cosmic mystery and examines their potential catastrophic effects on Earth. The conversation shifts to exploring primordial black holes and their whimsical journey through the universe, intertwining science with imaginative storytelling. O'Dowd also reflects on the profound connections between black holes and stars, likening them to cosmic best friends.

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ANECDOTE

Tunguska Event Mystery

The Tunguska event flattened 800 square miles of Siberian forest in 1908.
Despite the devastation, no impact crater or space rocks were found, sparking numerous theories.

INSIGHT

Tiny Black Holes

Black holes can range in size, from enormous to incredibly tiny, like an atom.
These smaller black holes are called primordial black holes (PBHs).

INSIGHT

PBH Formation

Primordial black holes (PBHs) formed during the Big Bang's intense gravity fluctuations.
Though small, they possess significant mass, comparable to asteroids.

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In 1908, on a sunny, clear, quiet morning in Siberia, witnesses recall seeing a blinding light streak across the sky, and then… the earth shook, a forest was flattened, fish were thrown from streams, and roofs were blown off houses. The “Tunguska event,” as it came to be known, was one of the largest extraterrestrial impact events in Earth’s history. But what kind of impact—what exactly struck the earth in the middle of Siberia?—is still up for debate. Producer Annie McEwen dives into one idea that suggests a culprit so mysterious, so powerful, so… tiny, you won’t believe your ears. And stranger still, it may be in you right now. Or, according to Senior Correspondent Molly Webster, it could be You.EPISODE CREDITS Reported by - Annie McEwen and Molly WebsterProduced by - Annie McEwen and Becca Bresslerwith help from - Matt KieltyOriginal music and sound design contributed by - Jeremy Bloom, Annie McEwen, Matt KieltyMixing by - Jeremy Bloomwith dialogue mixing by - Arianne WackFact-checking by - Diane Kellyand edited by - Alex Neason

GUESTS Matt O’Dowd (https://www.mattodowd.space/)Special Thanks:

Special thanks to, Matthew E. Caplan, Brian Greene, Priyamvada Natarajan, Almog Yalinewich

EPISODE CITATIONS

Videos: Watch “PBS Space Time,” (https://zpr.io/GNhVAWDday49) the groovy show and side-gig of physicist and episode guest Matt O’Dowd

Articles: Read more (https://zpr.io/J4cKYG5uTgNf) about the Tunguska impact event! Check out the paper (https://zpr.io/vZxkKtGQczBL), which considers the shape of the crater a primordial black hole would make, should it hit earth: “Crater Morphology of Primordial Black Hole Impacts”Curious to learn more about black holes possibly being dark matter? You can in the paper (https://zpr.io/sPpuSwhGFkDJ), “Exploring the high-redshift PBH- ΛCDM Universe: early black hole seeding, the first stars and cosmic radiation backgrounds”

Books:

Get your glow on – Senior Correspondent Molly Webster has a new kids book, a fictional tale about a lonely Little Black Hole (https://zpr.io/e8EKrM7YF32T)

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