NASA Discovery and Initial Detection

• May 2016: NASA scientists detect large mysterious object beyond solar system
• Object extremely dark, almost undetectable
• NASA deploys Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory for investigation
• Readings point to terrifying conclusion: black hole unlike any seen before
• Hidden "Starkiller" lurking in space, totally under radar
• Planet destroyer potentially moving toward Earth

Black Hole Characteristics and Detection Challenges

• Black holes: huge dense masses deforming space-time
• Gravity so strong nothing escapes, including light
• Normal detection method: accretion disc formation from torn apart objects
  • Gives strong X-ray signature indicating black hole presence
• This black hole barely detectable, sitting in our galaxy
• Slowly eating through nearby solar systems
• Eating companion star slowly, savoring it
• Only giving weak signature, suggesting many more undiscovered
• Discovery was "kind of a fluke"

Movement and Proximity Threats

• Black holes move at tremendous speeds: 5 million miles per hour
• Possible black hole moving toward Earth undetected
• Won't detect presence until gravitational effects begin
• Detection timeline: only 800 days warning before arrival
• Many undiscovered black holes may be closer to Earth than thought

Oort Cloud Impact Phase

• First warning: arrival in Oort cloud (outskirts of solar system)
• Oort cloud: "galactic minefield" containing billions of icy comets
• Many comets large enough to destroy planets
• Bodies not eaten by black hole flung in different directions
• Some directed toward inner solar system and Earth
• Two terrifying years of giant comet bombardment
• Mass extinctions possible from comet impacts

Gas Giant Destruction Phase

• Black hole moves through Oort cloud and Kuiper Belt
• Arrives at gas giants, 3 days from Earth
• Feasts upon Jupiter, unleashing new horror
• Jupiter collision creates hard X-rays, gamma rays, radiation
• Radiation re-emitted in highly energetic collimated jets
• "Lightsaber beams" or accretion jets shoot millions of miles through space
• If jets slice past Earth: incineration

Earth's Final Phase

• 3 days after devouring Jupiter, black hole reaches Earth
• Initial effects: gravitational pull like moon but massively greater
• Tremendous tides, tsunamis washing over continents
• Increasing gravitational pull warps planet
• Crust stretches and tears
• Earthquakes and volcanoes on unprecedented scale
• Atmosphere completely ripped off
• Earth pulled apart, devoured entirely
• No trace of Earth remains

Human Fate and Singularity

• Surviving humans pulled at astonishing speed into black hole
• Two possible outcomes: ripped apart or sucked in
• Gravitational pull intensifies massively but locally
• Head accelerates faster than feet: "stretched like spaghetti"
• Survivors enter "weirdest place in universe"
• Mathematicians call it singularity: logic ceases to exist
• Event horizon: cross it, never escape
• Space and time roles swap beyond event horizon
• Time becomes space, space becomes time
• Exist forever immortal but trapped in another dimension

Potential Escape Scenario

• Hope exists even with black hole entering solar system
• Sun's destruction might provide escape
• Sun has significant mass, won't go quietly
• Battle between sun and black hole: black hole wins eventually
• Chaos from sun's destruction could fling Earth from gravitational moorings
• Earth begins lonely journey through galaxy
• Possible future: living deep underground
• World hurtles through infinite darkness
• Potential to enter another solar system, orbit alien star

Current Status and Outlook

• NASA hopes newly discovered black hole passes solar system unscathed
• If not: underground survival only option
• Possible future as planet of alien star