Black Holes
Laplace also came close to propounding the concept of the black hole. He pointed out that there could be massive stars whose gravity is so great that not even light could escape from their surface (see escape velocity). Laplace also speculated that some of the nebulae revealed by telescopes might not be part of the Milky Way but rather galaxies themselves. Thus, he anticipated Edwin Hubble's major discovery 100 years in advance.
Read more about this topic: Pierre-Simon Laplace
Famous quotes containing the words black and/or holes:
“I see America spreading disaster. I see America as a black curse upon the world. I see a long night settling in and that mushroom which has poisoned the world withering at the roots.”
—Henry Miller (1891–1980)
“Keyholes are the occasions of more sin and wickedness, than all other holes in this world put together.”
—Laurence Sterne (1713–1768)