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singularity
A place where the curvature of spacetime becomes infinitely great and the known laws of physics no longer apply. It is where, as the Caltech physicist Kip Thorne (1940-) colorfully described it, gravity "unglues" space and time.
Singularities may be points, one-dimensional lines, or even two-dimensional sheets. The general theory of relativity predicts that singularities form inside black holes but are concealed from the rest of the universe behind event horizons. A proper formulation of quantum gravity may well avoid the infinities associated with classical singularities.
Related entry
• naked singularity
Related category
• SPACE AND TIME
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