🪐 Black holes devouring planets from within

According to a recent study, very massive dark matter particles could be captured by the gravity of Jupiter-sized exoplanets. These particles would lose energy and slowly migrate toward the planet's core. Over time, their concentration would increase until reaching a critical point.

If these particles do not annihilate each other, they could eventually collapse upon themselves. This collapse would form a tiny black hole at the center of the planet. This black hole would then begin to devour its host's matter from the inside.


This scenario only works with certain types of dark matter. For example, if the particles mutually annihilate as predicted by some models, they could not accumulate sufficiently. Dark matter must be composed of very heavy and stable particles.

Known stellar black holes have much greater masses, resulting from the collapse of massive stars. The discovery of planetary-mass black holes would be strong evidence for the validity of this theory. This would open a new window for studying dark matter through exoplanets.

Current instruments do not yet allow detection of these signals, but future space missions might achieve this. The observation of abnormally hot planets or those emitting radiation could indicate the presence of dark matter.

What is dark matter?

Dark matter is a form of matter that does not interact with light, making it invisible to telescopes. It represents about 85% of the total matter in the Universe, but its exact nature remains unknown.

Unlike ordinary matter composed of atoms, dark matter neither emits nor absorbs electromagnetic radiation. Its existence is inferred from its gravitational effects on galaxies and galaxy clusters.

Scientists propose various candidate particles, such as axions or WIMPs, but none have been directly detected. Research continues through underground experiments and astronomical observations.

How do black holes form?

Black holes form when a massive amount of matter collapses under its own gravity, creating a region of space from which nothing can escape, not even light.

Stellar black holes are born from the collapse of the core of massive stars at the end of their life, after a supernova. Their mass is typically greater than three times that of the Sun.

There are also supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies, weighing millions or even billions of solar masses. The formation of smaller black holes, such as those proposed in the study, would open new research pathways.