KEY POINTS:
- Scientists propose our universe might exist inside a black hole, according to National Geographic
- The theory relies on Einstein-Cartan gravity and torsion to avoid singularities, according to Popławski’s 2016 paper in the Astrophysical Journal
- Recent JWST observations show galaxy rotation patterns that could support this hypothesis, Space.com reported in March 2025
- University of Portsmouth researchers published new “Black Hole Universe” model in June 2025, according to university press release
Mathematical similarities between our universe and black holes have prompted cosmologists to explore a mind-bending possibility: that we might be living inside a black hole. National Geographic reported on September 15, 2025, that “the mathematics underpinning our understanding of the universe are quite similar to those describing black holes.”
The theory has evolved significantly since its inception. According to a Nature paper from 1972 by theoretical physicist Raj Kumar Pathria titled “The Universe as a Black Hole,” the idea was first formally proposed, with mathematician I.J. Good working on similar concepts concurrently in the 1970s as National Geographic reported. Lee Smolin later expanded the concept in 1992 with his theory of cosmological natural selection, published in Classical and Quantum Gravity, suggesting that “every black hole that forms in our universe produces a new universe inside of it with slightly different physics than ours,” National Geographic reported.
The Einstein-Cartan Connection
The modern version of this hypothesis relies heavily on the Einstein-Cartan theory of gravity. According to a 2016 paper by Nikodem Popławski in the Astrophysical Journal titled “Universe in a Black Hole in Einstein-Cartan Gravity,” this theory “extends general relativity to include torsion” and suggests that “fermions are the source of torsion, generating a repulsive spin-spin interaction, which prevents the formation of singularities.”
Popławski of the University of New Haven has been a leading proponent of this theory. In his 2016 paper, he explains that torsion “manifests itself as a repulsive force which causes fermions to be spatially extended and prevents the formation of a gravitational singularity within the black hole’s event horizon.”
The University of New Haven reported that Popławski’s hypothesis suggests “the coupling between torsion, the twisting and turning of matter, and spin becomes very strong, preventing the matter from compressing indefinitely to a singularity.” Instead, according to Popławski’s 2016 paper, “the collapsing matter reaches a state with an extremely large but finite density, stops collapsing, undergoes a bounce, and starts rapidly expanding.”
Observable Consequences
National Geographic reported that if our universe exists inside a black hole, there would be specific observable consequences. Niayesh Afshordi of the Perimeter Institute told National Geographic: “You would expect some sort of gradient across our universe. One direction would be towards the center of the black hole, another towards the outside of the black hole.”
Recent observations have provided intriguing, though not conclusive, evidence. Space.com reported on March 13, 2025, that James Webb Space Telescope observations found “the vast majority of deep space and, thus the early galaxies it has so far observed, are rotating in the same direction.” The article noted that “around two-thirds of galaxies spin clockwise, the other third rotates counter-clockwise.”
Lior Shamir of Kansas State University told Space.com: “One explanation is that the universe was born rotating. That explanation agrees with theories such as black hole cosmology, which postulates that the entire universe is the interior of a black hole.”
Challenges to the Theory
However, significant challenges remain. National Geographic reported that our universe appears to follow the cosmological principle, which “states that the universe has no special direction, and it’s the same pretty much everywhere.” This uniformity is difficult to reconcile with birth inside a black hole, as National Geographic noted: “Black holes are born from dying stars—a process that’s messy, chaotic, and far from uniform.”
Scientific American, in an April 2, 2025 article found through search results, expressed skepticism about recent claims. The publication noted that while “cosmologists would be thrilled to learn that either (or both) of these possible explanations are true: that the cosmos is rotating or that it’s the interior of a giant black hole,” the evidence remains insufficient.
New Developments
The University of Portsmouth announced on June 12, 2025, that researchers had proposed a new “Black Hole Universe” model. The research, published in Physical Review D by Professor Enrique Gaztañaga and colleagues, challenges the conventional Big Bang theory. According to the university’s press release, Professor Gaztañaga stated: “The Big Bang model begins with a point of infinite density where the laws of physics break down. This is a deep theoretical problem that suggests the beginning of the Universe is not fully understood.”
The team’s model, detailed in their paper “Gravitational bounce from the quantum exclusion principle” published in Physical Review D volume 111, article 103537 (May 2025), suggests that “our universe may have formed inside a colossal black hole residing in a larger, parent universe,” according to Space.com’s June 24, 2025 report. Gaztañaga told Space.com: “Under the right conditions, this collapse doesn’t end in a singularity—instead, it bounces and begins expanding again.”
The Multiverse Connection
Search results from Space.com dated April 27, 2010, quoted Popławski explaining the multiverse implications: “Our universe could have itself formed from inside a black hole existing inside another universe.” This would mean, according to the Discovery article from 2022 found in search results, that “we might live in a universe within a black hole within a universe within a black hole.”
Current Scientific Consensus
Despite these intriguing possibilities, the theory remains outside mainstream cosmology. National Geographic reported that Alex Lupsasca of Vanderbilt University emphasized: “We have theories and they have consequences. If the implications of the theory are ruled out by an experiment, then we could say the assumptions are inconsistent or wrong.”
The challenge of combining general relativity with quantum mechanics remains a fundamental obstacle. National Geographic noted that “such a theory of quantum gravity has so far eluded scientists. For the same reason, we can’t determine what precisely happens inside a black hole or before the big bang.”
Nevertheless, National Geographic reported that cosmologists agree “exploring some of these avenues is both a fascinating exercise and could potentially lead to new discoveries.”
