Gravity is one of the fundamental forces that define the
universe. It defines the orbits of moons
and planets – and even the very shapes of these bodies. It is the physical manifestation of matter’s drive
to aggrandize itself across the vastness of space. Gravity holds us to the Earth, and holds the
Earth together. Concentrated in stars, gravity
is so strong, it fuses hydrogen nuclei to make helium, lighting our days.
But in too great a concentration, it just swallows up
everything. The gravity within a black
hole is so strong that not even light can escape.
Similarly, the quest to accumulate wealth and power is a key
driving force in the human experience.
It’s why we seek new lands, build railroads, skyscrapers, and the internet. Within bounds, it can shape incredible
innovation and creativity; generating jobs, wealth and plenty.
But when unchecked wealth and power become too concentrated,
they too create a black hole, which swallows everything within its horizon – bending
and shaping it to its will. Once in its
sway, neither light, nor truth, nor sustenance escapes.
Some physicists speculate that within a black hole, a
separate reality may exist; one warped and distorted by the intense forces of
the concentrated mass, but within which, this distorted microcosm may seem
somehow normal – and the universe outside the influence of this overbearing
force seem distorted.
