John Michell and the Idea of Black Holes

A black hole does not have a surface, like a planet or star. Instead, it is a region of space where matter has collapsed in on itself. This catastrophic collapse is the result of a supernova explosion. The gravitational pull of this region is so great that nothing can escape – not even light. The first time the term ‘Black Hole’ was used was in Yorkshire in the 1780s by John Michell 1724-1793.