January 1964: 'Black holes'

The term gains wider use after it appears in articles in the Science News Letter (January 18) and Life magazine (January 24). In simplest terms: "A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls so much that even light cannot get out. The gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying." (Definition from NASA)

* "50 years later, it's hard to say who named black holes" (Science News, December 2013): @

* " 'Black Holes' in Space" (Science News Letter, January 18): @

* "What are quasi-stellars? Heavens' new enigma" (Life magazine, January 24): @

* "Black Holes" (from NASA): @

* "Black Holes: Facts, Theory & Definition" (from Space.com): @

* "Black Holes" (video, from Hubble Space Telescope site): @

* Definition from "Firefly Astronomy Dictionary" (2003): @ 

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