Why Is A Black Hole Really So Special?

The hitchhiker’s guide to the black hole — Part 1

The first direct image of a supermassive black hole at the core of Messier 87 galaxy (image credit: EHT Collaboration)

The notion of a black hole has always stimulated my curiosity. There is just something about this unfathomable entity that pulls me towards it (pun intended). Be it from a scientific perspective or a science fiction perspective, black holes are full of mystery and awe.