Final answer:
The excerpt from the text describes a feature of light; it can travel over time and space. Black holes have gravitational fields strong enough to trap light, and escape velocity exceeding the speed of light. The discussed concepts challenge our understanding of physics and the universe.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpt from A Black Hole Is NOT a Hole describes a feature of light, specifically its ability to travel from one place to another over time. Black holes are cosmic entities with gravitational fields so intense that nothing can escape, not even light. The escape velocity required to leave a black hole exceeds the speed of light, making it a point of no return. Simon Laplace and others proposed early ideas about these dark stars, but the concept was not fully accepted until after Einstein's theory of general relativity. This theory helped to reincarnate the idea of black holes, suggesting that they could form from the supernova collapse of massive stars. The curvature of spacetime around black holes is so severe that it essentially 'traps' anything that comes too close, including light, within its event horizon.
Moreover, theories such as the ones described by Kip Thorne have considered the exotic possibilities of wormholes and time travel in relation to black holes. While fascinating, the consensus in the scientific community is that time travel through these means is not possible, as quantum gravity effects likely prevent it. The detailed properties of black holes and their effects continue to challenge our understanding of physics and the universe.