Though they sound exotic, mathematical singularities are actually common in solutions to all but the simplest equations in physics. The formation of shock waves and cracks, and even the motion of a billiard ball bouncing off a hard wall, can contain singularities.

Is singularity proved?

Penrose proved that singularities – and by extension black holes – form generically in general relativity, without stringent symmetry assumptions and for general properties of the matter. Penrose's key insight was to focus on how the gravitational force affects light.

Can a singularity be created?

Scientists in principle could create such singularities by compressing very light particles such as neutrinos sufficiently quickly. One would want to arrange neutrino emitters spherically, aim them at one central point and ramp up their beam intensity rapidly.