text: wouldn't the formation of a singularity require that the location of the singularity be at c = 0? that might mean that singularities can only form at the centre of the universe. this idea stems from the fact that the universe is constantly expanding and therefore moving.. and this movement causes equal and opposite forces to effect the gravitational moment on the singularity. also the movement of matter has the effect of changing mass (at around and beyond the speed of light (thinking of planks constant))doesnt it? this would also effect the formatative stages of singularities. so what are the true environmental conditions for a singularity to form? does anyone have any good guesses? the common picture of the universe as a big sphere of space with stars in is an inacurate proposal. it is simply given as a simple method to give an idea of the principles. think of it as a dumbed down idea to allow people to start to get to grips with an idea that has much higher levels of complexity. the universe is not expanding into space... before the universe there was literally nothing (not even a void) and the universe isn't expanding into anything it is simply expanding. if you set off on a trip to the edge of the universe... even at faster than light speed you would not reach it, you would simply come back to where you began. the dimensions that we are limited to make the image of our universe relative to our movement the euivalent to that of moving over the surface of a sphere, but not through it - here no centre and no edge exists, yet expansion can still occur.   that doesn't really answer your question but hopefully clarifies some points raised in other answers