Black Hole Induced Psychosis

Black Hole Induced Psychosis, (commonly referred to as Black Hole Madness, BHIP, and scientifically named Vicishorizonopyschosis) is a very rare anomalous phenomenon that occurs when any entity views a natural black hole, most notably The Black Pearl. This mental 'disease' changes a sapient organism's mind over a short period of time, and can lead to advanced symptoms of psychosis, and trauma. How this occurs is unknown.

As a result of the risk of BHIP, no tours are allowed to be around a black hole for beyond 1 day, and stations are to be temporary if established.

Anomalous Properties

A list of anomalous properties:

Incurability

• The anomalous occurrence appears to have no 'cure', even for the most advanced mental treatments.
• After thousands of years of research, not much progress was made on a cure, or how it even happens.
• This is anomalous because every other disease is curable.

Effects every species

• No other diseases have been shown to effect any organism through the eyes via imagery.

Live video/photography

• An entity viewing a live video feed of a black hole (no matter how pixelated) will experience BHIP, but it is rarer. However, the symptoms are more subdued. The pixelation factor also calms the effects.
• Photographs do not cause this effect to happen.

Affecting AIs

• Any AI which views a black hole experiences BHIP.
• Even if the AI is non-self-aware it is affected.

Immunity

• Less then .0001% of sapient life seems to posses a special optical gene, which lets them become unaffected or barely affected by BHIP.
• Beings such as the mysterious Traveler are most likely unaffected, as he travels through black holes to get around.
• If you cover the black hole with a device like a Penrose Sphere, the effects of BHIP are dwindled drastically.

Discovery

The phenomenon was first discovered in 2327 around Black Pearl. Every person on the first mission that viewed the black hole developed psychosis. Later, other black holes seen by humans had the same effect, yet was much rarer in most cases. It was made illegal to fly within 100 AU of a black hole after this effect was further studied.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary across every species, and also among individuals in each species. All symptoms below are permanent and incurable.

Human Symptoms

Humans have the most varied symptoms of all species. Generally, a human exposed to a black hole will experience these symptoms.

• Manic episodes
• Extreme depression
• PTSD
• Schizophrenia
• General Psychosis
• Loss of any psionic abilities if present

Xa'Thin Symptoms

Xa'Thins have a large number of symptoms, and they can push a Xa'Thin to do heinous acts.

• Weakening of scales
• Blindness
• Hindering of psionic abilities
• Rapid emotional changes
• Suicide
• Sudden and prolonged anger

Other Species

Most other species have symptoms similar to humans.

Effects on AIs

When an AI views any black hole the effects depend on the AI

• A non-self-aware AI will cease functioning after prolonged viewing of a black hole. The Ai is required to have cameras to collect the data of the black hole. If the AI is not actively processing the information it receives, it will not cease functioning
• When a self-aware AI views a black hole, it experiences complete elimination of all qubits. Quantum computers will also cease functioning after prolonged and close-up exposure

Animals

• All animals and non-sapient organisms experience extreme fear and rage. Their fertility rates drop dramatically, and they can commit self-harm if prolonged for around 3 days.

Special Cases

Hyper intelligent AIs

AIs such as DELYATU, The Supreme, The C.Y.R.E.X, and other very intelligent AIs do not experience the phenomenon because they are powerful enough to choose not to process any pixels containing black hole images.

Seekers

Seekers are not affected by viewing black holes. This is unexplained, and even the Seekers do not necessarily understand as this phenomenon doesn't take place in their universe.

Time Travel

Many beings are worried that excessive time travel could lead to minor symptoms of BHIP. This has not been observed ever since the Time Travel ban.