Black Hole Induced Psychosis

Black Hole Induced Psychosis, (commonly referred to as Black Hole Madness, BHIP, and scientifically named Vicishorizonopyschosis) is a very rare, and acute anomalous phenomenon that occurs when any non-mechanical 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.

Any black hole should not be viewed for longer than a minute, otherwise, the risk of developing BHIP rises drastically.

To counteract the effects of BHIP, any ship closer than 100 AU to a black hole should open up visors on every window, and simulate what the black hole would look like, while not letting any actual video feed or real imagery through. The realistic simulations that are generated and projected through the visors have been quoted to be hyper-realistic. So, as a result, BHIP cases have dropped drastically over the decades.

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 a cure could possibly synthesized.
• 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 dwindle drastically.

Discovery

The phenomenon was first discovered in 2327 around Black Pearl. A few members on the first mission that viewed the black hole developed psychosis. Later, other black holes seen by humans had the same effect, yet the effects were somewhat less pronounced. It was made illegal for civilians to fly within 100 AU of any natural 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.

People that are already insane

People that were insane before BHIP become triply so afterward. In some cases, BHIP has strengthened the psionic powers of the insane or even added ones not present. A shocking amount claim that the singularity whispers secrets to them, with over 400,000,000 people having said so.

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.