How Interstellar Almost Broke Physics For Me

I have largely taken the 2 dimensional accretion disc to be proof that we live in a 3 dimensional universe (and not 4 or more) because of this

That's why when I saw Interstellar, and Gargantua had a strange accretion disc that wasn't flat 2D-ish rings, my world almost broke.  These rings went in 3 dimensions, flowing up and around it, which challenged my conception of the mere 3 dimensional universe.  Can Gargantua have a 3D disc when everything else in the universe (planets, solar systems, galaxies) flattens out to essentially 2D?

The answer is yes, and no.  It's possible to appear that way, and here's how.

Gravity Bends Space (and the light travelling in it)

The gravity around a black hole is so intense that it bends space in drastic ways. Fast forward to about 40 seconds in this video. Watch the inset image of this video when compared to the angle we're viewing, and the way light is gravitationally bent around the black hole. This is called gravitational lensing.

So now when we see an accretion disc like Gargantua's such as this, which shows the matter apparently travelling up and around the black hole, we can understand that the disc is really travelling along a path that is the same as Saturn's rings. It's the massive gravity of the black hole bending the light from the other side of the object that makes the accretion disc appear to travel upward and around a black hole.


This video may also help you visualize what's happening

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Thus, black holes still have accretion discs that even out to 2D-ish planes, and physics is saved. My world, and physics, is not shattered. Did this post shatter any preconceptions for you?