Six Reasons to Study Black Holes
1. Because They're Cool
Black holes are an incredible phenomenon. They're literally unlike anything else in the universe. They're so unique that all models of modern physics (including quantum physics, mechanics, and relativity) break down when trying to describe them [1]. Put simply, they're not your average science topic. A short list of a few of their more impressive properties include the ability to distort time, a gravity well so powerful that light cannot escape it, an orbiting disk of superheated materials, slowly approaching the black hole, and jets of hyper energized matter being shot into space from the black hole [1]. Black holes can consume entire stars, and can range from microscopic sizes to supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies [1]. They're cool.
2. So You Won't be Fooled by the Media Anymore
3. To Help Support Research
When people do buy into the myths about black holes spread by the media, it degrades the public support to research black holes. It's hard to take black holes seriously when movies like Event Horizon depict black holes as gateways into other dimensions from which monsters can enter our world [3]. Simply by being an informed citizen, you can support research into black holes. Why should we research them, you might ask? Keep reading.
4. To Learn About the Universe
5. To Help Create New Technology
Picture Credit: http://www.gps.gov/multimedia/images/GPS-III-A.jpg
6. So You Won't End Up Like These People
Sources
[1] Finkel, Michael. "Star Eater." National Geographic.March 2014. 89-103. Print.
[2] Jacobson, Rebecca. "What Hawking meant when he said 'there are no black holes.'" www.pbs.org. 6 Feb. 2014. Web. 5 Oct. 2014. <http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/hawking-meant-black-holes/ >.
[3] Event Horizon. Dir. Paul Anderson. Paramount Pictures, 1997. Film.
[4] A. Cattaneo, S. M. Faber, J. Binney, A. Dekel, J. Kormendy, R. Mushotzky, A. Babul, . . . L. Wisotzki. "The role of black holes in galaxy formation and evolution." Nature. 9 July 2009: 213-219. Print.
[5] Pogge, Richard W. "Real-world relativity: the GPS navigation system." www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu. 10 Apr. 2014. Web. 5 Oct. 2014. <http://www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~pogge/Ast162/Unit5/gps.html>.
Trimble, Tyghe. "4 science lessons from the new Star Trek movie." www.popularmechanics.com. 8 May. 2009. Web. 11 Nov. 2014. <http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/digital/fact-vs-fiction/4316608>.