I learned a lot by watching NASA's Guide to Black Hole Safety, an animated video the Goddard Space Flight Center released on Monday.
I learned a black hole is not a portal to another dimension filled with unicorns and space potatoes. Also, that I really shouldn't take a vacation to a black hole.
NASA's adorable video is geared toward younger viewers with an interest in science, but it's good for any age. It's a breezy exploration of black hole basics in the guise of a cartoon warning an alien not to go visit one of the universe's most mysterious objects.
Goddard released the video in celebration of Black Hole Week, along with a safety brochure warning of radiation, time dilation and spaghettification (being stretched into a giant noodle) should you get too close to a black hole. The video also covers these issues, which should be enough to dissuade you from booking a black hole timeshare.
If you're still trying to wrap your head around what a black hole is, then this video will guide you. Just don't feel disappointed when you learn a black hole is not a cosmic vacuum cleaner.
