Black holes, like huge vacuum cleaners, eat up everything that falls beyond their event horizon. If you find yourself close to this border, you’re doomed! But black holes don't just absorb stuff. They also shoot jets into space — mysterious beams thousands of light years long.

Astronomers are observing a black hole that's bombarding a nearby galaxy with a jet of X-rays, gamma rays, and electrons going the speed of light! Good thing it's not our own galaxy! But here's a thought experiment: what would happen if a black hole sent one of these cosmic laser beams right into Earth? Well, it wouldn't be pretty! ??

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices