How do you take a picture something that absorbs all electromagnetic radiation, is extremely massive, and extremely dense?
Lately, scientists have managed to take a "picture" of the first blackhole.
A few good and easy-to-understand articles for students can be found here and here, and a more complex one here. Teachers can discuss why it is nearly impossible to detect the blackhole given its size, from the chapter of waves and interference.
But as we do that, let's celebrate the hard work of these scientists-- like Katie Bouman-- and admire the ingenuity of scientists in using their creativity to overcome experimental limitations, such as the size of the blackhole. It's a good time to remind our students that even as they study science which is well established, there are many areas where we can witness science and discovery in the making!
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