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We’ve thrown a lot of disasters at Earth over the years: from asteroids and aliens, to the Sun’s death. But hey, the Universe is a dangerous place, and we’re not done yet. Now we’re going to throw a black hole into the mix, and not just any black hole, but a blazar. Black holes are usually found at the center of the galaxy. The Milky Way has a black hole that is four million times the mass of the Sun. But that’s small compared to other black holes out there. How old is the oldest blazar? Why can we see some blazars, but not others? What is the Doppler effect and how would it let us know that a blazar is on its way? What are active galactic nuclei? Do radiation and gamma rays from blazars affect the Earth? How far is Markarian 421 from us?

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What If is a mini-documentary web series that takes you on an epic journey through hypothetical worlds and possibilities. Join us on an imaginary adventure through time, space and chance while we (hopefully) boil down complex subjects in a fun and entertaining way.

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