Though black holes have been enigmatic things to say the least, we are not completely in the dark about them. In fact, black holes aren't really as terrifying as we would think them to be.
Despite their moniker, black holes aren't always black. As a black hole consumes an object, gas and dust spins around the maw of the gravitational behemoth, and friction can heat the material on the edges to searing temperatures.
This violent process creates lighthouse-like beams of charged particles that travel outward at near light speed, emitting radiation that can shine brighter than an entire galaxy.
In fact, other illustrations show a spinning black hole with streams of light circling around it.
(Image credit: Kyle Parfrey et. al./Berkeley Lab)