By oversimplifying the complex human story of how big science done by big collaborations like Event Horizon Telescope, the mainstream media got many things wrong.    The task of the media is to inform the general public.   So, while they do have to simplify complex topics they also have to faithfully represent them.  

Social media reflects the level of understanding created in the average person by both our educational system and the major media. Being a adjunct prof at community colleges teaching introductiory to intermediate level courses this was not surprising to me. 

The Image presented at a press conference today by the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration is the result of collaboration between numerous scientists around the world lead by EHT director Shep Doeleman.  They were able to do this using the technique known as very long baseline interferometry (VLBI).  

This technique creates an instrument with the highest possible angular resolution ( smallest angle of separation between objects where we can distinguish the features). Using this technique astronomers were able to see the details of an object light years away. 

Media hyped black hole images will show a whole lot of nothing.  Look at the simulations put out by the research team showing what they expect to find, nothing, at least at the location of the black hole.   Which is just fine.  A black hole is a region of space time from which light cannot escape.  The escape velocity for their gravitational field exceeds the speed of light.  In relativistic terms their effect on space time is such that falling towards the center of the black hole is as inevitable as the flow of time in the forward direction. As such the base standard expectation of a black hole image is to see nothing.   

Neil deGrasse Tyson was accused by three women of various acts of sexual misconduct over time. NatGeo and Fox paid for into the sexual assault, harassment, and misconduct allegations made by Dr Katelyn N Allers (inappropriate touching under the clothes), Ashely Watson (sexual harassment ), and Tchiya Amet (acquaintance rape by drugging). 

Neil D. Tyson was investigated by Fox and Nat Geo for sexual misconduct, the investigation complete Cosmos and Star Talk will return to the air. This investigation would always have been of limited scope and shows at least he is no Harvey Weinstein or Bill Ayers. A completed investigation by Fox and Nat Geo is not a trial nor does it have to be.  The questions before a corporate investigator are not those that would be in front of a court of civil or criminal law.  Their question is, did Dr. Tyson do anything which could bring liability upon the company?  If not, then they are in the clear.