Black Hole Search Volume

Spent a few minutes toying with google trends. This nifty feature gives you a relative idea of how often a particular word or phrase is googled over time.

I used it to do some random research on how the Internet contributes to mass hysteria. Found three interesting results in a few minutes. First, do you remember when the Large Hadron Colider was commissioned in 2008 (10/9/2008 to be exact - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider). There was all this talk about how it could create black holes and destroy the Earth. well, I did a google trends search for "black hole", and see what is showed.

black hole

Interesting, a huge spike just before the end of the 3rd quarter of 2008. Next, remember the movie 2012. Around the time that it came out (13 November 2009 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_(film)), there was a lot of hype about the world's end being tied to the end of the mayan calendar. People actually belived that the movie was an accurate prediction of things to come. Look at the google trend for "mayan calendar".

mayan calendar

I can guess what people were thinking. "Wow, the mayan calendar actually does end in 2012. Everything in that movie must be based on fact." Well, as a space physicist, I can say that is not true. The main plot (SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

involves neutrinos heating the core of the Earth. Now this is impossible (or if you have read my previous post: http://nerdyguy-fatman.blogspot.com/2011/09/schrodingers-cat.html, it is at best EXTREMELY unlikely). Hollywood Physics - gotta love it.

End of spoilers. Finally, remember earlier this year, we were all told that the world was going to end on May 21st. Well have a look at google trends for "end of the world"

end of the world

I see another big spike around the 21st March. I can see how that rumor spread. Mass hysteria set in. People blew all their savings, and racked up enormous bills not expecting to have to pay them on Monday morning. There was a lot of misinformation going about then. People don't seem to know what the Rapture actually is. But lets not get side tracked. 

In conclusion let me just say the obvious : Don't believe everything you read on the internet. It is an excellent tool for spreading misinformation, and creating mass hysteria.