World's Most Powerful Telescope Begins Search For Origin of the Universe

MrSeb writes "The largest astronomical installation in the world is now operational. ALMA, or the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, is a vast radio telescope made out of 66 12- and 7-meter dish antennae situated 5,000m above sea level, in Chile. Its purpose is to seek out new life and new civilizations and to boldly go where no telescope has gone before. But no, seriously: its job is to peer into the past and investigate ancient stars and nebulae, peer at exoplanets that might support human (or alien) life, and hopefully learn more about interstellar creation and destruction. For now only 20 out of 66 antennae are in place, but when it is complete — late next year — it will have a resolving power far greater than Hubble, according to the European Space Observatory (ESO) that operates ALMA."

Comments

People are starving!

[said213]

"So this one Nurse at work, asks me every time I see her now how much I have lost. Then precedes to tell me my body is in starvation mode and will hold onto all the fat it can. So I asked her, how long would the body stay in starvation mode and not release the fat. She says 6 months no matter what I do!!!"

Totally random, specifically to enrage astronophiles!

Re:People are starving!

[CelticWhisper]

Interesting that you should mention that. Did you know that there is a prevailing theory among Chiropractors that black holes are actually galactic subluxations of the endo-universal spinal cord? Probably not, seeing as how Big Pharma has fought hard to keep any such inconvenient views thoroughly suppressed. Hopefully this telescope will be the first of many enlightening steps toward correcting the health of the universe's nervous system. It is believed that if these subluxated singularities can be set right, we may finally correct the dangerous accumulation of waste heat that threatens to destroy us all in the future. I've even written to the careless, callous people at CERN to chide them for using their Large Hadron Subluxator to further damage the galaxy's spine (have you noticed the shape of the accelerator? A DISC!) but they haven't written back to me. Maybe Dr. Bob will have better luck.

Make sure, though, when looking through a telescope, to use proper posture to protect your own spinal health. If you think you've been bending over and craning your neck too much, make an appointment to see a Chiropractor to keep your nervous system in working condition.