Tech News 3/1/10

Post-Earthquake: Why Chile's Telescopes Survived

Chile was rocked by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake on Saturday, and while hundreds were killed, Discovery.com has cast light on the many telescopes of Chile, built there for the low humidity and high altitudes.

Earthquake expert Anil Ananthaswamy said the telescope will have survived the quake not just because it's located 1,370km north of the earthquake's epicenter, but because of how stable the build is. Clamps can lift the 23-ton telescope's mirror when an earthquake strikes, so it swings above its setting instead.

Gizmodo

The Wrath of God This Weekend

500x_chileem

This weekend's Chilean earthquake was 8.8 on the Richter Scale, among the most powerful in recorded history. This is how its 66.6 exajoules of energy spread across the Pacific, as shown by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

GIZMODO

Uncontacted Amazon Tribes Get Internet Connection

For the first time, indigenous Amazonian tribesmen, long isolated by their location deep within the rainforest, will have access to the internet and telephone. The system, which includes a VSAT satellite dish, was installed by the System of Protection of the Amazon (SIPAM) to enable a closer monitoring of illegal logging operations. Up until now, indigenous tribes were aware of deforestation taking place on protected land but had little recourse to combat the problem--now they can twitter about it instantaneously.

Treehugger

Last Updated (Monday, 01 March 2010 08:41)