Science: Quiet Spot

The astronomer who wants to catch radio waves from space demands a quiet place for his radio telescope. In most locations, "random noise" from all kinds of electrical appliances interferes with or drowns out the ghostly spatial chirpings. Last week, after a one-year search, the National Science Foundation announced happily that it had awarded a contract to Associated Universities, Inc. for the construction of the nation's largest radio telescope in what proves to be the quietest town in the eastern U.S.—little (pop. 100) Green Bank, W. Va., 50 miles northeast of White Sulphur Springs.

Preliminary plans for the Green Bank telescope were...

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