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THE NINE LIVES OF THE THIRTY METER TELESCOPE

The New York Times this morning provided graphs that showed why Republicans will become a truly minority party if only the pandemic went on for a few more decades.  Well, that's an exaggeration, and that's not what they said, but a higher rate of Republicans is dying from COVID-19:

Turns out the death rates were similar until the end of last year.  What happened was that vaccines arrived, and today, 40% of Republican adults remain unvaccinated, compared with about 10% of Democratic adults.  Why has this happened?  Disinformation, promoted by Fox News, Sinclair Broadcast Group and online sources.  The question is if this is because of conservative policy, or because those who watch Fox News are predisposed to be less inclined anyway.    NYT further suggested that the difference will drop because the new Pfizer and Merck antiviral treatments for those who contract COVID-19 will result in fewer deaths, plus red American will reach herd immunity faster through natural immunity from being infected.

There has been a lot of controversy regarding religion and anti-vaccination.  Romania has today the world's highest Covid death rate mostly because:

COPACENI, Romania — As a new wave of the coronavirus pandemic crashed over Eastern Europe last month, devastating unvaccinated populations, an Orthodox Church bishop in southern Romania offered solace to his flock: “Don’t be fooled by what you see on TV — don’t be scared of Covid.”

Most important, Bishop Ambrose of Giurgiu told worshipers in this small Romanian town on Oct. 14, “don’t rush to get vaccinated.”

Virtually every religious sect, however, has promoted vaccinations.  Exceptions include:

  • Dutch Reformed Congregations – This denomination has a tradition of declining immunizations. Some members decline vaccination on the basis that it interferes with divine providence. However, others within the faith accept immunization as a gift from God to be used with gratitude.
  • Faith healing denominations including:  Faith Tabernacle, Church of the First Born, Faith Assembly, End of Time Mnistie and Church of Christ, Scientist.

    • The history of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is long and torturous.  The concept of a telescope larger than 20 meters (98 feet) in diameter--to become the largest in world--began in the Year 2000.  Seven sites were considered, and Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii was selected in 2009.  The original cost was $1.4 billion and Japan became the first partner.  China and India joined the following year, with Canada in 2015.  Estimated cost now is $2.4 billion.

    In parallel, the European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), with a diameter of 39.3 meters (128 feet), was approved in 2012 for Cerro Armazones in Chile.  Construction was begun in 2017, and first light is being planned for 2027 at a cost of $1.5 billion.  This will become the largest by far even if the TMT is built.

    In 2007 the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation committed $200 million for construction of the TMT.  Soon thereafter, Guy Toyama and I met for lunch at Sam Choy's restaurant in Kona, where we drew up the original concept of Blue Revolution Hawaii, for initial funding by some billionaire.  We felt that no federal government nor public company would have the funds nor imagination to undertake this mission.  That was more than a decade ago, and we are still seeking that imaginative sponsor seeking a marine legacy.

    About the TMT, summarizing the protests and court decisions is too, too excruciating, so let me just say that a recent national summary placed the combined Large Magellan Telescope (24.5 meter effective diameter, in a configuration of seven separate telescopes) on Chile and Hawaii TMT system at a high priority.  LMT is being planned for first observation in 2029 and construction has begun.

    TMT was supposed to first see in 2027, but clearly, when completed...if so...will be much later and #2 in size to the European ELT.  The competition between La Palma (Canaries, Spain) and Hawaii is over.  If TMT is built, it will be on Mauna Kea, for La Palma is now paralyzed by a major volcanic eruption.  Watch 50 days of lava flow in 2 minutes.

    A logical thought of course is why bother anymore with TMT?  Something to do with national prestige, but also a scientific need for a next generation telescope in the northern hemisphere.

    In 1959 Kilauea Iki had a more spectacular eruption.  Then, all the recent activity centered around Kilauea.  However, all these volcanic emanations occurred on Mauna Loa, not Mauna Kea, the site of TMT in Hawaii. 

    The last time Mauna Kea erupted was 4500 or so years ago. These maps show that the site of TMT is in a safe zone.

    Well, the Dow Jones Industrial Average did it again, rose 104 to reach 36,432, another all-time record.

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