How The Arecibo Telescope Could Help Save The World
The radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico can do something that most radio telescopes can’t: it can transmit. And that’s useful for something other than sending messages to the stars: it might just help save the world one day.
More about the Arecibo Observatory: http://www.naic.edu/
Behind the Scenes, including helmet-cam footage of the walk to the telescope, over on the Park Bench: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZAWqk-wrzc
Camera and audio mix: Matt Gray http://mattg.co.uk
Animation: Mat Hill https://mat-hill.xyz/
Edited by: Michelle Martin https://www.youtube.com/@OnTheCrux
🟥 MORE FROM TOM: https://www.tomscott.com/
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@TomScottGo
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
A bit of context here: I've wanted to go here for… I don't know, about twenty years? But it was too far away, too expensive, too inconvenient, and there's no way they'd allow tourists onto the platform itself. And then, a few months ago, I got an email from one of the scientists there, asking if I wanted to film with them. Getting to do ridiculous things like this is one of the reasons I make videos, and I really am so, so thankful to everyone involved!
@pr0d_bycarter
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
Video aged like milk 💔💔
@Brommear
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
Somewhat dated!
@danielross2339
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
This didn't age too well.
@TEAM_T.R.A.I.V_OFFICAL
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
And 3 years later the radio telescope collapsed
@GregorSamsaBuck
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
AAAND ITS GONE
@nonetaken7873
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
Destroyed by the ineptitude of government workers.
@ChadDidNothingWrong
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
You know what's shameful is a ton of modern radio equipment weighs SO SO much less than when this was built, so they could have easily replaced the suspended parts with a more manageable, lighter, smaller version.
@ScottPro16
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
oh one thing you guys you build it the wrong way
@robsquared2
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
RIP Aricebo.
@motorola762
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
What the hell happened in the 4 years after this?
@Gamerpotatoe
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
Glad i got to visit this place in its prime
@sadib4782
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
this aged like milk
@LAK_770
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
Crazy seeing him up there after seeing the drone footage of those cables snapping like taffy and the entire thing collapsing like in Goldeneye
@AirDOGGe
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
UPDATE: Nevermind.
@Conyrht
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
If only he knew
@thor1428
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
f
@CharlesHarpolek4vud
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
i think the cables were blown up by remote control explosive done by a surreptitious force they wanted to stop all the talk about that antenna sending a picture of man and receiving a picture of a EBE clearly and causing a lot of discussion about earth to EBE contacts.
Even if that story is total bunk, it circulates and can be subject for stopping it.
@Deciheximal
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
Since this broke, is this why the world is going to heck?
@TheLevitatingChin
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
This aged like milk
@justkilian7795
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
This didn't quite age so well.
@crazyobservations3080
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
Since they demolished it, I guess the world wont be saved.
@URBEXDownUnderAus
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
Lucky you visited when you did mate. Sad to see it fall.
@Dennan
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
this is what happens when you dont maintain your equipment.
@CrankyHermit
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
If the world had bothered to save Arecibo, it might someday have returned the favor. But I guess we're just on our own now.
@deleted-something
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
Oh well
@luminescentlion
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
RIp the world is doomed now.
@Ken.-
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
3:55 "impacts are the one thing we can actually avoid."
Doesn't seem so.
@micheinnz
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
RIP Arecibo. You were my favourite telescope. Thank you for everything.
@What-thaW
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
So I guess we’re all dead?
@MooshroomMinitouar
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
RIP
@pippilongstocking.
September 26, 2026 at 12:24 am
Interesting but yet they would just let it fall apart in 2020
Comments are closed.