Key Takeaway:


In the last few decades, humanity has uncovered more about the universe than ever before, thanks to advancements in telescope technology, both on Earth and in space. As new, groundbreaking observatories prepare to launch over the next 20 years, these instruments are expected to push the boundaries of cosmology even further. Yet, while planned scientific objectives guide these telescopes, their most significant discoveries are often unexpected, catalyzing major advances in our understanding of the cosmos.

Chile is home to two of the most ambitious ground-based telescopes under construction. The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), with a mirror as large as four tennis courts, will open a new window into faint objects in deep space, while the Vera C. Rubin telescope boasts a 3,200-megapixel camera, set to photograph the entire night sky every three days, creating a time-lapse of the universe over a decade. Together, they will transform the way we observe and comprehend the cosmos.

But it’s not just ground-based observatories making waves. Space telescopes such as the Hubble and the James Webb have revolutionized our knowledge, though not in ways their designers predicted. Hubble’s unexpected discoveries, from Jupiter’s moon Europa to the enigma of dark matter, highlight how these devices often transcend their initial scientific goals. Similarly, the James Webb Telescope, launched in 2021, is uncovering mysteries about planets around stars that weren’t even known when it was designed.

For all the optimism surrounding these instruments, building large-scale telescopes remains a slow and costly endeavor. The construction of space telescopes often takes over two decades, with delays influenced by politics and financial constraints. The latest instruments, such as Webb and the European Space Agency’s Euclid, were conceived when astronomers were trying to measure the universe’s rapid expansion after the Big Bang. These projects were designed to address the gaps in our understanding between those early moments and the universe’s current accelerating expansion.

However, building and launching telescopes involves more than just technical challenges. For example, Webb and Euclid both focus heavily on infrared observations, which can reveal the clumping of matter and the universe’s middle-age expansion. Yet there are significant gaps, particularly in ultraviolet astronomy, which is vital for understanding where stars are being born. With NASA’s budget cuts affecting even Hubble’s visible light camera, ultraviolet observation will not return until the 2030s.

Further complicating matters, international politics have impacted collaboration. China’s Hubble-class Xuntian telescope is unlikely to share its data internationally, and Germany’s eRosita X-ray instrument was shut down after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The rapidly changing political landscape introduces uncertainty to global scientific progress.

In this climate, the rise of private sector involvement offers potential relief. Companies like SpaceX have stepped in, ensuring launches such as Euclid’s shift from a Russian Soyuz rocket to a Falcon 9, after geopolitical tensions disrupted previous plans. Innovations in cheaper commercial satellite launches, such as the development of “cubesats,” could make future space telescopes more affordable and frequent. These more modest satellites could fail with lower stakes, promoting a virtuous cycle of risk tolerance and cost reduction.

Meanwhile, other imaginative approaches are being explored. Telescopes are being mounted on giant helium balloons, aircraft, and even potentially on the moon itself. But perhaps the most exciting and unconventional advance in astronomy lies in the rise of gravitational wave detectors. These instruments don’t rely on the electromagnetic spectrum; instead, they “hear” the ripples in spacetime caused by massive cosmic events like the collision of neutron stars or black holes. While still in their infancy, such detectors could reveal phenomena that telescopes alone cannot, bringing entirely new perspectives on the universe’s most violent processes.

Ultimately, the next generation of observatories will likely surprise us in ways we can’t yet predict. The best science often emerges from unexpected discoveries, and with the powerful capabilities of upcoming telescopes, the universe may soon unveil secrets beyond our current imagination.

Recently Published

Key Takeaway: Scientists have discovered that some organelles function perfectly without a membrane, introducing a new class called biomolecular condensates. These membraneless organelles create unique biochemical compartments within cells, attracting specific proteins and RNA molecules. Currently, scientists have identified around 30 different types of biomolecular condensates, compared to just over a dozen traditional, membrane-bound organelles. […]
Key Takeaway: Memory research has long explored the reasons behind forgetting, with the “forgetting curve” illustrating that people lose details of new information quickly after learning it. Memory formation involves strengthening synapses, making the memory more resilient. Memory is also adaptive, constantly evolving to handle new information. This adaptability is vital for navigating minor changes […]

Top Picks

Key Takeaway: Alice Walton, a Walmart heiress, has a $1.5 billion philanthropic footprint, including a $390 million donation in 2023 to support the Alice L Walton School of Medicine. However, her philanthropic efforts raise questions about the societal costs of billionaire giving and the genuineness of her contributions. The broader social and economic costs of […]
Key Takeaway: CubeSats, affordable, lightweight satellites, are revolutionizing space exploration by focusing on single scientific goals like observing asteroids or tracking water on the Moon. They travel as secondary payloads, minimizing space debris and accelerating discovery. CubeSats are also unlocking mysteries of distant worlds, paving the way for humanity’s dreams of becoming a multiplanetary species. […]
Key Takeaway: The fascination with fear is deeply rooted in human evolution, with emotions playing a critical role in survival. Controlled fear experiences, such as watching horror movies or navigating a haunted house, offer a safe way to engage with this powerful emotion. Exposure to intense fear reduces anxiety levels afterward, leaving people feeling more […]
Key Takeaway: Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James Robinson were awarded the 2024 Nobel Memorial Prize in economics for their book Why Nations Fail, which argued that countries succeed when they adopt inclusive institutions like democracy, while extractive institutions stifle growth by concentrating power and wealth in elites. However, their theory has faced criticism for […]
Key Takeaway: In a world filled with crises, existential anxiety is a growing concern. This anxiety often manifests as mental distress, with the brain responding with stress hormones. Doomscrolling, a cycle of anxiety, can intensify feelings of helplessness and vulnerability to conspiracy theories. To manage this, stress-reduction exercises, emotional and social connections, and problem-solving can […]

Trending

I highly recommend reading the McKinsey Global Institute’s new report, “Reskilling China: Transforming The World’s Largest Workforce Into Lifelong Learners”, which focuses on the country’s biggest employment challenge, re-training its workforce and the adoption of practices such as lifelong learning to address the growing digital transformation of its productive fabric. How to transform the country […]

Join our Newsletter

Get our monthly recap with the latest news, articles and resources.

Login

Welcome to Empirics

We are glad you have decided to join our mission of gathering the collective knowledge of Asia!
Join Empirics