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unixronin: Galen the technomage, from Babylon 5: Crusade (Default)
Unixronin

December 2012

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November 15th, 2006

unixronin: Closed double loop of rotating gears (Gearhead)
Wednesday, November 15th, 2006 08:59 pm

Those of you interested in astronomy will probably be aware that the world's largest single-dish radio telescope, the 305-meter Arecibo dish in Puerto Rico, is threatened with closure because the National Science Foundation doesn't have enough room in its budget to keep funding it.  The amount in question?  A paltry $8 million.  The Very Long Baseline Array is also threatened; it needs a further $10 million.

Now, let's take a look at the ongoing cost of the war in Iraq.  According to the Congressional Research Service, the cost of the war in Iraq over the past four years is a hair under $340 billion.

So, let's do some math here ... 340 billion divided by four years ... still too big, keep dividing ...

Yup.  Approximately forty nine minutes worth of Iraq war funding, allocated to the National Science Foundation, would save Arecibo from closure.  One hour and fifty one minutes' worth would save both Arecibo and the VLBA.

Think about it.