Today I Learned (TIL)

This is the best summary I could come up with:

Simon Johnston, head of astrophysics at the CSIRO, the national science agency, said astronomers first detected the signals, called perytons, in 1998.

Originally researchers assumed the signals – which appeared only once or twice a year – were coming from the atmosphere, possibly linked to lightning strikes.

Then on 1 January this year they installed a new receiver which monitored interference, and detected strong signals at 2.4 GHz, the signature of a microwave oven.

There were, however, a number of operational staff members who maintained the facility and used the microwave oven to heat their coffee or lunch.

At the Siding Spring optical observatory in northwest New South Wales, astronomers recently voiced concerns over a proposal for a new coal seam gas project, fearing it could lead to increased light pollution in the area.

“There’s no mobile phone coverage, no radio station, no Wi-Fi – it’s pristine and quiet and we can look into the universe and see things that you can’t in Parkes.”

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