Translation from Al Jazeera News Item

English translation of a new piece written on the Green Bank Telescope and aired on Al Jazeera television.

STORY SCRIPT Green Bank Telescope – West Virginia
Video available at http://bcove.me/onwox4zc


(REPORTER: NASSER HSSAINI)
ARABIC
“Green Bank, West Virginia, with a population less than 200, residents here do not use mobile phones. With its unique location, authorities have dedicated the area to the study of signals and frequencies from space. The town is actually located in a valley over 2500 feet above sea level, making it an ideal location for the National Green Bank Telescope which listens to and records energy signals from deep space.
Its nearly 400 feet tall and works around the clock listening to signals which can help us better understand our universe. Its comprised of these white panels, about 100 meters wide, and the location employs about 100 staff members. GBT Director says the Telescope has played a huge role collecting significant information about the life of stars and events happening in space.”

(KAREN O’NEIL, DIRECTOR, GREEN BANK OPERATIONS, NRAO)
ENGLISH
“What you are hearing here is the sound of a star, called a pulsar, which is a start rotating around very very quickly. And every time it faces us and faces the telescope, we get to see this burst of radio energy.”

(REPORTER: NASSER HSSAINI)
ARABIC
“In order to hear those signals, the Telescope needs to eliminate all surrounding electrical signals. The FCC has declared the area free of any cell towers or phone signals so residents are unable to use their mobile phones:”

(COURTENY, GREEN BANK RESIDENT AND TEACHER & HER SON, HUNTER)
ENGLISH
“You just get used to it and when you travel, you take your cell phone and you get to use it outside of there so you get used to it. As a teacher in the county, I really like it.”

(HUNTER, CHILD/RESIDENT)
ENGISH
“I don’t really care but, we can use internet”

(REPORTER: NASSER HSSAINI)
ARABIC
“It really is the quietest and calmest town in the US but residents don’t complain. We have not heard one phone ring during our stay. There’s a consensus of the scientific benefit and the experience has been success. Now even China is considering on building a similar but bigger telescope.”

Nasser Hssaini
From the town of Green Bank in West Virginia
Aljazeera

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