Laser Guide Star
8/12/202522 min
For decades, Earth’s atmosphere has blurred images of both stars and galaxies, greatly restricting our ability to see the universe clearly from the ground.
But that all changed with the invention of the laser guide star.
Think of it as building an artificial star in the sky—one that helps telescopes correct atmospheric distortion in real time. It’s a technology that revolutionized ground-based astronomy, enabling discoveries from distant black holes to the discovery of planets around nearby stars.
But how do you go from a concept that once filled a building with l...
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 0· Host0:00
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is hiring. If you're passionate about tackling real-world challenges in science, engineering, business, or skilled trades, there's a place for you at the lab. Right now, positions are open for a senior research scientist, a power grid engineer, and a space hardware post-doctoral researcher. These are just a few of the more than 100 exciting roles available. At Lawrence Livermore, you'll work on projects that matter, from national security to cutting-edge scientific advancements. Join a team that values innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. Explore opportunities at llnl.gov/careers, where your next career move could make history.
Claire Max· Guest0:49
There was a lady in a nearby town called Pleasanton, which was maybe 10 miles away from Livermore, and she would call 911. What's the emergency, please? There's a UFO hovering over the lab. She would say, "There's a UFO hovering over the lab, sucking up its lab secrets with a laser, and you have to go shoot down the UFO right away."
Speaker 0· Host1:15
But it wasn't a UFO. When you look up at the stars, you're not actually seeing them clearly. Even the most advanced telescopes on Earth struggle to focus finely through our atmosphere. The air above us