UK Builds Square Kilometer Array Observatory, the ‘Brain’ of the World’s Largest Radio Telescope to Explore the Early Universe Evolution

More than US$19 million has been awarded to a group of British institutions in support of their creation of the prototype software that will regulate the United Kingdom-headquartered Square Kilometre Array observatory.

A Mail Online report specified the United Kingdom would construct the "brain" of the world's largest radio telescope, which is set to explore the early Universe's evolution when it starts operation by the end of this decade.

Essentially, the telescope is one of the grand scientific projects of the 21st century. It will also include about 197 dishes and 130,000 antennas throughout South Africa and Australia.

These will all need to be associated with the "brain" software that helps them work together. The said brain software will tell telescopes where to look and when diagnosing any problems and translate the telescope signals into useable data from which discoveries can be made.

Joining the Next-Generation Telescopes

To begin with, a test will be performed on a small scale before the software is rolled out throughout the whole network if it is successful. As detailed on the CSIRO website, SKA will participate in several other next-generation telescopes scheduled to become operational later this decade, including the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope of NASA and the super-sized European Extreme Large Telescope.

It is set to explore the early Universe's evolution and delve into some of the earliest processes' roles in fashioning galaxies like the Earth's own Milky Way, among other scientific goals.

The UK has played an important role in the software for the telescopes during the design stage and is now set to carry on leading this particular area as the telescopes are built.

Cutting-Edge Global Observatory

According to George Freeman, the Science Minister, it is not surprising that the outstanding scientists of the United Kingdom are playing such a vital role in shaping the future of this cutting-edge global observatory, supported by a government funding amounting to approximately US$ 19 million.

Freeman added, "As well as providing the foundation" for new galaxy-level finds, this award will help ensure future contracts for the UK industry, secure skilled jobs, and develop a highly-transmittable technology in the UK, channeling more money back into the UK economy.

This then reflects the remarkable skill of the science community, who are working hand-in-hand with industry to guarantee the UK is continuing growth as a worldwide science superpower.

SKA Set to Operate for 50 Years

The SKA, with headquarter located near Manchester, recently received the go-signal to begin the construction phase, which is expected completion by the end of the decade, with the telescopes expected to be operational for over five decades.

As one of the most extensive scientific endeavors in history, the firm brings together over 500 engineers and 1,000 researchers in over 20 countries, specified by a similar BBC News report.

The telescopes will be able to survey the sky more rapidly than the existing telescopes and so will need power computing to ingest and process the expected data rate of eight terabits of data a second in real-time. It is hoped that the prototype brain will be operational by 2024.

Related information about radio telescopes is shown on UC Berkeley's YouTube video below:

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