How does an American town live without mobile communications and Wi-Fi

Фото: Depositphotos

In the city of Green Bank in West Virginia, local people live without mobile phones, wireless Internet, can not freely use microwaves, and children can not play certain toys.

Oddly enough, technological progress is to blame for this, namely radio telescopes sensitive to electromagnetic waves, says “Voice of America«.

From Washington to Green Bank - 4 hours by road. Halfway through the journey, mobile communications disappear and, accordingly, satellite navigation does not work. Therefore, the only way not to get lost is to follow the signs and the map.

Green Bank is a tiny town with a population of one and a half hundred people. There are 2 churches, a primary school and a library, to which there is a separate sign. And telescopes are visible from under the domes of the trees.

Sheri, the manager of the largest grocery store in the city, is used to such a neighborhood. She was born here. And the lack of mobile communications or wireless Internet is the norm for her.

“Yes, we are not like everyone else. Some might say that we are living in the past like old times. But for us it’s a way of life, we’ve always lived this way,” she says. On the wall in the store is a rarity - a landline telephone. It is the most popular means of communication here.

Technical progress in Green Bank and neighboring towns almost stopped in the 50-s, when the territory in 33 thousand square kilometers made National zone radio stations.

Фото: Depositphotos

You cannot install mobile towers here. And the closer to the telescopes, the stricter the restrictions. Area diameters of 16 kilometers around the observatory has more limitations. Even radio-controlled toys cannot be used here. And the observance of these rules is strictly monitored.

“This equipment allows me to pick up even the weakest signals that could affect the telescope,” says technician John Baserman.

John serves as a "technical policeman." He drives through the streets of the city and selectively stops at one of the houses. The equipment shows him whether there are prohibited items inside. Next, observatory workers speak with the violators. They themselves work in special sarcophagus rooms that do not allow electromagnetic waves to pass through.

“Imagine a submarine that doesn’t get any water. So, this room is like an electromagnetic submarine. Electromagnetic waves can’t get into this room, just like you can’t get inside,” says observatory employee Michael Golstein.

Inside there are walls covered with copper plates, and on the windows there is a mesh made of the same material. Even a microwave oven works in a special metal container.

Photo: video frame

“It won’t turn on until we lock these doors,” says an observatory worker.

Thus, scientists are trying to reduce the impact of technology on the radio telescope. Michael says that only once a week, when the telescope is in maintenance, can it be approached with television equipment. Michael on the territory of the observatory uses only diesel cars. A gasoline engine has an electrical ignition system and can also harm telescopes.

The barrier is also mechanical. Michael opens it with a regular key. A few more kilometers of road - and here it is, the “sensitive” and largest telescope in the world, the size of a football field.

So, if alien civilizations decide to contact earthlings, this telescope will track them first. True, while scientists are just waiting for such a signal.

Photo: video frame

“All the signals that we now receive using telescopes come from space objects - stars, galaxies. We have not yet received a single message from alien civilizations,” says scientist Richard Lynch.

Locals respect the work of scientists. Moreover, they are satisfied with life outside the world of technical progress.

“Instead of each sitting in front of his own screen, we fish, hunt, visit each other, and have fun. There are a lot more positives than negatives,” says Green Bank resident Sheri.

The city has cable Internet, but Sheri says that she doesn't use it often. For news, she has enough of a local weekly newspaper. If there is a need to call somewhere, she finds the phone number in the directory. And instead of chatting on Facebook, just talking to customers. In the city, everyone already knows each other, and communicate, as in the good old days.

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