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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    What Angelenos lose if the Mt. Wilson Observatory burns down

    Flames from the Bobcat Fire have come within 500 feet of the Mount Wilson Observatory, which was once the world’s largest observatory. Billions of dollars worth of other important equipment, such as radio and TV transmitters, are nearby. Mt.

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    By Madeleine Brand • Sep 16, 2020 • 11m Listen

    Flames from the Bobcat Fire have come within 500 feet of the Mount Wilson Observatory, which was once the world’s largest observatory. Billions of dollars worth of other important equipment, such as radio and TV transmitters, are nearby. Mt. Wilson is also home to Caltech’s seismic station, which has been recording earthquake activity for 100 years. Firefighters are defending the area.

    Seismologist Lucy Jones knows the history and importance of the Mt. Wilson station. She tackles the fires, excessive heat, earthquakes and climate change in the new podcast “Getting Through It.”

    The full episode

    1 of 5
    Why Mt. Wilson matters, as the Bobcat Fire burns near the observatory
    1. 0:00What Angelenos lose if the Mt. Wilson Observatory burns downYou’re reading this
    2. 11:18‘Solastalgia’ and the psychological effects of natural disasters
    3. 19:39700 SDSU students test positive for COVID-19, threatening the entire county’s progress for reopening
    4. 27:16A protest by veterans during the Great Depression set the stage for the Great Society programs
    5. 42:16Why Hollywood’s 2 biggest releases flopped financially, and how that’s affecting fall releases
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sarah Sweeney

      Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michell Eloy

      Former Producer/Line Editor, Press Play

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Amy Ta

      Digital News & Culture Editor

    • KCRW placeholder

      Lucy Jones

      seismologist, founder of the Dr. Lucy Jones center for science and society

      CultureCaliforniaLos AngelesEnvironment

    The full episode

    1 of 5
    Why Mt. Wilson matters, as the Bobcat Fire burns near the observatory
    1. 0:00What Angelenos lose if the Mt. Wilson Observatory burns downYou’re reading this
    2. 11:18‘Solastalgia’ and the psychological effects of natural disasters
    3. 19:39700 SDSU students test positive for COVID-19, threatening the entire county’s progress for reopening
    4. 27:16A protest by veterans during the Great Depression set the stage for the Great Society programs
    5. 42:16Why Hollywood’s 2 biggest releases flopped financially, and how that’s affecting fall releases
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand