A VORACIOUS Californian forest fire is threatening the Mount Wilson Observatory near Los Angeles, where, nearly a century ago, Edwin Hubble made the observations that confirmed the notion of an expanding universe.
The “Station fire” started on 26 August. As New Scientist went to press, it had burned through some 425 square kilometres of the Angeles National Forest, destroyed buildings and led to the deaths of two firefighters.
The US Forest Service describes the fire’s passage across mount Wilson as “imminent”. Firefighters have evacuated their base below the observatory, although flame retardant will continue to be dropped in the area.…
