EarthScope makes 'Big Science' list

In May, Arizona State University was selected by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as the new host university for the EarthScope National Office. The EarthScope program centers on exploration and discovery of the 4-D structure and evolution of the North American continent, but also encompasses studies of Earth structure and dynamics throughout the planet. It is the largest science project on the planet, recording data over 3.8 million square miles.

Earlier this month, Popular Science published the story “Big Science: The Universe's Ten Most Epic Projects” that highlights the ten most awe-inspiring science projects. Ranging from the world's largest undersea observatory to the "ultimate microscope" to a Jupiter orbiter on a suicide mission, all those that made the list are massive – and important to improving our view of the complex world around us, and the vast universe beyond. EarthScope made the list. Actually, it did better than just making the list. It was selected as the number one most epic science project.

For their rankings, Popular Science took into account four objective factors: the construction costs, operating budget, the size of the staff and the physical size of the project itself. Three subjective factors were also added in: the project’s scientific utility, its utility to the average person (“what will it do for me”) and the “wow” factor. Click here to view the gallery of the ten craziest, most ambitious, and most amazing big science projects around.