Green Bank, West Virginia — Tucked deep within the Allegheny Mountains lies a small, quiet town with a big secret: it powers one of the most advanced tools in the world of space science — the Green Bank Telescope, the largest fully steerable radio telescope on Earth.
But what truly makes Green Bank extraordinary is not just the telescope — it’s the silence. The town lies in the heart of the National Radio Quiet Zone, a 13,000-square-mile area where radio transmissions are strictly limited to prevent interference with sensitive scientific equipment. This means no Wi-Fi, no cell towers, and very limited radio signals. Residents live without modern wireless conveniences — by law.
Few Americans know that Green Bank plays a vital role in the search for extraterrestrial life, deep space signals, and cutting-edge astrophysics research. Scientists from around the globe come here to conduct experiments that would be impossible anywhere else due to signal pollution.
Interestingly, the town has also become a refuge for people who suffer from electromagnetic hypersensitivity — a controversial condition where individuals claim to be physically affected by electromagnetic radiation. For them, Green Bank is a rare safe haven.
While the rest of the world races ahead with 5G and smart devices, this tiny community thrives in near-silence — quietly pushing the boundaries of science, one radio wave at a time.