The Big Bang Mile

The Story Behind the Big Bang Mile

The Bell Works building was once a primary location for Bell Laboratories.  “Bell Labs” attracted top-notch scientists to conduct basic research that might advance telephony.  Two such scientists, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, studied radio signals from space in support of the Telstar project.  In 1964, to their surprise, they observed a background noise coming from every direction in the sky.  Wherever they pointed their radio telescope, they measured the same frequency and strength of microwave radiation.  Puzzled, Penzias and Wilson conferred with colleagues.  Princeton University astronomer Robert Dicke revealed they had found evidence for the Big Bang.  This is a theory that the universe started with an explosion 13.8 billion years ago.  For their important contribution to science, Penzias and Wilson were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1978.

The radio telescope used by Penzias and Wilson still stands today.  It is located on top of Crawford Hill, about 2 miles northwest of the Bell Works facility.  A nearby plaque explains its significance.  It is worth a visit.

Shore Athletic Club dedicates the Big Bang Mile Race to scientists everywhere.  We hope that runners draw inspiration from this story to learn more about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and perhaps even pursue a STEM career.  Aim high! 
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The Big Bang Mile Event is the a USATF-NJ Championship certified one-mile race hosted by the Shore Athletic Club. The event will take place at Bells Works Labs in Holmdel, New Jersey and will feature youth, masters, high school, and open athletes in 8 different heats starting at 9am with bib pick up at 8am. Registration closes Friday, June 25th, 2021 at 12pm. There will be NO event day registration allowed. Please sign up on RunSignup.com. The first 200 registered runners will get a custom Big Bang Mile drawstring athletic bag and there will be Overall, Age Group, and Masters Age Graded Awards. No animals allowed!
 

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Time: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Category: Sports / Leisure | Running Instagram: https://go.evvnt.com/793292-3?pid=6581