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How giant mirrors are made for what will be the world’s largest telescope

The Giant Magellan Telescope could reveal signs of life on faraway planets

An image of the Giant Magellan Telescope and its seven huge primary mirrors.

When completed, the Giant Magellan Telescope (shown in this rendering) will use seven huge primary mirrors to capture light from faraway, Earthlike worlds and search their atmospheres for potential signatures of life.

Giant Magellan Telescope/GMTO Corporation

By Nikk Ogasa

TUCSON — Hot and dry air, perfused with a scent reminiscent of a warmed hair straightener, stuffed a hangar-sized room beneath the football stadium at the University of Arizona.