What are astronomy's technological spin-offs?

Many technologies that were developed for use in astronomy have found their way into daily life, like CCD detectors and WiFi. Technology transfer is one of astronomy’s societal benefits.

Camera chip: Using declassified military technology, astronomers developed CCD detectors, which can now be found in many digital cameras.

Credit: Moravian Instruments

Smart connection: Antenna technology for smartphones builds on developments in radio astronomy – both operate in the same frequency range.

Credit: Nokia

To study the Universe in as much detail as possible requires revolutionary technology: better optics, more sensitive detectors and antennas, fast signal processing, and novel techniques like interferometry. All these inventions have since worked their way into completely different fields, such as consumer electronics, communications, and medical technology. Obviously, astronomers do not study the Universe to develop CCD cameras, WiFi or MRI scanners, but technology spin-off is one of the beneficial side effects of the science of the Universe.

No strings attached: Technology invented in 1977 by radio astronomer John O’Sullivan enabled the development of wireless computer networks and WiFi internet connections.

Credit: Evan Amos

Look and cook! Ceran®, a glass ceramic developed for astronomical telescopes by German glass manufacturer SCHOTT, is now also used for cooking hobs.

Credit: Felix Reimann

Medical issues: Technology developed for ESO’s Very Large Telescope led to a new dental diode laser.

Credit: ORALIA medical GmbH

Did you know? Many smart inventions in our daily world were thought up by astronomers.