In the late 1950s, the primary means of international communication was by undersea cable or by bouncing radio waves off the ionosphere. The US was concerned that in the event of a major conflict, the cables could be cut. This would force all communications through the less reliable radio connection through the ionosphere. The solution, in the days before communication satellites? Create a man-made ionosphere using 480 million tiny copper dipole antennas. Continue reading Needle in a Haystack