Einstein Telescope in Sos Enattos: following the attack on the researchers, the community rallies behind the project
Despite the fire that destroyed two scientists’ cars, the underground gravitational-wave interferometer project is continuing with the support of institutions and members of the public
First the attack on the two researchers, then the outpouring of solidarity. And the determination to carry on despite the threats. The Einstein Telescope project – the challenge of studying and detecting gravitational waves using the world’s largest interferometer, to be installed more than 200 metres underground in the tunnels of the disused Sos Enattos mine in Lula, in the Nuoro area – is not being halted.
The attack on 1 August
The incident on 1 August, when the cars of two researchers who had moved to the village were set alight, did not deter the scientific community, which received expressions of solidarity from the entire community of Lula and the Nuoro area.
Two investigations have been launched
An investigation into the incident has been launched, and the investigators are searching for evidence to help piece together what happened. This is also in light of past events. Three years ago, in fact, an unexploded bomb was found in Sos Enattos: a terrorism investigation had been opened in connection with that incident.
The mobilisation
In the meantime, however, a full-scale campaign has been launched both to ‘defend’ the researchers and to support the project, which aims to revitalise the mining site through high-level scientific research.
On 5 August, an extraordinary City Council meeting was held in Lula; the meeting was open to the public and had been convened by the mayor, Mario Calia, as a forum for public debate.
