2023-07-30 -- AMES

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It seems I can't stop talking about space and technology. It wouldn't be fair to overlook another significant location: Ames Research Center(1) , situated in Mountain View, California

A common question is: 'What drew technology to the Bay Area and San Diego?' The answer often lies in military and space research and development.

In the Bay Area, universities like UC Berkeley, the top public university in the US, and Stanford, the second top private university, have consistently attracted and developed exceptional talent, fueling advancements in science and technology.(2) 

Nationally, at the moment, the two universities are tied for second place, just behind MIT.

To put this into perspective, as of end of 2021, UC Berkeley is the second-leading institution in terms of Nobel Prize winners, with 71 prizes awarded to 110 individuals (3)(4). Stanford University, with 84 Nobel laureates, ranks sixth nationally. 

To be clear, as of 2021, 609 Nobel Prizes have been awarded(5). A remarkable one-sixth of these prestigious awards have been bestowed upon individuals affiliated with institutions in the Bay Area!





One of Ames Research Center's most impressive features is its possession of the world's largest operational wind tunnel. As seen in the images above, this colossal structure measures 1,400 feet (425 meters) in length and 180 feet (55 meters) in height.

This is another facility to design and test airspace technologies.









I've been visiting AMES since 1998. During my frequent trips to the Bay Area, often multiple times a week, I always made time for another visit to the center.



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