This news is a bit old, but the National Science Foundation has decided to demolish the Sunspot Observatory in New Mexico because its unique mercury bearing started leaking.
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Do you remember when we used to roll mercury around in the palms of our hands in science class?
I think it is like Arecibo, the bean counters decided that letting it die is more cost effective than repairing it.
Changing times! It used to be pretty easy to buy 5 lb of mercury, but those days are gone. Sextants needed a horizon mirror when used on land. If you were sure-fingered, you could float a mirror on water; but floating a piece of glass on mercury was a whole lot easier.
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