Zinc creep in cable spelter sockets brought down the Arecibo telescope in 2020
Investigations revealed that the 2020 collapse of the Arecibo Observatory’s dish was triggered by a phenomenon known as zinc creep in the cable‑splicing sockets that supported the platform. Over time, zinc atoms migrated under stress, weakening the connections and leading to the structural failure that caused the telescope’s dish to fall. The finding was unexpected, prompting engineers to reassess similar suspension systems in other structures.