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Schmidt Couple Invests $500M in Next-Gen Telescopes

1/9/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, and his wife Wendy Schmidt announced a $500 million investment to fund four telescopes, including Lazuli to rival Hubble.
Funding for telescopes shifted after World War II from private individuals to government and academic institutions due to rising costs.
The Schmidt investment aims to support research that may not receive government or private funding.
Wendy Schmidt highlighted their commitment to exploring frontiers through philanthropy.

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Story summary

Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, and his wife Wendy Schmidt announced a $500 million investment to fund four telescopes, including Lazuli to rival Hubble.
Funding for telescopes shifted after World War II from private individuals to government and academic institutions due to rising costs.
The Schmidt investment aims to support research that may not receive government or private funding.
Wendy Schmidt highlighted their commitment to exploring frontiers through philanthropy.