Kimballton, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kimballton, Virginia
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Unincorporated community
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 Kimballton, Virginia
Location in Shenandoah Valley
Kimballton, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Kimballton, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Giles |
| Elevation | 1,686 ft (514 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 540 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1496965 |
Kimballton is a small place in Giles County, Virginia, United States. It's known as an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government. Instead, it's part of the larger county. Kimballton is located near a stream called Stony Creek. It's about 4.2 miles (6.8 kilometers) northeast of a bigger town called Pearisburg.
One of the most interesting things about Kimballton is that it's home to a special underground science lab. This lab is called the Virginia Tech's Kimballton Underground Research Facility (KURF). It's built deep inside an old limestone mine.
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Exploring Kimballton's Underground Lab
The Kimballton Underground Research Facility (KURF) is a unique place for scientists. It's a special laboratory that's built deep inside the Earth. This lab is part of Virginia Tech, a big university in Virginia.
What is KURF?
KURF is a "low-background physics laboratory." This means it's designed to study very tiny particles and forces without interference. Imagine trying to hear a whisper in a noisy room. It's hard! Scientists need a very quiet place to "hear" tiny signals from space or from inside atoms.
Why Go Underground?
You might wonder why scientists built a lab so far underground. The answer is simple: to block out noise! Above ground, we are constantly surrounded by "noise" from cosmic rays. These are high-energy particles that come from space. They can interfere with sensitive experiments.
By going deep underground, the thick layers of rock act like a shield. This shield blocks most of the cosmic rays. This creates a super quiet environment for experiments. It allows scientists to detect very faint signals that would be impossible to find on the surface.
What Do Scientists Study at KURF?
At KURF, scientists study many exciting things. They look for rare events that happen in the universe. For example, they might be searching for dark matter. Dark matter is a mysterious substance that scientists believe makes up a large part of the universe. We can't see it, but it affects how galaxies move.
They also study tiny particles called neutrinos. Neutrinos are almost massless and travel at nearly the speed of light. They pass through almost everything without interacting. Studying them can tell us more about stars, the sun, and even supernovas (exploding stars).
The Limestone Mine Connection
The KURF lab is located inside an active limestone mine. This is a great location because the mine already provides the deep underground space needed. Limestone is a type of rock that is often used in construction and other industries. The mine provides a natural shield for the sensitive experiments.
Location and Surroundings
Kimballton is nestled in the beautiful landscape of Giles County, Virginia. The area is known for its natural beauty, including mountains and rivers. Stony Creek, which flows near Kimballton, is a tributary of the New River. The New River is one of the oldest rivers in the world!
Being an unincorporated community, Kimballton doesn't have a mayor or a town council like a city. Instead, services like roads and schools are managed by Giles County. It's a quiet place where people live and work, often connected to the natural resources or the scientific research happening nearby.
