Last night, the 5,000 fibre-optic ‘eyes’ of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) reached a major milestone, having fully covered the area originally planned for its map of the universe. Thus, DESI’s five-year programme has concluded ahead of schedule and with far more data than expected, resulting in the largest high-resolution 3D map of the universe ever produced. This map will enable researchers to explore dark energy, which accounts for 70% of the universe and drives its accelerated expansion. By comparing how galaxies were distributed in the past with their current

The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias is designing and developing, as ordered by the Spanish company Thales Alenia Space , the adaptive optics which will be a parto f the ground station for the GARBO project, the first Spanish geostationary system for distributing quantum keys by satellite. This is a decisive step in the field of secure quantum communication on a large scale, and will strengthn the position of Spain, and of Europe at the Forefront of this technology. Within the framework of the project the IAC will lead the development of the adaptive optics systems, and will participate

On 12 August, to mark the total eclipse that will be visible across much of Spain, various towns in Palencia — including the capital, Frómista and Carrión de los Condes — will host a series of observation and outreach events bringing together scientists and students from Spain, Morocco and the United States. This event will serve as a training exercise for the NATE experiment, which will take place in North Africa during the next total eclipse next year, and will act as a meeting point between depopulated areas of Spain, the outermost regions, and Moroccan, American and Spanish students and