The PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of Stars) space mission, led by the European Space Agency (ESA), has recently completed one of the most delicate phases of its development: the integration of its main components, the 26 scientific cameras and the service module that houses all the instrument's acquisition, processing, and control electronics. This stage, carried out at the facilities of the aerospace company OHB in Germany, marks a fundamental step toward the launch scheduled for December 2026 from French Guiana aboard an Ariane 6 rocket. “Almost eight years after ESA gave the

IAC researcher David Aguado has obtained a prestigious Starting Grant from the European Research Council (ERC), aimed at promoting promising young scientists. This is the third ERC grant -one of the most competitive and recognized of the Horizon Europe program- that the center has received so far this year, thus consolidating its international projection. These highly competitive grants provide up to €1.5 million over five years to support outstanding young scientists in establishing their own independent research groups and pursuing pioneering scientific ideas. Searching for the first stars

The European Solar Telescope (EST) project has taken a decisive step towards construction with the establishment of the Board of Governmental Representatives (BGR), marking the first formal commitment at the governmental level to this European flagship in solar research. Until now, EST has been driven by a scientific consortium of universities and research institutions across Europe. The creation of the BGR transforms EST into a collaboration among European nations, whose national governments lend political support to the project and to the creation of a future European Solar Telescope