A study published today in Nature Astronomy , in which a researcher from the IAC has participated, outlines the discovery of an extremely rare type of binary system composed of two high mass white dwarfs. The two stars are so close together that they will eventually collide resulting in a supernova explosion which, due to its proximity to the Earth, will appear ten times brighter than the Moon. Type 1a supernovae are a class of cosmic explosion often used as "standard candles" to measure the expansion of the Universe. They occur when a white dwarf exceeds the Chandrasekhar mass - the limit

The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) has opened the application period for the XXXVI Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics , which will be held from 17 to 22 November 2025. This edition is carried out in the framework of the CELESTE (Centre for Optical and Space Technologies of the IAC) programme funded by the European Union and will focus on key optical technologies for astronomy, a field that is driving 21st century discoveries about the universe. Applications will be accepted until Friday, 13 June. The IAC’s Winter School is renowned for its educational approach and

The Museo de la Ciencia y el Cosmos, part of the Organismo Autónomo de Museos y Centros del Cabildo de Tenerife, will host a conference by the astrophysicist and 2006 Nobel Laureate in Physics, John Mather, entitled ‘Unsolved mysteries of physics and astronomy’, on Friday 9th May. Mather receives this week the recognition as Doctor Honoris Causa of the Universidad de La Laguna (ULL) with the sponsorship of the researcher of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and Doctor Honoris Causa of the ULL, John Beckman. Mather's lecture, which will be in English, will be presented by the