News

This section includes scientific and technological news from the IAC and its Observatories, as well as press releases on scientific and technological results, astronomical events, educational projects, outreach activities and institutional events.

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  • Jornadas 'Proteger la Noche. Contaminación lumínica y biodiversidad'
    Press release
    El IAC participa en unas jornadas sobre contaminación lumínica y su impacto en la biodiversidad nocturna
    La actividad, organizada por la Sociedad de Promoción y Desarrollo Económico de La Palma (SODEPAL) con la colaboración del Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) y SEO/BirdLife Canarias, forma parte de AstroFest La Palma 2026 y abordará los efectos de la iluminación artificial sobre el medioambiente y, especialmente, sobre las aves marinas El Palacio Salazar de Santa Cruz de La Palma acogerá el próximo 2 de octubre las jornadas 'Proteger la Noche. Contaminación lumínica y biodiversidad ', una actividad organizada por SODEPAL , con financiación del área de Turismo del Cabildo de La Palma
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  • Nicolas Lodieu standing beside the screen during his presentation on the SELF telescope at the CHASES 2026 conference
    The IAC presents the SELF telescope in Italy, a prototype to advance the search for life on exoplanets
    Nicolas Lodieu, a scientist working on the SELF project at the Laboratory for Innovation in Optomechanics (LIOM), presented the progress made on this experimental telescope at the international CHASES 2026 conference. SELF is designed to validate technologies for the direct observation of worlds beyond the Solar System. The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) has presented the progress made on the SELF (Small ExoLife Finder) telescope at the international Charting the Future of Stellar and Exoplanet Spectroscopy (CHASES 2026) conference. SELF is a technological prototype developed to
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  • LPQI-Pathfinder
    Press release
    The IAC is pioneering a new way of observing the universe by linking telescopes at Roque de los Muchachos with quantum technology
    A meeting brought together scientists, technologists and institutional representatives to present the latest developments in the La Palma Quantum Interferometer (LPQI) project, outline its next steps and analyse the potential of quantum technologies to drive science, innovation and sustainable development on La Palma. As part of the La Palma Quantum Interferometer (LPQI) project, scientists, technologists and institutional representatives met from 8 to 10 September at IACTEC in La Laguna (Tenerife) to hold the LPQI Workshop 2026, an event at which the latest advances were presented and the
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  • Official poster of the 2nd UNDARK Workshop, “Astrophysical Probes of Dark Sectors Using Gamma-Ray Observations”, held from 28 September to 2 October 2026.
    UNDARK brings together researchers to explore the frontiers of the dark UniversE
    UNDARK continues its programme of scientific activities with a new workshop bringing together researchers to discuss some of the key questions at the frontiers of cosmology, astrophysics, and particle physics. The meeting provides a space for scientific exchange and discussion around the fundamental challenges involved in understanding the dark Universe, from the nature of dark matter and dark energy to their implications for our current picture of the cosmos. The opening day featured contributions from Alicia and Daniela, whose presentations introduced different perspectives and research
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  • Artist's impression of the erosion of hydrogenated amorphous carbon grains in the dusty torus of a young carbon-rich planetary nebula, releasing methyl radicals (CH3) into the gas phase
    Press release
    JWST detects the elusive methyl radical for the first time around a dying star
    An international study led by researchers from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) reports the first secure detection of the methyl radical (CH₃) in the environment of an evolved, carbon-rich star. The molecule was found with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in SMP LMC 011, a dying star in the Large Magellanic Cloud, and points to an unexpected way of building the carbon molecules that seed the Universe with organic material. The results are published in the prestigious journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters . The methyl radical, CH₃, is one of the simplest and most
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  • TMT logo
    Press release
    Statement from TMT International Observatory on Spain’s Financing Proposal
    We reproduce the statement issued by Robert Kirshner, Executive Director of the TMT International Observatory (TIO), regarding the decision by TIO partners not to accept the funding proposal put forward by Spain for the TMT site at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory. Statement from TMT International Observatory on Spain’s Financing Proposal “Following TIO's September 18 letter to Minister Morant, we want to share more about our decision. TIO’s partners gave Spain’s financing proposal extensive and careful consideration, and ultimately were not able to accept the proposal. Therefore, TIO
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