The COSPAR 2026 press tour offers a unique opportunity for accredited media to explore the historic Villa Galileo and INAF Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory. The event is free of charge but has limited participation, with full details and schedules sent to registered participants.
The 46th Scientific Assembly and Associated Events (COSPAR 2026) will take place in Florence, Italy from August 1-9, 2026. The event will bring together leading scientists to discuss the future of space exploration, climate monitoring, and planetary science.
The MISTRAL receiver, installed on the Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT), enables wide-field imaging of weak and extended sources. It achieves this by containing 415 Kinetic Inductance Detectors cooled to absolute zero, producing highly detailed images of celestial objects in diverse astrophysical contexts.
Researchers analyzed 21 distant quasars to find a connection between X-ray emission and wind speed, indicating rapid accretion of matter. This study challenges physics limits and provides insights for future X-ray missions.
The VST-SMASH survey captures new images of five galaxies showcasing their unique structures and assembly histories. The Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) at ESO Paranal observatory used the VST telescope to produce these glorious galaxy portraits.
A groundbreaking study has provided a 3D view of the formation and evolution of globular clusters, revealing key differences in kinematic properties between multiple stellar populations. The research highlights that these ancient structures formed through multiple star formation events and provide constraints on their dynamical path.
A new study has confirmed that plasma bubbles are the key to understanding fast radio bursts (FRBs), with researchers detecting the weakest persistent radio emission ever recorded for an FRB. The data suggests that a magnetar or high-accretion X-ray binary is powering these mysterious events.
A theoretical model shows that solar radiation, UV light, and antigenic shift/drift frequency drive the cyclicality of epidemics. The Italian team's work accurately reproduces seasonal patterns for various viruses, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2, and predicts high-intensity initial cycles followed by moderate-intensity annual cycles.
Scientists observed and measured the tiny distortion in a star's light caused by Venus passing in front of it. The effect, known as the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect, is difficult to detect but holds promise for studying exoplanets. Measuring this effect will aid in understanding the history of exoplanet formation.