Vixen A105MII achromatic refractor

A well-built telescope that is tailored to intermediate astronomers

Return to the MOON

The Moon is about to get busy, both in orbit and on the surface

CUTTING EDGE

Our experts examine the hottest new research

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY CAPTURE - Morning conjunctions

A month of planetary encounters offers opportunities to test your astro imaging skills

DIY ASTRONOMY - Make a solar projector

How to construct a home-built projector for safely viewing the Sun

Exploring the dark heart of WALES

The Cambrian Mountains has some of the world's darkest skies. Jamie Carter takes its Astro Trail to see why Wales is a stargazer's dream come true

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY PROCESSING - APY Masterclass: Create a skyscape panorama

Processing an image to showcase the sky and a foreground

APOLLO 16

Misbehaving engines were among the mishaps on the penultimate Apollo landing. 50 years on, Ezzy Pearson looks back at the mission

Altair Astro Hypercam AA61CFX colour camera

A full-frame, cooled camera that will appeal to dedicated astro imagers

Annie Maunder

Ezzy Pearson celebrates the achievements of the early 20th century's great solar scientist

Artemis takes aim at the Moon

As Artemis I goes through its final preparations, Niamh Shaw looks at this first step in a programme to return humanity to the Moon permanently

From City Lights to Deep Space

In the first part of a series that looks at urban stargazing through the four seasons, Rod Mollise reveals the wonders you can discover in spring

YOUR PRODUCTIVE BRAIN

Increasing your productivity is easy. It's just a matter of making a few simple changes to your routine, or behaviour, or thinking, and your productivity will soar. At least, that's what countless online articles claim. The actual science tells a different story. Even a modest amount of research reveals that some of the most commonly touted claims about how to boost productivity fall apart in the face of the evidence. So, here are some of the most common myths around boosting productivity, along with a number of approaches that have a more robust scientific basis.

TORNADOES

THE EXPLAINER

THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION: WHY IS IT BEING RETIRED AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO IT?

The last decade of the ageing space station's life will feature private occupants, movies and an eventual watery grave

Using magnets to influence the brain could lead to revolutionary new depression treatment

The method, tested in rats, targets star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes. Neuroscientists Dr Yichao Yu and Prof Mark Lythgoe at University College London tell us more...

SPACE: HOW CAN WE SOLVE THE SPACE JUNK PROBLEM?

Recent news of an out-of-control rocket crashing into the Moon sounds dramatic, but it's the millions of pieces of smaller debris that present the real danger, according to a UK expert

Q&A: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

AS THE CROW DIES

Corvids, such as crows, rooks and ravens, are some of the smartest animals out there. They can learn to make new sounds, they can cooperate and even use tools. But as Dr Kaeli Swift tells Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, they also have some intriguing rituals when it comes to their dead... and could even be capable of feeling empathy

Ideas we like...

INNOVATIONS

A MOST VIOLENT YEAR

With Italy's iconic Etna volcano erupting at the beginning of the year, followed by the lava flows of La Palma making headlines for weeks in autumn, then activity starting at Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai in late December, it felt like 2021 was a particularly big year for the planet's volcanoes.

London Tube: Does Its Air Harm Your Health?

The Mayor of London hopes that 80 per cent of trips in the city will be made on foot, bike or public transport by 2041. But how polluted is the Underground's air?

An Immune System for the Planet

Can we build a global pathogen defence system -a planetary equivalent of the immune system - to protect us when the next pandemic arrives?

ARE WE ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE?

The search for alien life is ramping up. But what if, instead of searching for signs of biology, we looked for something more familiar: an extraterrestrial civilisation

What's behind the UK's big aurora displays?

Melanie Windridge looks at the influence of recent increases in solar activity

Waking up WEBB

The James Webb Space Telescope's launch and deployment was a storming success, but why haven't we seen the first pictures yet? Govert Schilling has the answer

Get Ready for the Revolution

Technology seems poised to transform UK agriculture – but can science help farmers grow more food, while simultaneously restoring the health of our environment? Jess Stevenson investigates

WHY WE NEED TO EAT MORE PROTEIN

Load up on eggs, tofu, Greek yogurt, fish, and lean meat to help you feel full for longer

THE VOLCANO THAT SHOOK THE EARTH

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano was a once-in-a-century geological event – and now the clock is ticking to study its effects…

This robot arm can be controlled with your mind

It’s hoped the tech will one day help tetraplegic patients with day-to-day life