News archive: 2026

Congratulations to James Fawcett, Dr Alex Hall, and Dr Maria Tsedrik.

Astronomers have discovered a third exoplanet orbiting a young star known as Beta Pictoris – located around 63 light years away from Earth – a study reveals.

More than 10,000 visitors explored the mysteries of the dark Universe thanks to the Euclid space telescope exhibition.

A dazzling interstellar comet which recently visited Earth’s Solar System could be much older than the sun, a study reveals.

Astronomers in Edinburgh join colleagues around the world celebrating the start of the NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST).

Congratulations to Prof Davide Michieletto on securing an ERC Proof of Concept Grant.

Brian Murphy and Richard Cannon receive the prize in recognition of their proposal to expand planetary defence to humanity’s new frontiers.

Proposed funding cuts could have significant consequences for astronomy, particle physics and nuclear physics.

Scientists have uncovered an unexpected mechanism that a key stem cell protein uses to regulate genes.

Scientists explored whether a future space mission can detect habitable conditions through the presence of liquid water.

The UK’s national academy of sciences announces new Fellows.

Study hopes to help governments, regulators and health organisations improve equitable access to medicines.

Congratulations to Professor O’Connell who has won the College of Science and Engineering Teacher of the Year award.

First-ever measurements of star-like nuclear reactions at record-low energies.

Professor Davide Marenduzzo joins the new intake of Fellows who are recognised for their commitment to advancing knowledge for the benefit of society as a whole.

Telescope unexpectedly captures comet splitting into four.

A UK Government investment of £20 million for the University of Edinburgh’s Quantum Software Lab (QSL) will accelerate the development of quantum software.

Programme will help support the UK’s nuclear energy and defence requirements.

Congratulations to Dr Federica Oliva and Dr Israel Osmond who have received Royal Society of Edinburgh research grants.

UK scientists open a real-time window to our vast and ever-changing Universe.

Congratulations to the four winners of the inaugural School of Physics and Astronomy Public Engagement Awards.

Experiments open new possibilities for sustainable space exploration.

In the rapidly evolving world of two-dimensional materials, a small twist can have outsized consequences.

High-pressure experiments reveal two distinct methane phase diagrams and revised melting conditions.

Combining multiple, independent measurements of the cosmos, the research doubles the precision of previous Dark Energy Survey studies.

Congratulations to Professor Steve Tobias who has been appointed a Fellow of the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences.

Congratulations to Dr Sally Shaw who has been awarded the 2025 Chancellor’s Award: Rising Star.

Scientists have uncovered a previously hidden way that hydrogen molecules can move when subjected to extreme conditions.