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  • Is the scientific status of astrobiology undermined by the lack of evidence for alien life, the problematic influence of science fiction, or the use of ‘astrobiology’ as a buzzword for attracting funding? Here we defend the emerging discipline.

    • Cyrille Jeancolas
    • Catherine Gillen
    • Peter Vickers
    Comment
  • The search for life elsewhere involves variables across multiple scales in time and space, often nested hierarchically. We suggest that the emergence of artificial intelligence learning systems offers critically important ways to make progress.

    • Caleb A. Scharf
    • Marisa H. Mayer
    • Penelope J. Boston
    Comment
  • A recent survey suggests that reducing the number of meetings and conferences is a viable way to address concerns about the effectiveness of the modern scientific collaboration process, its effects on the environment and the well-being of the community.

    • L. Tibaldo
    • E. Prandini
    • A. Nelles
    Comment
  • The traditional conference format has been with us for more than a century, and yet the contemporary version remains similar in many ways. Can emerging technologies enable conferencing to evolve? The Future of Meetings community of practice present their findings from bringing virtual reality to three recent conferences.

    • Vanessa A. Moss
    • Glen A. Rees
    • Ron D. Ekers
    Comment
  • The first planetarium projector was completed 100 years ago, providing the public with an unparalleled view of the night sky. The International Planetarium Society is marking this major anniversary with celebratory events across the globe.

    • Michael McConville
    • Björn Voss
    • Guilherme F. Marranghello
    Comment
  • JWST has revealed the most distant galaxies known, but photometric estimates of their redshifts are likely to be overly generous, owing to a statistical effect identified by Sir Arthur Eddington.

    • Stephen Serjeant
    • Tom J. L. C. Bakx
    Comment
  • Efforts are afoot to create rules for activities on the Moon, but so far none prioritize protecting the unique opportunities for science that exist there. Now is the time to safeguard future scientific discovery on and from our natural satellite.

    • Alanna Krolikowski
    Comment
  • Dennis Sciama has argued that the existence of life depends on many quantities—the fundamental constants—so in a random universe life should be highly unlikely. However, without full knowledge of these constants, his argument implies a universe that could appear to be ‘intelligently designed’.

    • Zhi-Wei Wang
    • Samuel L. Braunstein
    Comment
  • Common ground between human spaceflight and astrobiology can be used as the foundation for a new deal in the exploration of Mars that will allow stakeholders to reach critical astrobiological goals while supporting safer human exploration.

    • Alberto G. Fairén
    • Nathalie A. Cabrol
    Comment
  • A change in policy that has allowed the public to use the Thiruvananthapuram Astronomical Observatory has brought about a consistent increase in visitors that is being spurred on by recent celestial events, such as the appearance of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF).

    • R. Jayakrishnan
    Comment
  • The success of NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission is a giant leap for planetary defence. DART is an important milestone on the long road that still lies ahead for reducing the risk of a devastating natural object impact with Earth.

    • Lindley Johnson
    • Joshua Handal
    • Kelly Fast
    Comment
  • What is the link between the discovery of the relativistic expanding Universe and British imperialism? A public panel debate in the early days of relativistic cosmology shows how fundamental scientific research, whether there are obvious political stakeholders (like biosecurity and climate) or not, runs real-time risks of being repurposed for political ends.

    • Mike D. Schneider
    • Siska De Baerdemaeker
    Comment
  • A vital part of future planetary science missions will be the development of more inclusive teams. As NASA’s InSight mission comes to its end on Mars, we share some strategies that have helped us to work toward this goal.

    • B. Fernando
    • I. J. Daubar
    • S. Stanley
    Comment
  • At a Lorentz Center workshop, Chiara Caprini, Antoine Petiteau and Elena Maria Rossi gave a series of presentations about the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission, the instrument, and the associated science in cosmology and astrophysics.

    • Jean-Baptiste Bayle
    • Béatrice Bonga
    • Lijing Shao
    Comment
  • The 2019 carbon footprint of the W. M. Keck Observatory is estimated at 3.0 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per science night and that figure will move towards net zero over the next decade or so by decarbonizing the Observatory’s vehicle fleet, aviation footprint reductions and other measures.

    • Kevin L. McCann
    • Craig Nance
    • Josh Walawender
    Comment
  • The development and use of research infrastructures accounts for more than 70% of the carbon footprint of the Institute for Research in Astrophysics and Planetology. Our community needs to rethink this crucial facet of astronomical research to engage in effective and perennial reduction strategies.

    • Pierrick Martin
    • Sylvie Brau-Nogué
    • Luigi Tibaldo
    Comment
  • In-person and online conferences each have their benefits, with hybrid conferences intended to blend the best of both worlds. But do hybrid conferences fulfil the promise? Fifteen attendees across three global conferences share their collective experiences.

    • Vanessa A. Moss
    • Lola Balaguer-Nuñez
    • Adam R. H. Stevens
    Comment