Astronomy and space News NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab announces further staff layoffs About 325 people, representing 5% of the lab’s employees, will be affected Read article: NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab announces further staff layoffs
Policy and funding News EU must double its science budget to remain competitive, warns report A committee of 15 experts from research and industry call for Framework Programme 10 to have a budget of at least €220bn Read article: EU must double its science budget to remain competitive, warns report
Projects and facilities News The Arecibo Observatory’s ‘powerful radiation environment’ led to its collapse, claims report The disaster in December 2020 was caused by the failure of zinc in the observatory’s cable sockets Read article: The Arecibo Observatory’s ‘powerful radiation environment’ led to its collapse, claims report
Particle and nuclear News UK particle physicist Mark Thomson selected as next CERN boss Thomson will become the 17th director-general of the CERN particle-physics laboratory when he takes up the position in 2026 Read article: UK particle physicist Mark Thomson selected as next CERN boss
Astronomy and space News Timber! Japan launches world’s first wooden satellite into space LignoSat will test the possibilities of building wooden human habitats in space Read article: Timber! Japan launches world’s first wooden satellite into space
People News Superconductivity theorist Leon Cooper dies aged 94 Cooper carried out research into superconductivity and neuroscience Read article: Superconductivity theorist Leon Cooper dies aged 94
Scientific enterprise News US Department of Energy announces new Fermilab contractor Yet some see little change in the selection of Fermi Forward Discovery Group Read article: US Department of Energy announces new Fermilab contractor
People News Semiconductor pioneer Richard Friend bags 2024 Isaac Newton Medal and Prize Friend won for his work on the fundamental electronic properties of molecular semiconductors and in their engineering development Read article: Semiconductor pioneer Richard Friend bags 2024 Isaac Newton Medal and Prize
People News Pioneers of AI-based protein-structure prediction share 2024 chemistry Nobel prize Protein designer is also honoured in this year’s award Read article: Pioneers of AI-based protein-structure prediction share 2024 chemistry Nobel prize
People News John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton share the 2024 Nobel Prize for Physics Duo win for their work on machine learning Read article: John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton share the 2024 Nobel Prize for Physics
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