Ultra-faint dwarf galaxies, among the tiniest and faintest galaxies known, may hold the key to understanding one of the Universe’s biggest mysteries: the true nature of dark matter. A new study reveals that even a single collision between dark matter particles every 10 billion years — roughly the age of the Universe — is enough to explain the dark matter cores observed in these small systems. These galaxies, which contain only a few thousand stars, are dominated by dark matter and have relatively simple evolutionary histories. That makes them ideal cosmic laboratories for testing theories

The Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics (IAC) is organizing the XXXVI Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics , which will be held in San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Tenerife) from November 17 to 22, 2025. Under the title "Key Optical technologies for Astronomy", the school will focus on cutting-edge optical and algorithmic technologies that will define the future of Astrophysics. This edition, led by Professors Jeff Kuhn (University of Hawaii and IAC) and Rafael Rebolo (IAC), will involve approximately 35 advanced Master's students, doctoral candidates, and early-career postdoctoral

The IACTEC building, in the Las Mantecas Science and Technology Park in La Laguna, is hosting the 11th International Astronomy Education Adventure in the Canary Islands (AEACI 2026) this week. This edition forms part of the Erasmus+ Astro-Journeys project, co-funded by the European Union, in which the IAC is participating alongside eight other institutions from France, Portugal, Germany and Greece. The aim of the project is to support the professional development of teachers, enabling them to design interdisciplinary, inclusive and research-based learning experiences, using astronomy as the