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

During October, the Adaptive Optics System team at the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTCAO) of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), in collaboration with the technical team at the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC or Grantecan), successfully completed the integration of the GRANCAIN instrument into the world's largest optical-infrared telescope. The installation was carried out at the GTCAO outlet on the telescope's Nasmyth B platform, a key step in initiating performance testing of the new adaptive optics system. This is the first scientific instrument to operate using the GTC's adaptive

The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), through IACTEC-Space, is participating this week in Space Tech Expo Europe, the largest space industry trade fair on the continent, held in Bremen from November 18 to 20. The team is located in the Spain Space pavilion, alongside the Canary Islands Aerospace Strategy (EAC), to showcase the technological developments of the CELESTE laboratories and strengthen international collaborations in the space sector. The I nstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) is participating once again in Space Tech Expo Europe, the leading event for the space

The European Solar Telescope (EST) has successfully completed the Conceptual Design Review (CoDR) of its Scientific Instrument Suite (SIS). The scientific objectives of EST focus on examining magnetic coupling in the solar atmosphere from the deepest layers of the photosphere to the highest layers of the chromosphere. This will enable the thermal, dynamic and magnetic properties of solar plasma to be studied with high spatial and temporal resolution. These objectives are defined by the Science Advisory Group (SAG), an international group of experts responsible for establishing the scientific

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