On 12 August, to mark the total eclipse that will be visible across much of Spain, various towns in Palencia — including the capital, Frómista and Carrión de los Condes — will host a series of observation and outreach events bringing together scientists and students from Spain, Morocco and the United States. This event will serve as a training exercise for the NATE experiment, which will take place in North Africa during the next total eclipse next year, and will act as a meeting point between depopulated areas of Spain, the outermost regions, and Moroccan, American and Spanish students and

The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) is taking part in an international study, published in the journal "Science", which provides the first conclusive evidence of a planet’s influence on the behaviour of its star. The results have made it possible to detect and estimate the strength of the magnetic field of the exoplanet GJ 436 b, opening up a new avenue for studying the habitability of planets outside the Solar System. Magnetic fields play a fundamental role in the habitability of planets. On Earth, the magnetic field acts as a shield against the solar wind and contributes to the