UK's iconic Jodrell Bank telescope faces axe in science cuts
7 hours ago
- Jodrell Bank Observatory, home to the UK's largest telescope for nearly 70 years, has lost its funding and may close by April 2028 unless alternative funding is found.
- The observatory is vital for studying distant galaxies and training astronomers, with scientists calling the funding cuts 'heartbreaking' and 'scientifically misguided'.
- UKRI cut the annual £2.8m budget due to escalating costs, prioritizing projects with the greatest long-term impact, but critics like Prof Brian Cox say the decision is hasty and damaging.
- The cuts also affect other projects, including UK withdrawal from the James Clark Maxwell Telescope, two instruments on the Extremely Large Telescope, and upgrades to the Large Hadron Collider.
- The closure threatens 28 jobs at Jodrell Bank and impacts nearly 3,000 scientists who use its telescopes, including the e-Merlin network for research on planets, galaxies, and dark matter.
- Critics warn the cuts are short-sighted, risking the UK's leadership in radio astronomy just as other nations invest in the Square Kilometre Array, a next-generation super telescope.