Civil
MAST Upgrade hits record plasma duration at Culham fusion lab
Researchers at the UK Atomic Energy Authority report a longer, more stable spherical tokamak pulse, strengthening the case for compact fusion devices on the path to STEP.
Watch
Video and audio briefings on UK science and space.
Civil
Civil
STEP roadmap firms West Burton timeline for prototype fusion plant
UKAEA’s STEP programme sets clearer milestones for the Nottinghamshire site, linking grid connection planning with magnet and breeding-blanket development.
Civil
Diamond Light Source deepens materials beamtime for net-zero industry
The Harwell synchrotron expands industrial access for battery, aerospace and fusion materials characterisation as UK manufacturers seek faster failure analysis.
Civil
RAL Space scales Harwell Earth observation processing for UK climate services
STFC’s RAL Space is expanding ground-segment and data-processing capacity so UK agencies can turn satellite streams into operational climate and disaster products faster.
Civil
Jodrell Bank secures e-MERLIN uplift to keep UK VLBI network competitive
Fresh UKRI-linked support aims to modernise correlators and fibre links so British radio astronomers remain central to European very-long-baseline interferometry.
Civil
UK labs lock Ariel's spectrograph path ahead of ESA exoplanet launch window
British consortia refining Ariel’s payload calibration say flight-model test campaigns are tightening error budgets for thousands of planned exoplanet atmospheres.
Civil
British Antarctic Survey ties ice-sheet loss to sharper UK climate risk models
New BAS analyses from the Weddell and Amundsen sectors feed Met Office and UKCP pathways, raising pressure for coastal adaptation planning at home.
Civil
SWIMMR programme knits UK space-weather grid for grid and satcom resilience
Researchers linking ground magnetometers, ionospheric sensors and satellite data say the UK is closer to actionable alerts for operators of power and navigation systems.
Civil
Genomics England widens NHS research cohorts for rare disease and cancer
Expanded sequencing capacity and tighter NHS data pathways aim to shorten diagnostic odysseys while keeping patient consent and security front of mind.
Commercial
Francis Crick and UK DRI deepen shared brain-disease platforms
Joint imaging and molecular platforms in London seek faster routes from lab models to trials for dementia and neurodegeneration research.
Launch
SaxaVord inches toward fuller launch licensing on Unst
Shetland’s vertical spaceport advances regulatory and range-safety work as UK officials weigh coastal community impacts against sovereign launch ambitions.
Launch
Spaceport Cornwall resets horizontal launch offers after Virgin orbit gap
Newquay’s spaceport courts alternative carriers and payload customers, leaning on airport dual-use strengths while vertical rivals gather pace elsewhere.