science

Poland's RT4 telescope faces closure after funding cut

Poland's largest radio telescope, the RT4, is at risk of being shut down due to cuts to state funding reported for 2026–2028. The 32-meter single-dish antenna, operated by the Astronomical Observatory at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Piwnice in central Poland, could cease operations as soon as January 1 of next year.

By Nikodem Baran | Last Updated: 7 Oct 2025
Effect on research and response
The RT4 team posted on Facebook, This move would in effect mean the end of the life of this Polish instrument." RT4 has been the backbone of decades of astronomical research, enabling Polish scientists to observe distant galaxies, study pulsars, and study interstellar molecules. The Institute of Astronomy at the university has made a plea to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, asking for the funding to be restored.

Researchers have described the cuts as "rather sad and strange", pointing out that RT4 achieved an A-rating, the highest possible, in the ministry-led Funds for Maintaining Scientific Research Equipment (SpUB) competition only recently. The infrared telescope is also listed as an instrument on the Polish Map of Research Infrastructure, which makes it instrumental to national science in Poland.

Possible funding solution
Physicist Piotr Żuchowski warned that "if the technical support is gone, the radio telescope near Toruń may never return to ideal functionality." Minister Marcin Kulasek said there is still a chance for funding for the RT4.

Kulasek explained that only 11 out of 186 submissions could be funded. In terms of evaluation ranking, Toruń University's application ranked 36th, while reviews were very positive for the application. "We are doing everything possible to secure this funding ... I will bring good news by the end of the year," he said.

Related Posts

China Drives Sodium-Ion Battery Growth Through Electric Scooters

China Drives Sodium-Ion Battery Growth Through Electric Scooters

China is on the forefront of sodium-ion battery deployment, and electric scooters is being used as the flagship product. Scooters like these, enabled by sodium batteries rather than the conventional lithium-ion and lead-acid models, are becoming popular, helping to usher the technology into the mainstream.

 

Polish Astronaut Reveals Spacesuit Ahead of Historic Space Mission

Polish Astronaut Reveals Spacesuit Ahead of Historic Space Mission

A Polish astronaut has captured the attention of space enthusiasts after revealing the advanced spacesuit he will wear during his upcoming journey to space. The modern design of the suit and the significance of the mission have created a wave of excitement online.

Hidden Arthurian Manuscript Found in Medieval Book Binding

Hidden Arthurian Manuscript Found in Medieval Book Binding

Two previously unknown pages from a 13th-century tale of Merlin in Old French and of Arthur in Guinevere’s court were discovered by researchers at Cambridge University Library. Written in Old French, these leaves were discovered bound into another book as its cover. The fragment is from the “Suite Vulgate du Merlin,” a sequel to the Arthurian legend. Roughly three dozen copies of this sequel are believed to exist.

 

Man’s Snake Venom Immunity Inspires Groundbreaking Antivenom

Man’s Snake Venom Immunity Inspires Groundbreaking Antivenom

A novel way to treat snakebites has been discovered through an unlikely collaboration between a scientist and a man who spent nearly 20 years self-immunizing himself by exposing his body to snake venom. Immunologist Jacob Glanville identified Tim Friede, a self-taught snake handler who had injected himself with venom from some of the deadliest snakes on the planet — culturing himself to snake venom as if it were poison ivy and even permitting snakebites at one point — all to gradually build his immune system.

Anglo-Saxon Burial Bucket Reveals Cremated Remains and Artifacts

Anglo-Saxon Burial Bucket Reveals Cremated Remains and Artifacts

At Sutton Hoo in England, where the seventh-century Anglo-Saxon “ghost ship” burial is located, archaeologists have published a substantial amount of information on a mysterious sixth-century object, the Bromeswell bucket. First identified as fragments in 1986 and excavated more completely in 2012, the bucket has puzzled scientists with its high-resolution North African hunting scene that includes warriors, animals, and weapons. Experts believe it was created in Antioch (in what is now Turkey) under the Byzantine Empire and was moved to Britain a century later.

 

Google Veo 3 AI Tool Creates Stunningly Realistic Videos

Google Veo 3 AI Tool Creates Stunningly Realistic Videos

Google has unveiled its most sophisticated AI video tool to date — Veo 3. The tool can produce a strikingly realistic video that is virtually indistinguishable from human-created content. Its realism is both thrilling and troubling to the many who think that fact and fiction are increasingly blurred online.

Advertisement

LATEST INSIGHTS

Potrzebujemy chwili Twojej uwagi

Uwielbiamy pliki cookie — zarówno te jadalne, jak i cyfrowe, które ulepszają Twoje wrażenia z przeglądania. Pomagają nam one udoskonalać funkcjonalność naszej witryny i Twoje ogólne wrażenia. Podstawowe i funkcjonalne pliki cookie są niezbędne do prawidłowego działania witryny i nie można ich wyłączyć. Ponadto używamy plików cookie w celu optymalizacji wydajności („komfort”) i wyświetlania spersonalizowanych reklam („marketing”), na co potrzebujemy Twojej zgody. Kliknij „Zezwól na wszystkie”, aby wyrazić zgodę na przetwarzanie danych. Uwielbiamy pliki cookie — zarówno te jadalne, jak i cyfrowe, które ulepszają Twoje wrażenia z przeglądania. Pomagają nam one udoskonalać funkcjonalność naszej witryny i Twoje ogólne wrażenia z przeglądania. Podstawowe i funkcjonalne pliki cookie są niezbędne do prawidłowego działania witryny i nie można ich wyłączyć. Ponadto używamy plików cookie w celu optymalizacji wydajności („komfort”) i wyświetlania spersonalizowanych reklam („marketing”), na co potrzebujemy Twojej zgody. Kliknij „Zezwól na wszystkie”, aby wyrazić zgodę na przetwarzanie danych.

Twoja zgoda obowiązuje również na mocy art. 49 (1) (a) RODO, co oznacza, że ​​Twoje dane mogą być tymczasowo przetwarzane poza EOG, w tym w USA. W takich przypadkach wysokie europejskie standardy ochrony danych mogą nie być w pełni zagwarantowane, a władze USA mogą uzyskać dostęp do Twoich danych bez skutecznego środka prawnego. Możesz wycofać swoją zgodę w dowolnym momencie.

PrywatnośćWarunki korzystania z serwisu

Możesz zarządzać swoimi preferencjami dotyczącymi plików cookie lub wycofać zgodę w dowolnym momencie za pośrednictwem naszych ustawień plików cookie. Aby uzyskać więcej informacji, zapoznaj się z naszą Polityką prywatności.