The astrophysicist who was denied the use of telescopes for being a woman and who inspired the phrase "We are made of stardust"

A selection of science-related suggestions for this month of August

Portrait of astrophysicist Margaret Burbidge during a guest lecture at the Mount Holyoke College Physics Department, spring 1974.
La Mandarina de Newton
25/07/2026 - 09:01 h.
2 min

“Fallen from the sky”, John Naylor (Akal, 2005)

Book cover 'Caigut del cel'

This guide is an essential classic for anyone who wants to understand the firmament and know how to observe its natural phenomena. It has some chapters focused on the night sky, but what truly makes this book special is the attention it pays to observing the daytime sky. The descriptions of the phenomena are suitable for all audiences and are complemented by illustrative photographs. The author expands on scientific concepts with historical and mythological notes, offering a broad and contextualized view, but without ever losing the rigor that underpins this work. Furthermore, as it focuses only on what we can see with the naked eye, we will not need any equipment to enjoy the spectacles the sky offers us!Pioneer

On August 12, 1919, Margaret Burbidge was born

Margaret Burbidge

Astrophysicist, astronomer, and one of the founders of modern astronomy. Her career was marked by the fight against gender discrimination: she was often denied the use of telescopes for being a woman. But by overcoming obstacles, she was the first author of the paper demonstrating that most of the known chemical elements are formed inside stars. From this came the inspiring phrase that "we are made of stardust".Agenda

Solaris Citizen Science Project

Available on the app, from July 12

Coordinates August2026 Activity01

The Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat de Catalunya is promoting this research, which aims to study how the human body reacts during a total solar eclipse, for the first time, with a large population sample. Any person with a smart watch, who downloads the project application and observes the eclipse, both with total and partial vision, can participate anonymously. For five days – the day of the eclipse, two days before, and two days after – the biometric data of each participant will be collected to understand how our heart and respiratory rates change. For more information, consult the website EclipsiCatalunya.cat.Talk “Paths to the cosmos. Exploring how to become an astronaut”

CosmoCaixa Science Museum, July 30th at 7 PM

Astronaut Pablo Álvarez Fernández

A meeting with astronaut and aerospace engineer Pablo Álvarez Fernández. A graduate of the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2024, he is the second person in the history of the Spanish state to become an astronaut, preceded only by Pedro Duque. A unique opportunity to discover firsthand the path to becoming an astronaut: the dreams, the challenges, and what it truly means to train for space.Exhibition 'Extraterrestrials. Is there life beyond Earth?'

CosmoCaixa Science Museum, until August 30th

Coordinates August2026 Activity03

Last days to enjoy this proposal dedicated to the possibilities of extraterrestrial life. The exhibition aims to shed light on some of the big questions about our existence in the Universe. It addresses the possibility of finding planets that could host life and, at the same time, takes a tour through the history of humanity's search for life beyond Earth. This activity is free with museum admission.

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