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Tuesday, 24 March 2026

Astronomy student discovers second planet around young star

An international team of astronomers, led by a PhD student at University of Galway, have made the groundbreaking discovery of a second planet in the same system where they discovered another planet last year. Detected at an early stage of formation in the disc around a young star, the young planet named WISPIT 2c is estimated to be about 5 million years-old and most likely ten times the mass of Jupiter. The star, WISPIT 2 is located in the constellation of the Eagle, a prominent equatorial constellation visible in the summer northern hemisphere (July-November) along the Milky Way. The study was led by PhD student Chloe Lawlor from the Centre for Astronomy at the School of Natural Sciences and the Ryan Institute at University of Galway, in collaboration with PhD student Richelle van Capelleveen, Leiden Observatory, Netherlands and postdoctoral researcher Guillaume Bourdarot, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching, Germany. This major find for the field of astronomy makes WISPIT 2 only the second-known young (and still forming) multi-planet system. WISPIT 2 may resemble the young Solar System with now two gas giant planets embedded in its multi-ringed dust disk. This includes the now confirmed planet WISPIT 2c and the planet WISPIT 2b, which was discovered last year by the same research team (led by Richelle van Capelleveen at Leiden Observatory and Dr. Laird Close from the University of Arizona). The new planet is a very young gas giant based on the temperature and its radius from the atmosphere spectrum. It is twice as massive as the previously detected WISPIT 2b and orbits four times closer to its host star, which makes it incredibly difficult to detect with ground-based telescopes. The study has been published in Astrophysical Journal Letters. The presence of this second planet was detected using the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO’s) Very Large Telescope in Chile’s Atacama Desert. By linking several telescopes together to act as one giant instrument, the research team was able to observe regions very close to the star. The team detected carbon monoxide gas, a chemical that is commonly found in the atmospheres of young giant planets. Carbon monoxide leaves a strong and distinctive chemical signature in telescope data, providing the crucial evidence needed to confirm the planet’s existence. Chloe Lawlor, PhD student, Centre for Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, University of Galway, said: “After the initial discovery of WISPIT 2b, which I was also involved in, we suspected there might be another object in the system. At first, we weren’t sure if it was a planet or a very large dust clump. We very quickly made follow-up observations using the Very Large Telescope Interferometer, an incredible setup where multiple telescopes can be connected to form a large virtual telescope. This allowed us to take what we call a spectrum, which is essentially a chemical fingerprint, revealing the elements and molecules in an object’s atmosphere. “Carbon monoxide is one of the key signatures we are looking for in young giant planets. When we saw it clearly in the data, that was when we knew we had something significant. There was definitely an element of disbelief. I didn’t expect to be the one to find a second planet in the system. When I sent the spectrum to my supervisor Dr Christian Ginski, it was a huge shock and upon further examination, he confirmed I’d found a planet! “WISPIT 2 will become an important laboratory to study planet formation.” To uncover the hidden planet, the research team used the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO’s) Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI), which captured an image of the object and allowed also for the first study of its atmosphere. The team specifically used the recently upgraded instrument GRAVITY+, which allows the light from all four of the eight metre telescopes of the ESO to be combined. This challenging technique using cutting-edge instrumentation was fundamental to detecting the new planet, because the star outshines the planet signal by a factor of thousands. Professor Frances Fahy, Director of the Ryan Institute, University of Galway, said: “The discovery of the planet WISPIT 2c is a remarkable achievement and highlights the world-class astrophysics research taking place at University of Galway. The Ryan Institute is proud to support research that pushes the boundaries of scientific discovery. I warmly congratulate PhD researcher Chloe Lawlor on this breakthrough and Dr Christian Ginski for his leadership and dedication to astronomy research. Discoveries like this capture the imagination and can inspire a whole new generation of astronomers.” The new discovery offers scientists a rare opportunity to study how massive planets form and evolve, shedding new light on the early processes that ultimately led to the formation of Earth. Dr Christian Ginski, Lecturer at the School of Natural Sciences, University of Galway, said: “Finding these young planets in formation is the culmination of a lot of work by scientists and engineers alike. When I started out in my career, we had only a few hundred exoplanets discovered (as opposed to the many thousands that we know now) and being able to take a direct image of any planet was considered an incredible challenge. It still boggles my mind that now we are at the level where we can take a peek at the planets as they are forming. I also feel very privileged to work with a whole bunch of brilliant young scientists who know how to make the most of the observational facilities that are now available to us.” To coincide with the research being published, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) - the world’s foremost international astronomy organisation – has featured a photo of WISPIT 2c and WISPIT 2b forming around the young star WISPIT 2. The study was supported by the Ryan Institute at University of Galway. Ends

News Archive

Monday, 23 March 2026

Gradaim Aitheantais Speisialta Gaeilge bronnta ar scoláirí na Sraithe Sóisearaí

Monday, 23 March 2026

Junior Cycle students honoured with special Gaeilge recognition awards

Thursday, 19 March 2026

Ireland’s economy needs urgent reform for future generations

Wednesday, 18 March 2026

University of Galway is inviting prospective students, parents and teachers to explore its campus and undergraduate programmes during its Spring Undergraduate Open Day. The event takes place on Saturday March 21st from 9am to 3pm and will feature five exhibition areas across the city-centre campus, more than 90 course and subject talks and opportunities for visitors to experience life at the university and the campus first-hand. The Open Day provides an opportunity for prospective students to explore degree options, facilities and the student experience as they prepare for CAO 2026. Visitors can attend talks, take guided tours, and meet faculty, staff and current students across a variety of disciplines. Academics and support staff from the University’s College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies will also be hand to reassure prospective students, parents and guardians and teachers that there are no changes are planned to current Arts programmes. The University offers more than 60 internationally recognised undergraduate programmes, including Medicine, Nursing, Health Sciences, Arts, Science, Engineering, Business, Law, and Hotel Management, with over 90% of programmes offering work placements or study abroad opportunities. Highlights of the Open Day include: Accommodation Talk – Learn about campus living, accommodation options, and how to settle into university life at the Purple Zone at 10am. Nursing and Midwifery Tours - Tours of the state-of-the-art facilities depart from Áras Moyola, Green Zone at 12.45pm and 1.30pm. Law and Moot Court Experience - Step inside the School of Law's Moot Court to experience a real courtroom. Five tours available throughout the day with registration taking place at Stand 45 in the Orange Zone. Science and Engineering Tours - Explore the Engineering Building with tours starting from the Green Zone foyer. Chemistry Lab Tours – Register at Stand 18 in the Purple Zone for hands-on lab tours. Drama Masterclass and Theatre Tours - Drama enthusiasts can attend a Masterclass at 1pm or tour the O'Donoghue Drama and Theatre Performance Centre. Meet point is in the Blue Zone foyer at 11.30am. Sports and Scholarships – Meet coaches and athletes and learn about sports scholarships and cutting-edge facilities in The Cube, Orange Zone. Zoology Museum Tours – Discover the fascinating world of animals at the Zoology Museum, with guided tours highlighting unique collections and interactive exhibits. Registration is available at stand 13 in the Purple Zone. Students can also explore campus accommodation, and parents can attend a talk at 11:30am offering guidance on supporting students during the transition to university life. Sarah Geraghty, Director of Student Recruitment and Outreach at University of Galway, said: “Our Open Day is the perfect chance for students to step inside their future and see what's possible. From world-class facilities to Moot Court to hands-on tours, students can truly experience university life. “Our College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies team will be on hand to chat to students and parents about all our Arts degrees and to reassure students that we have no plans to change any of our arts programmes. We can’t wait to meet future students and help them discover the study paths and career opportunities that inspire them most.” Advance registration is required. Full programme details and registration are available at www.universityofgalway.ie/opendays, or email opendays@universityofgalway.ie. Ends

Tuesday, 17 March 2026

Dan Carey, Professor of English at University of Galway, has been elected as the 59th President of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA). Professor Carey succeeds Professor Pat Guiry at the conclusion of his Presidential term at the helm of Ireland’s independent learned society and leading body of experts in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. Elected to membership of the Academy in 2014, Professor Carey has been an active contributor to its work, serving as Vice-President in 2017–18 and 2020–21; Secretary for Humanities and Social Sciences from 2021–24; and Secretary from 2024–26. He also served as Chair of the Irish Research Council from 2022 to 2024. Commenting on his election, Professor Carey said: "It is a great honour to be elected President of the Royal Irish Academy. I look forward to building on the Academy’s strengths by contributing our expertise, engaging the public, developing research programmes, and supporting governance and staff. We will deepen key relationships with the Higher Education Authority, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and Research Ireland, while growing the international profile of our work. Alongside this, we will strengthen fundraising to support core activities, advance equality, diversity and inclusion, and expand the Academy as a space of interaction and engagement, enhancing our convening power through the work of our programmes. I look forward to working with Members and staff to reinforce the Academy’s commitment to public life, north and south." The Academy also paid tribute to outgoing President Professor Pat Guiry, thanking him for his dedicated leadership and his profound commitment to the Academy’s Members, partners and staff, and to the wider research, academic and policy communities. Lynn Scarff, Executive Director, RIA said: "The role of President carries responsibility for stewarding the Academy and sustaining its influence as a trusted voice in public discourse and policy formulation. I look forward to working with Professor Carey as President, continuing to strengthen the impact of the Royal Irish Academy, expand collaborative opportunities, and enhance its service to scholarship and the public good." Recent past presidents include Dr Mary Canning (2020–2023), Professor Peter Kennedy (2017–2020) and Professor Mary E. Daly (2014–2017). Ends

Monday, 16 March 2026

Analysis shows living reef ecosystem host previously unknown biomolecules with potential for future medicine and biotechnology An international consortium of scientists has uncovered new insights into coral ecosystems, revealing that different coral species host their own distinct communities of microbes. The research, which involved a team at University of Galway, shows that coral reefs harbour diverse microbes and produce chemicals with promising potential for future application in medicine and biotechnology. The full study is published in Nature and can be read here. Coral reefs are often called the rainforests of the sea, supporting a third of all marine macroscopic organisms and operating as marine biodiversity hotspots with a wide range of ecosystem services such as ecotourism and nutrient cycling. The scientific research has revealed that their true diversity lies in their microbiome - invisible to the naked eye. With support from the Tara Pacific consortium, the international research team analysed microbiome samples collected from 99 different coral reefs across 32 islands throughout the Pacific Ocean. They reconstructed the genomes of 645 microbial species - more than 99% of which had never previously been genomically characterised. These microbes are highly specialised partners of their coral hosts, functioning as prolific producers of bioactive compounds. The study revealed that these coral-associated bacteria contain a greater variety of biosynthetic gene clusters - the blueprints for natural products - than has so far been documented in the world’s ocean. Dr Maggie Reddy, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, said: “When we compared our findings with microbes found on other reef species, it became clear how little we still know. Of more than 4,000 microbial species identified, only 10% have any genetic information available, and fewer than 1% of the species found only in the Tara Pacific samples have been studied at all. This shows a major gap in our understanding and underlines the need for much more biodiversity surveys, especially in under-studied regions.” The research highlights a critical, often overlooked dimension of conservation: when coral reefs die, we don't just lose the corals, sponges, seaweeds and fish; we lose a vast "molecular library" linked to the microbial life. And it noted that biochemical characterisation of previously unknown enzymes and compounds suggests an immense, untapped potential for biotechnology and medicine. Professor Olivier Thomas, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, said: “The biosynthetic potential of reef-building coral microbiomes rivalled or surpassed that of traditional natural product sources like sponges. Among the biosynthetically rich bacteria in the reef microbiome, we identified previously unknown microorganisms (e.g. Acidobacteriota) living with corals that produce new enzymes with exciting potential biotechnology uses. “The research is a clear call to action to protect our coral reefs – not just because of their value as a unique ecosystem – but to preserve the unique chemical diversity poised to enable future scientific breakthroughs.” The study involved researchers from the Marine Biodiversity Lab at the Ryan Institute at University of Galway, led by Dr Maggie Reddy and Professor Olivier Thomas, who are part of the Tara Pacific consortium, an international consortium of marine scientists addressing the challenges our oceans face due to climate change. They worked alongside scientists in  ETH Zurich. Dr Reddy and Professor Thomas will join an international team of scientists on the upcoming Tara Coral expedition this June in Papua New Guinea, funded by the Tara Foundation and associated public and private partners. During the voyage, they will collect additional marine samples from the region and investigate the factors that enable certain reef-building corals to be more resilient in the face of climate change. The coral microbiome is a complex community of bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses, and algae that live on and within coral tissues, acting as a crucial, functional unit known as the holobiont.  The microbiome samples studied in this research, published in Nature, were collected during the Tara Pacific expedition in 2016-2018. This work has mapped the microbial landscape of reef-building corals at an unprecedented scale in an ocean which is home to 40% of the world’s coral reefs. For more information about the Tara Foundation and the Tara Coral expedition to the Coral Triangle in 2026-2027 visit: https://fondationtaraocean.org/en/expedition/tara-coral/ Ends