Ecuador’s election wasn’t free — and its people will pay the price under President Noboa
Scotland’s observatories teach us to see in the dark
In June a major centre for stargazing in Scotland burnt to the ground, reminding us of the importance of making knowledge accessible to everyone, write ROX MIDDLETON, JOEL HELLEWELL and LIAM SHAW

GAZING at the stars has been the source of inspiration for poetry, fortune-telling and mapping since prehistory.
Although now divorced for most people from the act of stargazing, the origin of much of modern science, and much cultural practice, from horoscopes to religion, lies in the observation of the positions of stars and planets.
These features of the night sky, since there have been humans to wonder at them, have inspired and informed us forever.
More from this author

A small Japanese trial has reported some positive results for stem cell therapy to treat spinal-cord injuries

Man-made canals like Panama and Suez face unprecedented challenges from extreme weather patterns and geopolitical tensions that reveal the fragility of our global trade networks, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT

It’s sunny times for the solar industry which is expected to continue to grow rapidly — but there are still major environmental issues with how solar cells are made, explain ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT

Fraud in Alzheimer’s research raises difficult questions about the current state of science, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT