Scottish labs receive £10m for space mission to study cosmic ripples
The European Space Agency (ESA) project involves deploying three spacecraft which will orbit the sun more than 60 million kilometres from Earth, forming a triangle with sides 2.5 million kilometres long.
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (Lisa) project will use lasers, routed through optical benches made at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh site, to measure gravitational waves.
These waves are tiny distortions in spacetime caused by cosmic events such as the merging of black holes or supernovae.
It is hoped the mission, which is not expected to launch until after 2035 and will cost more than £1 billion, will provide scientists with a better understanding of some of physics' greatest mysteries.
The £10 million funding will go towards creating new lab spaces at the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC), which will double its construction capabilities.
Due to the vast distances involved in the study, the benches must be built to an exacting degree of precision.
Production of the benches has already begun, using a technique known as robotically-assisted bonding which places components with the accuracy of a micron – one millionth of a millimetre.
Ten optical benches will be required including prototypes and spares, a meticulous process which will take around eight years.
Paul Bate, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, said: 'With major contributions to the James Webb Space Telescope and this new investment in Lisa, Scotland is at the heart of two of humanity's most important and innovative space science missions.
'The scale of the engineering challenge associated with Lisa is staggering – it is a flagship mission for Europe and it will be made possible by expertise in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
'This is a great example of how our leading role in ESA is delivering jobs and discovery for UK science.'
Ewan Fitzsimons, UK principal investigator for Lisa at UK ATC, said: 'This investment in labs and staff will enable us to meet the exacting standards required for this groundbreaking project.
'It not only enhances our technical capabilities but also underscores the critical role of precision engineering in complex space missions such as Lisa.'
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'These two students were posthumous victims of the violent logics of a racial science practised by a significant minority of Edinburgh's citizens, students and medical professionals." (Image: Agency) Although there are still gaps that can't prove once and for all that the skulls are those of the brothers, the research has uncovered far more details than is usually known about remains within Edinburgh's Anatomical Museum. 'The majority of Indigenous human remains in museum stores are anonymous, which, as science rendered them as 'data' and 'research resource,' contributed to their objectification and commodification,' adds the study. The skulls formed part of a collection of around 400 acquired by the Edinburgh Phrenological Society, founded by two brothers: George Combe, a lawyer, and Andrew Combe, a doctor. Like the Richards brothers, they had also studied at the university, while a number of professors were also among the society's active members at the time of their deaths. By collecting skulls from around the world, the society explored theories surrounding phrenology, the long discredited science that claimed to read intellect and moral character from the contours of the skull. Their research, however, also became a vehicle for racial classification. Nineteenth century phrenologists believed the contours of the skull were linked to mental traits and characteristics (Image: Spurzheim, J. G. (1825) Public Domain/Wellcome Collection) To carry out their studies and comparisons, the society required a regular stream of skulls. They showed particular zeal for those they believed might support their theories – people of mixed heritage, such as the brothers, held particular interest. The society's collection is part of the anatomical museum's holdings, which includes approximately 1,500 skulls housed in its so-called 'Skull Room'. 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With only executed murderers' corpses legally eligible for dissection, 'resurrectionists' or 'body-snatchers' roamed morgues and graveyards to supply a thriving black market. It adds: 'The crania of these two students were procured in the wake of nationwide graverobbing scandals, including the notorious Burke and Hare murders in Edinburgh in 1828. 'It is possible, of course, that the 'resurrection men' or 'body-snatchers' who supplied anatomists in Edinburgh with cadavers were called upon to acquire these students' crania.' Read more by Sandra Dick: The research adds: 'Given phrenologists' preoccupations with identifying racial differences through cranial analysis, it can be assumed that the racialisation of these two individuals as 'Mulatto' – a racial category that both fascinated and bewildered phrenologists – is what sparked an interest in their skulls. 'The individual(s) who stole the students' skulls and 'gifted' or sold them to the Phrenological Society were possibly driven by such motivations.' There remain gaps in records and confusing documents which mean the full story of the Richards brothers might never be told. "All we know is that some person or persons – fellow students, medical professionals, members of the Phrenological Society or grave-robbers acting on their behalf – were aware of the deaths of these two so-called 'Mulatto' students and perceived their skulls to be a valuable phrenological resource," the study adds. 'It is important to also reflect on the worlds in which racially minoritised students in the past lived and studied, including the racially motivated harms and indignities many will have faced in life and, as the story of these students' skulls would appear to indicate, in death.' A University of Edinburgh spokesperson said: "We take our duty of care very seriously and all remains in our collections are looked after with the upmost dignity and respect. "We have teams of experts responsible for ensuring our historically significant archives are preserved, as well as being accessible for non-invasive research projects and outreach initiatives that help to enhance our understanding of the world. "We are committed to learning lessons from our past, including addressing our colonial legacy and its contemporary impact. "We work with many communities around the world to engage with our collections and facilitate the return of remains and artefacts." Further details on University of Edinburgh repatriations can be found here
