Funding cuts threaten Knockin radio telescope closure

The Science and Technology Facilities Council is set to reduce funding, risking closure of the Knockin radio telescope, part of the e‑MERLIN network.

• The Science and Technology Facilities Council stated it must implement a savings programme to balance its budget by 2030.
• Physicist Prof Brian Cox warned the cuts could reach £162m, roughly 30% of particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics research.
• North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan met Cox and expressed concern that researchers using the telescopes would lose funding.
• The Knockin site is part of the e‑MERLIN network of seven radio telescopes across the UK.