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Darren Baskill

Lecturer, Physics and Astronomy, University of Sussex
Darren Baskill is a lecturer and outreach officer in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Sussex, with over 25 years’ experience of professional and amateur astronomy, and in organising and delivering science events for schools, colleges, and the public.

His specialism is in communicating astronomy to the public, giving talks and working with the media on all aspects of astronomy and astrophotography, having appeared on BBC TV, radio and news online on many occasions, as well as frequently writing for the BBC Focus magazine.

He previously taught astronomy at the Royal Observatory Greenwich science centre and planetarium in London, where he initiated the highly successful Astronomy Photographer of the Year public competition and exhibition, and he was a calibration scientist for the European XMM-Newton space telescope at the University of Leicester before that, ensuring that the data delivered to astronomers around the world was of the highest quality.

Darren has a degree in Astrophysics and a PhD in X-ray Astronomy (looking at the physics of cataclysmic variable star systems) both from the University of Leicester. He is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, a member of the Institute of Physics (serving on the committee of the IOP South Central Branch) and is a director of Ensonglopedia, a musical theatre company based in Lewes, East Sussex.

Why do the aurora look better through a camera?

May 15, 2024 07:51 am UTC| Nature

On 10 and 11 May 2024, large parts of the world were treated to their most spectacular display of the aurora the northern and southern lights in a generation. Thanks to modern cameras, the phenomenon was all over social...

Economy

Australia Unveils $627M Incentive to Boost Construction Apprenticeships Ahead of Election

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a A$10,000 ($6,281) cash incentive for construction apprentices to address labor shortages in the overstretched industry. The program, costing A$627 million over...

Venture Global LNG Raises $1.75 Billion in IPO Amid Adjusted Valuation

Venture Global LNG has successfully raised $1.75 billion through its U.S. IPO after pricing 70 million shares at $25 each. The offering was adjusted from an initial plan of 50 million shares priced at $40 to $46 to a...

Japanese Manufacturing PMI Drops Sharply in January, Services Sector Gains Momentum

Japans manufacturing activity contracted for the seventh consecutive month in January, according to preliminary au Jibun Bank data, as the purchasing managers index (PMI) fell to 48.8 from Decembers 49.6. The reading,...

Trump Demands Global Rate Cuts, Pressures OPEC on Oil Prices

U.S. President Donald Trump called for OPEC to lower oil prices and demanded global interest rate cuts during his address to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Trump warned that countries manufacturing products outside the...

China's Central Bank Keeps MLF Loan Rate Steady at 2.00%

Chinas central bank, the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC), conducted a medium-term lending facility (MLF) operation on Friday, offering 200 billion yuan ($27.46 billion) in one-year loans to financial institutions. The...

Politics

Trump Optimistic About Trade Deal After Talk with China's Xi

Former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about reaching a trade agreement with China after a recent phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. In an interview with Fox News, Trump described the conversation...

Trump Launches Crypto Overhaul with National Stockpile Plan

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order establishing a cryptocurrency working group to propose new regulations and explore a national cryptocurrency stockpile. This move underscores his promise to...

Trump Seeks Immediate Meeting with Putin to End Ukraine War

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed a strong desire to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war, prioritizing saving lives over economic considerations. Speaking via video at the World...

Trump Administration Ends Diversity Programs, Reshapes Federal Workforce

The Trump administration, under its broader agenda to overhaul federal bureaucracy, has dismantled diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across government agencies. In a speech to the World Economic Forum,...

Trump Issues Order to Solidify U.S. Dominance in AI Innovation

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to reinforce the United States as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI). The directive aims to advance innovation by removing regulatory barriers while...

Science

Most of us trust scientists, shows a survey of nearly 72,000 people worldwide

Public trust in scientists is vital. It can help us with personal decisions on matters like health and provide evidence-based policymaking to assist governments with crises such as the COVID pandemic or climate change. In...

Astronauts on NASA’s Artemis mission to the Moon will need better boots − here’s why

The U.S.s return to the Moon with NASAs Artemis program will not be a mere stroll in the park. Instead it will be a perilous journey to a lunar location representing one of the most extreme environments in the solar...

Why Africa’s young scientists should help check the quality of climate change research

Scientific research is essential for addressing the climate crisis. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations body, assesses the science on climate change through its regular assessment...

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy provides in-house science advice for the president

Presidents need science advice. From climate change and pandemics to the governance of AI and the countrys nuclear arsenal, science sits at the center of a range of foreign and domestic policy challenges that reach the...

Double Moonshot: Japan’s ispace and Firefly Launch Lunar Missions

In a significant stride for lunar exploration, Japanese company ispace and U.S.-based Firefly Aerospace launched moon landers aboard a SpaceX rocket from Florida. This rare double mission highlights the growing competition...

Technology

Rivian to Revolutionize Driving with 2025 Hands-Free Tech

Electric vehicle maker Rivian (NASDAQ:RIVN) plans to roll out advanced hands-free driver assistance systems in 2025 and eyes-off technology in 2026, CEO RJ Scaringe announced. These innovations aim to provide significant...

OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle Unite for Exclusive AI Data Centers in the U.S.

Stargate, a groundbreaking joint venture by OpenAI, SoftBank (TYO:9984), and Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), is set to transform the artificial intelligence landscape with exclusive data centers in the U.S. These centers will solely...

Tesla Unveils Revamped Model Y with March Deliveries

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) has introduced an updated version of its popular Model Y, starting at $59,990. The revamped Model Y long-range variant promises enhanced features and performance, with deliveries scheduled to begin in...

Elon Musk Criticizes President Trump’s $500B Stargate AI Project

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has voiced doubts over the financial feasibility of President Donald Trumps $500 billion Stargate project, unveiled Tuesday. The initiative aims to establish an advanced artificial intelligence (AI)...

Tesla to Raise Car Prices in Canada Starting February 1

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is set to increase prices for all its vehicles in Canada beginning February 1, as per updates on its Canadian website. The price adjustments will affect the popular Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model...