From astronaut health to space weather: the discoveries changing our understanding of the universe

Among the projects being worked on by Northumbria researchers is a system allowing satellites to communicate via lasers rather than radio frequencies Photograph: PR IMAGE

Many of us grow up fascinated by space and the universe. The question of whether there’s intelligent life out there is a continuing preoccupation among scientists and citizens alike.

But research into space goes far beyond the hunt for extraterrestrial life – there are many different areas that students and researchers are investigating, from space weather and space law, to astronaut health and satellite communication.