A giant telescope was supposed to answer the universe’s big questions. Now the project has been rocked by misconduct claims

The Square Kilometre Array Observatory is being lauded as one of the most significant scientific endeavours of the 21st century. It is being built in outback Western Australia alongside its sister telescope in South Africa. Composite: Victoria Hart/Guardian design/Getty images

It is hailed as a global endeavour to explore the hidden universe – a powerful telescope comprising more than 130,000 antennae being built in outback Western Australia.

Along with a sister telescope in South Africa, the Square Kilometre Array Observatory is a €2bn (A$3.6bn) project tasked with mapping the first billion years of the universe.