On 1 March 2024, Aurelio Juste started as Chair of the Publications Committee (PubCom) for one year.

The IFAE contributions to the ETpathfinder test facility is described in this article “[Test facility ETpathfinder enters new phase](https://www.einsteintelescope-emr.eu/en/2024/03/12/test-facility-etpathfinder-enters-new-phase/?domain=nl)”.

Researchers have used the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument to make the largest 3D map of our universe and world-leading measurements of dark energy, the mysterious cause of its accelerating expansion. IFAE leads one of the three key publications presented in this study.

Latest appearances of IFAE in the press

The first samples of Mini-Cactus-v2 sensor have been received at IFAE.

Scientific American has published the article interviewing Ricardo Z. Ferreira, former postdoc in the Theory Group.

Euclid’s two instruments have captured their first test images, showcasing space telescope potential to exceed its scientific goals. These are early test images, taken to check the instruments and review how Euclid can be further tweaked and refined. The Euclid space mission will create the largest and most accurate 3D map of the universe.

[ESA published in August an outreach video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtpjMNFHsfw) showcasing the Euclid Flagship simulations, the largest and most comprehensive catalog of simulated galaxies ever produced. PIC members participated in the producton

Two papers by Santi Peris and collaborators have been published by Phys. Rev. D and selected as Editors’ Suggestion.

“[Gammapy: A Python package for gamma-ray astronomy](https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.13584)” by Cosimo Nigro and others has been accepted and selected as a highlight paper in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

The HERD prototype is being tested at CERN PS beam between Aug 29 and Sep 12. This test, together with the one happening at SPS next October, will be used to validate and optimize the different sub-detector concepts and complete Phase B of the project.

The detector is already connected to the gas system and first cosmics in this configuration are expected to be recorded in about 4 weeks. First data taking with a neutrino beam is planned for the 2nd half of November and December.