Science

France's sealed scientific secrets are unlocked 100 years after submission

Plis cachetés reveal centuries-old sealed envelopes containing scientific discoveries and inventions

How and when to see shooting star shower in France this November

Consider these dates and locations to get the best views

Five earth tremors in seven days recorded in Brittany

One led to the evacuation of a wine bar and some homes

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Fireball: impressive videos captured over France of satellite disintegration

Mystery object confounded residents near Strasbourg and ‘looked like a shooting star’

How and when to best see the lunar eclipse from France

It can be seen with the naked eye, provided you wake up early

Best time to see tonight’s super blue moon over France

It is the first of four supermoons expected this year

PHOTOS: Spectacular Northern Lights captured over France last night

Impressive show came alongside meteor shower and lit up skies as far south as Lyon

Watch shooting stars this weekend during France’s big astronomy event

Up to 60 shooting stars per hour will fill night skies

Chance to see Northern Lights in French skies this week

Phenomena could appear for up to two hours but is not expected to be as bright as showings earlier this year

Tips for seeing this summer’s shooting star display from France

Perseids spectacle will light up skies until end of August. On some nights you may see up to 100 shooting stars per hour

Rare double meteor shower to be visible in France this month

Up to 25 shooting stars will be visible per hour

Full steam ahead for eco-friendly French drones

Inventors are transforming infrastructure inspections with the Hylight, a helium-filled drone dirigible, and the Aéronde, an innovative balloon aircraft

Northern Lights may be visible again in France in next few days

Repeat of mid-May’s amazing views are possible if conditions are right

French state scientists want to help people live to 120 in good health

Public research institute Ircan from Nice explains its innovative cell rejuvenation techniques

The French couple who loved, lived and died studying volcanoes

When scientists Katia and Maurice Krafft died on an erupting volcano they left a legacy of research that saves lives today

Beethoven's ‘skull parts’, found in France, returned to Austria

The bone fragments will now be studied in a bid to shed light on the composer’s multiple health conditions

Research in France shows having a baby does change your brain

Studies also found that ‘mommy brain’ is a misnomer as a dad’s cognitive performance is also impacted in the days and weeks after birth

Northern Lights captured in spectacular photos above France

The phenomenon occurs this far south every 10 to 20 years

Inside France’s ‘UFO Bureau’ - ‘we explain what people have seen’

We talk to the head of Geipan, a tiny wing of France’s answer to Nasa that inspired a Canal + TV show

Amateur photographer’s shot of Dordogne skies sparks NASA interest

The remarkable image captures a rare phenomenon above a French countryside chateau

Tribute to Frenchman who found 3.2 million-year-old 'Lucy' skeleton

Celebrated palaeontologist Yves Coppens told us about how he made the find with fellow researchers in an interview in 2019

French scientists thrilled to hear the sounds of Mars for first time

Audio data will enable Toulouse-based scientists to learn more about the climate and geology of the planet

Total eclipse of the Moon to be visible from France tonight

The event will happen in the early hours of Monday, May 16, with the Moon set to turn a reddish hue. Here’s how to watch

French astronomers comb Normandy fields for pieces of fallen meteorite

If you are out walking near Sées in the Orne department and suspect you find a piece, you can contact an international network to report it

Can I donate my body to science once I die in France?

We explain the process for people who wish to help scientific research and learning after their death

5G antennas in France do not present risk to health, agency confirms

The update comes after the French health authority’s report said the same in April

How do I donate my body to science in France?

I’d like to donate my body to science after death. How do I register to do this in France?

Giant 3D map is being made of France using lasers

The project is aimed at preventing natural disasters and identifying areas which are potentially suitable for agriculture as well as archaeological sites

10,000 volunteers needed for French science study of ‘the blob’

Volunteers will help collect data on the potential effects of climate change on the prehistoric single cell organism with no brain but more than 700 sex parts

French astronaut Thomas Pesquet shares photos of Brittany from space

Aerial pictures of Quiberon, Saint-Malo, Dinard and Brest have been added to the astronaut’s online album of photos taken during Alpha space mission

French school pupils join astronaut Thomas Pesquet for ‘blob’ test

Blobs are single-celled organisms that are neither animal nor vegetable nor fungus and have astonished scientists by their ability to communicate and reverse ageing. Four have been sent into space for experimentation

Paris start-up develops cruelty-free, lab-grown foie gras

French company hopes gourmet meat product could replace traditional foie gras in countries that have banned it

First transplant in America using French-invented artificial heart

Clinical trial of medical device known as Aeson, made by French company Carmat, is currently underway in the US with first transplant complete and more in the pipeline

Scientists call for old mobiles to help develop metals recycling plan

There are drop-off points in towns around Grand Est in a bid to stop waste of valuable metals in discarded phones

Partial eclipse of the Sun visible in France today: How to watch

The event will take place today, and your view will depend on where you are in the country. Viewers are warned to buy filter glasses in advance and never look at the Sun directly

Blind Frenchman’s sight partially restored by pioneering gene therapy

The patient was able to count cups placed in front of him with a success rate of 63% in a test

Covid sniffer dogs could work summer events in France

Trained sniffer dogs can be educated to react to the smell of Covid within two or three days using a sample manufactured in a laboratory

Covid immunity lasts 13 months after infection, French study finds

The preliminary study found that 97% of subjects maintained antibodies for over one year after testing positive

French astronaut Thomas Pesquet launches new Coldplay song from space

The band watched on a live video link as the zero-gravity Frenchman floated in the space station, showed them a view of Earth - and hit play on the new single

French start-up makes exoskeletons to support staff in physical roles

The start-up is the first of its kind in France, and produces up to 300 exoskeletons per year that help ease neck, shoulder, elbow, and arm pain in workers

15 leave French cave after 40-day experiment without light or clocks

The team spent more than a month in isolation as part of a wide-ranging study into human behaviour

French medical academy wants 6 months between Covid jabs for under 55s

The institute recommended extending the current interim period from six weeks to six months to accelerate the vaccination campaign

French company launches €100m project to create artificial skin

President Macron has hailed the ‘Holy Grail’ goal of creating artificial skin - to heal burn and injury victims - as ‘innovative’ and ‘a source of pride’

Sci-fi writers help French army imagine wars of future

A squad of sci-fi writers dubbed the 'Red Team' is helping the French army prepare for new technology conflict scenarios from 2030

Volunteers will live 40 days underground in Pyrenees cave

French scientists want to understand the effect of light and time deprivation on humans

Ban cancer-causing agent in suncreams urge French scientists

Common ingredient in some top brand creams can develop into a potentially dangerous chemical as it ages, researchers discover

SpaceX’s ‘secret’ planning go-ahead shocks French village

Elon Musk’s satellite ground station has full planning approval and details show between five and 11 domes will feature on the site in Normandy

Scientists ask help to find meteorite in south west France

Local residents in the Lot-et-Garonne could help researchers locate a fragment of meteorite that came from between Mars and Jupiter, and travelled at an estimated 75,000 kph

Humans will walk on Mars in 30 years: French astronaut

As the Perseverance Rover begins its fact-finding mission, a veteran of three shuttle missions predicts humans will set foot on the red planet in the 2040s

French scientists thrilled at latest Mars landing

French scientists developed one of seven key instruments on the rover, while geologists in Lyon chose the landing site for the multibillion-euro mission

Leading French experts advise vitamin D to counter Covid-19

Over 70 experts have called for the supplement to be given to people in France – especially those vulnerable to the virus

Is the UK’s new Covid variant spreading in France?

Only around 22 cases have been identified officially in France so far, but health experts have warned the country could be ‘two months behind’ the UK

Elon Musk makes space adventurous amputee’s flight dream

Quadruple amputee Philippe Croizon asked Elon Musk to take him to space - and he said yes

Eco protest at Tropicalia greenhouse site in north France

The controversial Tropicalia site is set to be ‘the world’s biggest greenhouse’ and attract 500,000 visitors per year, but eco campaigners are not happy

Jupiter and Saturn alignment to be visible from France

The two largest planets in our solar system will ‘meet’ in the night sky on December 21 in an event that only happens once every 20 years

France Covid-19: ‘Extreme caution needed for 3-6 months’

It will take months for the Covid vaccine to make a difference in 2021, and the public must remain extremely alert still, the government’s top scientific advisor has said

Heads up: Shooting stars over France tonight at Geminid peak

Good news for stargazers: Hundreds of meteors will be visible tonight - weather permitting - as the ‘bold, white and quick’ Geminid shower peaks between around 01:00 and 02:00

96% of France now covered by at least one 4G operator

As well as 76% of the territory now having access to 4G via all four of France’s main operators

Planets put on celestial show in December skies

Jupiter and Saturn will appear as a double planet in an event not seen from Earth in nearly 800 years

WHO backing for French Covid-19 sniffer dogs tests

Researchers hope organisation's support will convince health authorities in France to grant additional funding

Coronavirus: Care home decontamination unit on trial

Designers say specially developed booth at retirement home in southeast France can eliminate 99.999% of viruses

French group demands minister ‘explain origins of Covid’

A citizens’ health association is taking the health minister to court to force the government to explain the - still highly contested - source of the killer virus

French mink farms under surveillance after Covid outbreak

The four controversial farms have been under surveillance since June after the Netherlands, and now Denmark, confirmed a ‘mutated’ virus outbreak

French doctors advise vitamin D to counter Covid this winter

Studies show links between vitamin D deficiency and serious forms of Covid-19. Doctors say winter supplements could help.

Watch: Probe built in Toulouse to bring Mars rock to Earth

In 2026 a space probe built in Toulouse will bring rock samples from Mars back to Earth

France in ‘critical’ Covid-19 second wave amid record cases

The scientific council president issued a warning, as cases of Covid-19 reach record levels and the Grand Est region prepares for a possible second lockdown

France curfew: More details on plans to fight ‘second wave’

As 54 departments are set to impose curfews from this weekend, the government’s anti-Covid plans also include €115m for the culture sector

Will a night-time curfew help fight coronavirus in France?

Scientists are divided over the curfew measures that President Macron is expected to announce in his speech tonight

France to increase safety tests on 5G waves

The aim is to reassure the public and local officials before technology is rolled out across country.

'Fast, cheap, painless': Covid saliva test from French lab

Researchers say a Covid-19 saliva test trialled in France is quicker, cheaper and less painful than other tests, and especially effective at identifying asymptomatic Covid-19 carriers.

France Covid advisors: Hospitals may be overwhelmed in weeks

The Conseil Scientifique has said if the virus continues on its current trajectory, hospitals and care homes will be overwhelmed “within a few weeks”.

France seeks volunteers to test possible Covid-19 vaccine

France is seeking “tens of thousands of volunteers” to test a potential vaccination against Covid-19, which may help it become available before the end of the year.

Paris: Swimming in the Seine on track for 2024

An initial review shows work to improve water quality in the river Seine has been successful, and it should be safe to swim in the river by 2024.

15-minute Covid-19 tests to be available in Europe

Healthcare company Roche has announced that it will release rapid antigen tests throughout Europe. Introducing the tests in France could speed up the testing process and reduce long delays to get results.

Airbus unveils plans for zero-emission air travel by 2035

The French aircraft manufacturer is aiming to be the first company in the world to launch eco-friendly, hydrogen-fuelled aircraft.