Shadow Work

New research is mapping the microclimates that form beneath solar panels, where shade, cooler temperatures and altered rainfall create distinct growing conditions. Scientists say understanding these zones could allow native vegetation to flourish on solar farms, pairing renewable energy production with land restoration and biodiversity benefits. The work points toward a growing interest in making large-scale solar installations more environmentally productive rather than simply land-intensive.

CERN, through its ATLAS Experiment, is hosting high school job shadowing, giving students a first-hand look at careers in particle physics and at one of the world's leading research laboratories. The programme lets teenagers follow professionals on site and see how large-scale physics research works day to day.