Britain has officially opened the first station in a new global radio astronomy antenna network.

Scientists unveiled the largest radiotelescope in the world on Saturday in the Netherlands.

A unique combination of telescopes allowed astronomers to simultaneously observe the radio wavelength light from six different pulsars across wavelengths from only 3.5 centimetres up to 7 metres - a difference-factor of 200, providing an unprecedented view of how radio pulsars shine.

The Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), a new pan-European radio astronomy facility, has started mapping the Universe at very low energy wavelengths, a part of the electromagnetic spectrum that is relatively unexplored.

Scientists announced Sunday they have identified for the first time definitive variants associated with biological ageing in humans.