Research into the reactions of people who have witnessed total eclipses reveals that they are transformative experiences. All accounts speak of the amazement of seeing something that should not happen, but does. When the stars play hide-and-seek for a few minutes, what happens to the spectators is much more than the sum of orbits and analytical mechanics; it is emotion.

The power of communication to represent violence against women has been on the table for scientific and social debate for more than two decades. However, after 25 years of manuals on how to address gender-based violence in journalism, inadequate coverage persists, still romanticising it or simplifying its approach as emotional violence.

On 22 August, the UN officially declared famine in Gaza, defined as an extreme situation of food insecurity in which there is insufficient access to food to survive, leading to high rates of malnutrition, disease and mortality. The Spanish Society of Epidemiology explains how this situation is technically assessed, as well as the implications of the declaration.

Extreme wildfires are becoming more frequent and causing greater environmental and social impact. Current policies that prioritise fire suppression have not only failed to prevent this situation from arising, but  actually made it worse. The report Changing Wildfires - Policy Options for a Fire-literate and Fire-adapted Europe,  released by the European Academies' Science Advisory Council (EASAC), addresses this issue by outlining eight policy options. The report's key recommendations focus on  putting landscape management first —by regulating biomass structure and land use — and empowering local communities.

Trump's measures are directly affecting trans and non-binary people in science. This uncomfortable mirror is not unique to the United States. International studies have documented how the LGTBIQA+ community in science experiences less safe working environments, greater discrimination and more frequent abandonment of academic careers. Better science will only be possible if it protects and celebrates all the people who make it possible.

Despite the overwhelming evidence, climate change denialist messages have found a loudspeaker in certain social networks. Of importance in this disinformation strategy is the attempt to discredit the scientific community in general, and climate researchers and weather forecasters in particular. However, the study of climate and the prediction and monitoring of adverse weather phenomena is in the interest of society as a whole.

The budget cuts affecting scientific activity in countries such as the United States and the fragility of centralised systems make decentralised and collaborative models a necessity. Science, intrinsically global, requires structures that can withstand local pressures. In this situation, Europe has the opportunity - and the duty - to lead a new paradigm where data is free, secure and accessible.

In the context of World AIDS Day, which is celebrated on 1 December, it is essential to reflect on one of the most urgent challenges in the fight against this disease: HIV in the paediatric population. A project led by the Complutense University of Madrid seeks to reduce paediatric mortality by training research leaders in sub-Saharan Africa and applying technology and innovation.

Funding has been one of the major obstacles to agreement at the Baku Climate Summit. More sustainable science also depends on how research is funded. It is imperative that research institutions also develop strategies to incorporate more sustainable practices and contribute to climate neutrality.

Most disasters do not occur in isolation, often triggering new challenges before the community has been able to recover. Floods in Valencia pose risks of infections and intoxications, challenges to mental health and to the supply of drugs and food, which affect the vulnerable population the most and must be addressed in a coordinated manner. In the face of such events, the overall strengthening of a country's healthcare system is critical.