The Starmus Festival, an unconventional convergence of science, music, and art, took place recently in Tenerife, drawing astronauts, Nobel laureates, and renowned artists to the island. Established in 2011 by Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Sir Brian May, alongside Armenian-Spanish astrophysicist Garik Israelian, the event is known for its distinctive mix of high-profile intellectual discussions and creative performances.
This year’s edition featured astronauts from the Artemis II mission—Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, and Reid Wiseman—who have recently completed a lunar voyage. The festival opened late in Santa Cruz’s central plaza, where the astronauts engaged informally with the audience, sharing candid reflections on their mission. Wiseman, who commanded the flight, admitted to initial uncertainties about how the festival would unfold, highlighting its informal and unpredictable nature. Hansen delivered a poignant talk on human perseverance in the face of grief, captivating attendees.
Starmus does not adhere to traditional conference norms, blending scientific discourse with spontaneous and often whimsical artistic elements. Performances included a flamenco dancer alongside orchestral renditions of works such as Richard Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra, famously featured in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. British tenor Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman performed Queen classics, accompanied by Sir Brian May on guitar. The festival’s opening concert also included a playful tribute by Christiana Figueres, the former UN climate change chief, who honored primatologist Jane Goodall with chimpanzee hoots.
The festival is marked by occasional logistical mishaps, such as Geoffrey Hinton—pioneer of neural networks and recipient of a Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication—being delayed at Milan airport due to air traffic control issues. Similarly, 17-year-old science communicator Valeria Corrales was absent during a planned award presentation. Despite these challenges, the artistic and scientific content proceeded with enthusiasm.
Events moved to Playa de las Américas, a resort town on Tenerife’s southwest coast, where lectures were held in a large stone pyramid replica housing a Hard Rock Café. Here, Nobel laureates and attendees mingled casually, discussing topics such as quantum entanglement amidst the vibrant atmosphere. Rick Wakeman, the keyboardist of the progressive rock band Yes, premiered an orchestral composition inspired by Stephen Hawking’s research on black holes. The piece, incorporating sound bites from the late physicist, received a standing ovation. Wakeman also improvised a unique rendition of The Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby in the style of composer Sergei Prokofiev after declining to prepare an encore.
Scientific presentations featured discussions on truth and AI, with contributions from Hinton, Figueres, and psychologist Steven Pinker. Throughout, Sir Brian May participated as both organizer and attendee.
Known for its blend of intellectual rigor and festive unpredictability, Starmus has become a distinctive platform for exploring scientific ideas alongside artistic expression. Its eclectic mix of celebrated figures and informal format creates a unique environment where curiosity and creativity intersect, sustaining its reputation as a rare event on the global stage.