Scientists are alarmed by the British government’s decision to cut funding for the Lovell radio telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory. U.K. Research and Innovation announced Monday that it will stop funding the telescope after March 2028. It says the decision follows a prioritization process to focus on areas with the greatest scientific impact. University of Manchester physicist Brian Cox called the cuts “devastating.” The university, which oversees Jodrell Bank, is seeking alternative funding sources to keep the telescope operational. The Lovell telescope has played a crucial role in radio astronomy and has tracked significant space events since the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, in 1957.