NeurAstra
/A Deep Dive into Science, Nature & Space
As we embrace a new age of exploration and discovery, NeurAstra is driven by the study of how environments shape life—and how life, in turn, adapts and thrives in the most unexpected places.
Situated in the French and Swiss Alps, NeurAstra is an independent science organisation bringing together experts in varied fields, such as biology, medicine, engineering, history, and geography. Together, we aim to develop innovative projects to investigate and showcase human adaptability in remote and extreme environments on Earth—and beyond. Our mission seeks to bridge the gap between terrestrial life and the cosmic realm through exploration, innovation, and collaboration.
NeurAstra’s work is structured around several initiatives, called SYSTEMS, which embrace observation and research through diverse lenses: theoretical and empirical, scientific and philosophical, historical and artistic. Beyond its core research activities, NeurAstra is also committed to fostering knowledge-sharing and inspiring science enthusiasts of all ages through educational programmes and creative endeavours. By sparking conversations and connecting disciplines, we aim to push the boundaries of understanding and open new possibilities for life in extreme environments.
The Blue Dot — A Long Story
Questioning the origins, development, and evolution of life on Earth—and the implications for humanity’s future in space—is an inspiring endeavour. Yet it demands knowledge from a vast array of disciplines, unwavering determination, and, above all, time. Time to ask the right questions. Time to explore in all directions. Time to make the necessary mistakes. Time to pause and reflect. Time to develop the tools and resources needed to uncover meaning. And, finally, time to craft and share the beginnings of a rough draft of answers.
It is, without a doubt, a lifetime journey.
The work of pioneering researchers throughout the centuries makes it even more apparent: science is a relentless effort—a perpetual quest for refinement and accuracy, where each answer gives rise to new questions, even when the old ones are not fully resolved.
Such an initiative may seem too ambitious; yet, it is far too fascinating to ignore.
At its own scale and pace, NeurAstra has embraced this challenge and begun to share its story. The story of a unique place where observation leads to research (S01), research to exploration (S02/S03/S04), exploration to reflection (S05), reflection to discoveries (S06), and discoveries to narratives (S07/S08). And, in a virtuous cycle, this story is destined to begin anew, endlessly renewing itself.
SYSTEMS
Each initiative, known as a SYSTEM, embodies the principles of observation and research. Together, these projects offer diverse, yet complementary, approaches to understanding and engaging with our surroundings. These are our different SYSTEMS:
SYSTEM 01
BLUE DOT/WHITE TANGERINE
Hypotheses & Research
BLUE DOT/WHITE TANGERINE
Hypotheses & Research
SYSTEM 02
ALTANUBE PANDO
Cosmography & Terroirs
ALTANUBE PANDO
Cosmography & Terroirs
SYSTEM 03
SPECTEORE
Expeditions & Habitats
SYSTEM 04
POUTCHKA PATROL
Fauna & Flora
POUTCHKA PATROL
Fauna & Flora
SYSTEM 05
BLUE HOURS
Serendipitous Wanders
BLUE HOURS
Serendipitous Wanders
SYSTEM 06
NIMBUS.ARCHIVES
Collections & Inventories
NIMBUS.ARCHIVES
Collections & Inventories
SYSTEM 07
N400
Analyses & Insights
N400
Analyses & Insights
SYSTEM 08
AofAP
Creative Synthesis
AltaNube 74
In the French Alps, near the Swiss border—where particle accelerators are shaking, neutral eta mesons are swirling, and cloud chambers are saturating—a window opens onto branches laden with bright plums, colourful shrubs of raspberries and blueberries, and the vast fields of experimentation the world has to offer.
Nestled between Mont-Salève and Lake Annecy in the Genevois, the NeurAstra laboratory—AltaNube 74—is surrounded by stories that paved the way for groundbreaking achievements in domains as diverse as physics, astronomy, aviation, and biology. Humbly, we—/Les Nouveaux Cosmiques—aspire to draw on this inspiring and rich legacy and carry forward this scientific quest on Earth, and beyond.