Present

The SOLARIS project is promoted by the Department of Research and Universities within the framework of the “Catalonia looks to the sky” initiative, and has been developed with the participation of the CERCA research centers of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC).

The Minister of Research and Universities, Núria Montserrat, has presented the SOLARIS collaborative science project with citizen participation on the occasion of the total solar eclipse of August 12, 2026, which will allow the analysis of the human body’s response during the eclipse based on anonymous data collected by smart watches and other portable devices.

The SOLARIS project (Tracking of Observations of Cardiac and Respiratory Activity during a Solar Eclipse) has been promoted by the Department of Research and Universities within the framework of the Catalonia looks to the sky initiative. The initiative has been developed with the participation of the CERCA research centers of the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) and its objective is to evaluate the human reaction to an exceptional astronomical phenomenon such as a total solar eclipse.

Measurement of biometric parameters

Through the voluntary participation of citizens and the use of wearable devices, it will allow analyzing possible variations in physiological parameters such as heart rate or respiration, before, during and after the eclipse of August 12, 2026. The changes in conditions caused by the astronomical phenomenon will contribute to generating scientific knowledge about the relationship between natural phenomena, emotions and health.

SOLARIS uses OneCareAI technology to facilitate the secure and anonymous collection of biometric data necessary for the study. The study opens the door to obtaining an unprecedented set of data and reinforces the role of citizen science as a tool to advance biomedical and environmental research.

In order to participate, it will only be necessary to have a portable device capable of recording at least heart rate, download the project application and synchronize it with the device.

To guarantee the scientific validity of the project and allow for rigorous analysis, it is essential that the data submitted meet a series of requirements. First, they must contain a temporal reference, with recordings from the days before and after the event to establish a comparative basis (baseline) with respect to the behavior observed during the eclipse. Coverage of the event will be carried out for five consecutive days: the two days before the eclipse, the day of the eclipse and the two days after. Finally, intense physical activity must be avoided during the measurements.