The UK Natural Environment Research Council has decided to stop funding the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM), the country’s main research aircraft. Even though it is five years into a six-year, £49-million (US$65-million) upgrade, the aircraft will stop operating on 31 March. Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription $32.99 / 30 days cancel any time Subscribe to this journal Receive 51 print issues and online access $199.00 per year only $3.90 per issue Rent or buy this article Prices vary by article type from$1.95 to$39.95 Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout Nature 651, 1124 (2026) doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-00941-x The authors declare no competing interests. Science funding needs fixing — but not through chaotic reforms Is UK science in jeopardy?…