In a science lab on the fourth floor of UTSA’s Multidisciplinary Studies Building, UTSA students engage in meticulous choreography around a glowing furnace, melting rocks to produce lava.

The task helps them survey the vast landscapes of the universe — from the Earth to the moon — in a space known as the Heat and Mass Transfer & Experimental Rheology Lab , HAMsTER for short.

Led by Alan Whittington, professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, the lab offers students interested in petrology and planetary sciences the opportunity to apply their interests in a range of research opportunities. While one group may be examining the lava flow of volcanoes on Earth, another is melting down and testing samples of meteorites to chart varying thermal properties.

Apple and MP Materials recently announced a $500 million agreement to source rare-earth magnets from MP Materials’ new Fort Worth plant and to develop a U.S.-based recycling facility. MP Materials has also reached an agreement with the Department of Defense in partial ownership of the company. Rare-earth magnets are essential components in technologies ranging from smartphones and tablets to electric vehicles and clean energy infrastructure.

China’s BGI Genomics has marked its 26th anniversary with the launch of a newly developed AI-powered health management platform for the strategic commitment to global healthcare transformation. The platform enhances diagnostic efficiency and enables proactive disease prevention, creating a new standard in precision medicine.

As Saudi Arabia commemorates its 95th National Day and advances its Vision 2030 agenda, health innovation are driving a nationwide shift toward data-driven, precision-based healthcare. BGI Genomics, with its growing presence in the Kingdom and expertise in genomics and multi-omics technologies, is helping bring these goals closer to reality.