Earth’s magnetosphere protects us from charged particles constantly emitted by the Sun, but intense conditions can breach it through a process called magnetic reconnection. Now, researchers from Japan propose a novel method using soft X-ray imaging to remotely measure the reconnection rate, a key parameter in magnetic reconnection. This study showcases a powerful tool for forecasting hazardous space weather events, paving the way to safer near-Earth space applications and exploration.

Fast X-ray transients (FXTs) are blasts of X-rays from distant galaxies. Astronomers have detected FXTs since the 1970s, but their origins have remained unknown. By studying the closest FXT associated with a supernova ever detected, scientists found it was produced by a geyser of high-energy particles trapped inside the outer layer of a massive star.

A team of interdisciplinary UCF researchers are leading a NASA research project to prevent abrasive, harmful lunar dust accumulation on astronauts and their equipment by fabricating a specialized nanocoating.

Scientists tackle one of the most challenging problems in physics--the interplay between quantum theory and gravity—from a different angle.

SAN ANTONIO — July 21, 2025 — NASA’s Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS) mission, a collaborative effort led by the University of Iowa (UI) with substantial contributions from Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), has entered its final integration phase. NASA is set to launch TRACERS’ two satellites into low Earth orbit on July 22nd from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The TRACERS mission will explore the dynamic interactions between the Sun’s and Earth’s magnetic fields.

SAN ANTONIO — July 21, 2025 — Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) scientists conducted lab experiments to address a mystery about the origins of frozen hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) on Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. Their results, published in the July 2025 issue of Planetary Science Journal, may help explain puzzling observations made by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Simple laboratory model for cosmic flows developed: A water tornado enables a realistic simulation of the dynamics of gas and dust in planet-forming discs.

Kepler’s laws confirmed in a water tank: The orbits of floating particles follow the same physical rules as celestial bodies in a gravitational field.

Potential for experiments on planet formation: The cost-effective and versatile setup opens up new ways to study interactions between dust and gas under laboratory conditions.