A Pitt-led research study combined public and private data sources to improve Mauna Loa eruption prediction capabilities, and tools they've used are likely to be applicable far beyond Hawaii.

Kyoto, Japan --  The Fe Kα line, or iron Kα line, is often used in astronomical research to understand the physical composition of astronomical objects. This line is produced when a K-shell electron of an iron ion in the photosphere -- the gas on the stellar surface -- is ejected by an external process, and has been detected in X-ray spectra of solar and stellar flares. Yet the dominant mechanism behind this ionization process has remained an open question for many years.

Astronomers have proposed two possible mechanisms: photoionization by X-ray photons emitting from hot flare plasma, or collisional ionization by high-energy electrons accelerating at the onset of the flare. With these two possibilities in mind, a team of researchers at Kyoto University set out to uncover the truth behind the iron Kα line.

The team focused on the triple star system UX Arietis, conducting several days of simultaneous ultraviolet and X-ray observations using NICER, NASA's X-ray telescope aboard the International Space Station, and Hisaki, JAXA's ultraviolet space telescope. While Hisaki was developed primarily for observations of planets in the Solar System, the researchers demonstrated that it can also be used to study distant stars.

Understanding the Sun’s active regions is crucial for predicting space weather, but scientists have historically lacked continuous, detailed measurements of the Sun's hidden far side. New research by a team of scientists led by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) National Solar Observatory have developed a novel approach to estimate the magnetic configuration of these hidden regions using helioseismic data (sound waves within the Sun). The method relies on crucial helioseismic data including measurements from the NSF-NOAA Global Oscillation Network Group (NSF-NOAA GONG), operated by NSO with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This breakthrough paves the way for a more complete, full-Sun map of magnetic activity when combined with observations of the front-side to improve simulations of the solar environment and help forecasters anticipate potentially hazardous solar events.

Tokyo, Japan – A scientist from Tokyo Metropolitan University has proposed using safety monitoring at synchrotron facilities to study the properties of dark photons, hypothetical particles proposed to explain dark matter. Calculations showed that the X-ray source at these sites and a Geiger-Muller counter behind safety shielding could be used to propose limits on how strongly dark photons interact with normal photons. The experiment would not involve a dedicated facility and can run alongside other experiments.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has long been deeply and successfully engaged in the field of space technology. The University’s Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering has developed Hong Kong’s first low-Earth-orbit (LEO) communication-navigation integrated satellite payload “LEO CNAV”, which was recently successfully launched aboard the Yuxing-3 No. 05 satellite (also known as “Tech-Innovation-1”) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Gansu. The launch of the satellite payload, which will undergo in-orbit testing, marks a historic milestone for PolyU in satellite technology and space applications.