Astronomers have uncovered evidence that the fading phase of some radio galaxies may be considerably shorter and more dynamic than previously recognised. Led by researchers at the University of Cape Town and the Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy (IDIA), the study examined 14 candidate remnant radio galaxies in the XMM–LSS deep field using sensitive observations spanning 144 MHz to 1.5 GHz.

Detailed spectral modelling confirmed 12 of the 14 sources as genuine remnant radio galaxies and revealed comparatively young spectral ages of approximately 8–42 million years. Many of the sources are faint and lie at relatively high redshifts, representing a population that has been difficult to detect in previous radio surveys. The findings suggest that radio lobes can fade rapidly after the supermassive black hole at the centre of a galaxy stops powering its jets, providing an important preview of the populations that will be discovered by future Square Kilometre Array (SKA) surveys. 

 

The research team led by materials scientist Ralf Busch from Saarland University is preparing for its first science-in-space mission. If everything goes to plan, from 31 August the researchers will spend one week remotely studying metallic-glass alloys in experiments carried out on board the International Space Station, ISS. Working with the European Space Agency, ESA, and the German Aerospace Center, DLR, the team will investigate the properties of these alloys using hot, levitating droplets. The aim is to obtain new, high-precision data that will help to further improve the material. A follow-up series of ISS experiments involving other alloys is already in preparation. The project is funded by the German Research Foundation, DFG.

Designing Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage (LHTES) systems requires time-consuming and computationally expensive computational fluid dynamics simulations. To overcome this bottleneck, a new study presents a hybrid physics-informed neural network (PINN) framework trained on a sparse ground-truth dataset. Together with a genetic algorithm-based multi-objective design optimization, this PINN framework enables rapid, autonomous exploration of the continuous LHTES design space and thermohydraulic trade-offs. This approach serves as a crucial tool for developing next-generation LHTES systems.

SAN ANTONIO — August 14, 2026 — Using unique equipment installed on NASA’s WB-57 aircraft flying above heavy clouds off the coast of Iceland, a Southwest Research Institute-led team successfully observed a total solar eclipse on Wednesday. The high-altitude jet followed the shadow of the Moon at 50,000 feet to take measurements of the solar corona in nine different wavelengths, ranging from visible to infrared light.

A tiny UK-developed satellite, roughly the size of a small carry-on suitcase, could help answer one of the biggest questions in cosmology: what happened in the roughly 150 million years of cosmic dark ages, before the universe’s first stars appeared?

Many things are different in space – including how the intestines work. Constipation is a known side effect of space travel, but until now we have known little about why it happens. Now, researchers from the University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with NASA, have examined blood samples from astronauts and have suggestions as to why the intestines slow down in space. This may provide useful information both for astronauts and for patients on Earth.

An NJIT-led research team has developed an AI system that can spot faint warning signals of solar active regions, potential precursors to solar storms, nearly nine hours before they become visible.