Latest research led by Professor Zhonghua YAO of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (DEPS) at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has found that auroras on Saturn behave markedly differently from those on Earth, appearing uneven and shifted to one side rather than forming the familiar symmetrical rings around the poles. Analysing archival data from NASA’s Cassini mission, the team shows that Saturn’s rapid rotation fundamentally reshapes its magnetic environment, driving this off-centre magnetic bubble pattern.

The Subaru Telescope observed the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1) on January 7, 2026 (UT), after it made its closest approach to the Sun. By observing colors in the coma around the comet, astronomers could estimate the ratio of carbon dioxide to water. This ratio is much lower than that inferred from earlier observations by space telescopes. These findings suggest that the chemistry of the coma is evolving over time and offers clues to the structure of comet 3I/ATLAS.

New hydrodynamical simulations explain how tidally destroyed stars reveal hidden supermassive black holes and why no two of these cosmic collisions look the same.

Researchers have published a comprehensive review of configuration and parameter design for electrified propulsion systems in three-dimensional transportation, or TDT, covering air, ground, and sea applications. The review reorganizes the design space for electrified propulsion and proposes six design stages to guide future research on propulsion configuration, sizing, screening, and co-optimization.

The University of Rhode Island’s Camilo Villouta has been awarded a USDA grant to study hydroponic spinach cultivation in controlled-environment agriculture. Indoor vertical farms have become prominent due to their ability to maximize space usage and maintain precise control over environmental variables. This is Villouta’s first time receiving an award from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and his first award of this size.

Several contaminants, including traces of ink, originating in the preparation of subsamples, have been identified in Martian meteorites by the EHU’s research group. The finding highlights the importance of stricter protocols to prevent misinterpretations of the composition of these rocks and to ensure the reliability of future studies and Mars sample-return missions.