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.

A knotted fiber that snaps itself open can launch like a spring. By combining Kevlar and liquid crystal elastomers, researchers created tiny soft robots that jump, spin and even plant seeds. Their motion is programmed through knot design and triggered by heat, offering a new approach to autonomous systems.

A Lehigh University bioengineering researcher is developing a new method to improve detection of critical congenital heart disease in newborns. Using seismocardiography—an approach that measures chest vibrations—the work aims to address key limitations of pulse oximetry, including reduced accuracy in some patients and missed conditions that do not affect blood oxygen levels.

The interplanetary comet 3I/ATLAS is remarkably rich in a specific type of water that contains deuterium, meaning it came from somewhere colder and with lower levels of radiation than our early solar system

Researchers at Penn State are studying how microplastics traverse and influence watersheds, such as rivers and streams, across Pennsylvania and the world at large. The team collected sediment samples from several freshwater ecosystems across Pennsylvania, comparing those readings to data previously taken from New York and New Jersey, as well as countries around the world, revealing insights into how pollutants move through freshwater environments and the potential roles humans play in rising levels of plastic content.