Despite advancements in hardware, AI, and machine learning, deploying robots in dynamic, real-world settings—and getting them to do what we want—remains difficult. Cristian-Ioan Vasile, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics at Lehigh University, has received funding through the NSF’s Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program to develop structured methods for assessing the capabilities of learning-enabled agents and use that information to improve planning and coordination of robots working in teams.

On Aug. 7 and 8, NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope team assessed the observatory’s solar panels and a visor-like sunshade called the deployable aperture cover — two components that will be stowed for launch and unfold in space. Engineers confirmed their successful operation during a closely monitored sequence in simulated space-like conditions. On the first day, Roman’s four outer solar panels were deployed one at a time, each unfolding over 30 seconds with 30-second pauses between them. The visor followed in a separate test the next day. These assessments help ensure Roman will perform as expected in space. Roman is slated to launch no later than May 2027, with the team working toward a potential early launch as soon as fall 2026.

SAN ANTONIO — August 26, 2025 — NASA has launched Surya, its new heliophysics artificial intelligence foundation model to empower solar scientists with tools to enhance research and space weather forecasting. Southwest Research Institute’s Dr. Andrés Muñoz-Jaramillo led a team of scientists from several institutions and universities who played a crucial role in tailoring the scientific data and validating a powerful application to predict solar activity such as coronal mass ejections and other space weather events.

Researchers at EPFL and the University of Geneva have developed a new algorithm that cracks an outstanding challenge in network science: dealing with directionality to detect communities. 

The American Thyroid Association has released new guidelines for the management of adult patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), the most prevalent cancer of the thyroid. The guidelines are published in the peer-reviewed journal Thyroid^®, the official journal of the American Thyroid Association^® (ATA^®).