The star at the center of the Solar System
Millions in the Americas will witness a deep partial lunar eclipse on Aug. 27-28 as Earth’s shadow covers up to about 96% of the Moon. NASA’s Artemis II mission has heightened public interest in space, with observers across North and South America and beyond prepared to watch as the Moon darkens and reddens in a dramatic celestial display.
Astronomers have detected helium escaping from LHS 1140b, a rocky 'super-Earth' 48 light-years away that orbits in its star's habitable zone. The finding has confirmed an atmosphere around a habitable-zone rocky exoplanet for the first time and has been published in Science; teams used ground-based infrared spectroscopy and modelling.
The Sunshine Protection Act has passed the House to make daylight saving time permanent in most of the United States. Senate consideration is uncertain and health experts warn permanent DST could disrupt sleep, while some communities push for permanent standard time. The decision hinges on balancing public health, regional impacts, and the logistics of time-zone alignment.
Bird strikes have contributed to a high-profile helicopter crash in New York and a separate investigation into a long-dunken 1952 disaster. Authorities say birds struck helicopters during low-altitude flights, prompting safety reviews and potential flight-restrictions. Investigations have highlighted the risk to urban sightseeing and the need for clearer safety procedures.
Durham researchers using supercomputer simulations show that a head‑on collision with Gaia Sausage likely caused a dramatic reorientation of the Milky Way’s disc, a process scientists describe as a “disc flip.” The event would have reshaped the galaxy’s spokes, bulge and halo, potentially altering the Solar System’s ancient path.
Consumer confidence has improved in July as heatwaves, football success, and the new prime minister boosted mood. However, overall sentiment remains negative, with the GfK index at -17, and gains rely on government delivery to tackle cost‑of‑living pressures.
Scientists have captured the Sun’s surface at unprecedented resolution with the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope and other instruments and have identified widespread Kelvin–Helmholtz vortices—500–2,000km spirals of magnetised plasma. The team has linked these instabilities to how magnetic energy cascades to smaller scales and feeds flares and coronal mass ejections that produce space weather.
A total solar eclipse has crossed parts of Spain, Iceland and Greenland while the UK and Ireland have seen a deep partial eclipse — the most extensive visible from the UK since 1999. Scientists have used airborne and balloon experiments to study the Sun's corona and the event has drawn large crowds despite patchy clouds and local viewing limits.
European observers prepare for a historic solar eclipse as sources recount how ancient Rome linked celestial events with religion and power. Modern accounts trace eclipses from Babylonian predictions to Einstein’s testing ground, while scientists today study the Sun as a natural laboratory.
In Scotland, Nicola’s Law seeks to make women’s health education mandatory for NHS staff after Nicola Thyne’s death from endometriosis-related complications. Campaigners say comprehensive training could curb dismissive care and reduce delays in treatment.
A band of Europe witnesses a rare solar eclipse, with totality across parts of Spain, Iceland and Portugal. The event is being observed with safety warnings as millions prepare to view the sky-darkening phenomenon; high public interest is accompanied by safety campaigns and warnings about eye damage.