New balloon-mounted probes have captured the strongest radiation spike at aviation altitudes in 20 years
Sandeep K S
Dec 5, 2025
1 min read
Solar Storm Alert: The most significant radiation increase since 2006 occurred due to an X5-class solar flare on November 11, 2025, causing radiation levels to soar to ten times the normal at 40,000 feet. This event triggered an estimated 60 electronic errors per hour in aircraft, prompting a rapid-response with balloon sensors gathering real-time data from 100,000 feet. For the first time, a 3D radiation image was developed, enhancing aviation safety forecasts by improving models against severe space weather.
Astrophysicists have completed ASTRID, the largest cosmological hydrodynamic simulation ever run, tracing the universe from the cosmic dawn ($z=99$) down to the present day ($z=0$). By resolving 166 billion particles across 815 million light-years, ASTRID unveils how supermassive black holes co-evolve with galaxies and sculpt the cosmic web.
Scientists have uncovered the first robust evidence of a black hole and neutron star crashing together while orbiting in an oval path, challenging long-standing assumptions about cosmic pair formation.
Most neutron star-black hole pairs are expected to adopt circular orbits long before merging, their orbits slowly rounded out by the constant emission of gravitational waves over millions of years.
Far from the warmth of any star, moons orbiting rogue gas giants might harbor oceans of liquid water—and potentially complex life—for billions of years.
Liquid water is considered essential for life. Surprisingly, however, stable conditions that are conducive to life could exist far from any sun.
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