Solar system

Astronomers report detecting radio waves that may originate from an exoplanet, potentially the first such detection ever made. If confirmed, the signal would suggest the distant planet has a magnetic field, a property never directly observed on a world outside our solar system. The finding is drawing attention from space and astronomy enthusiasts following coverage by major science outlets, with researchers emphasising that further observations are needed to verify the origin of the emission.

The European Space Agency's JUICE mission, bound for Jupiter and its icy moons, passed at less than 10,000 km overhead around 13:45 CEST during its second Earth gravity assist, prompting a heads-up to ships in the Indian Ocean beneath its flight path. The spacecraft will return for one final Earth slingshot in 2029 before heading to the outer solar system.

New research suggests magnetic fields may have played a key role in the formation of the solar system, potentially influencing how material in the early solar nebula collapsed and clumped into the sun and planets. The finding adds to ongoing debate among scientists about the physical processes that set planetary formation in motion more than 4.5 billion years ago.

New coverage warns that Earth's magnetic poles could be heading toward another reversal, an event where the planet's north and south magnetic poles swap places. Reports focus on what such a flip could mean for climate, navigation systems, satellite operations and the shielding that protects Earth from solar radiation, though scientists note reversals happen gradually over thousands of years.

Scientists report that conditions on Enceladus, Saturn's icy moon with a subsurface ocean, could support microbial life. The findings strengthen the case that the moon is one of the most promising places in the solar system to search for living organisms beyond Earth. The research is drawing attention among space and astrobiology enthusiasts discussing future exploration missions to Enceladus.

Researchers have reported detecting a direct radio signal from a planet outside the solar system for the first time. The announcement is being widely shared as a potential milestone in the study of exoplanets, since radio emissions have previously been observed mainly from stars and other cosmic objects rather than from planets themselves. Details about which planet was involved and how the signal was confirmed have not yet been widely reported.

New research indicates Mercury is contracting more quickly than previously estimated. The smallest planet in the solar system has been cooling and shrinking for billions of years, causing its crust to buckle and form cliffs and ridges. The revised findings suggest this process is still active and accelerating relative to earlier models, prompting scientists to rethink how rocky planets cool over time.

Germany's Green party is rejecting proposed reform of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), the country's core framework for funding renewable power. The party is standing firm on maintaining support for rooftop solar installations, which rely on feed-in payments under the EEG. The refusal signals growing political friction in Germany over how the country finances and structures its energy transition.

A spacecraft built to explore icy moons where life could exist is flying close by Earth, using the planet's gravity to adjust its course. The maneuver is part of a long journey toward the outer solar system, where scientists hope to study oceans beneath the moons' surfaces. The flyby has drawn attention as a milestone in the search for conditions suitable for life beyond our planet.

2I/Borisov, detected in 2019 by amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov, is the first confirmed interstellar comet to pass through our solar system. Originating from an unknown star system, it gave astronomers a rare chance to analyze the chemical makeup of a body formed around another star, offering insights into how planets and comets may form elsewhere in the galaxy.

A new report from Universe Today claims the Solar System's earliest planets formed in fiery, hot conditions near the young Sun rather than in the cold outer regions long assumed. The idea challenges the standard picture of planet formation, in which rocky worlds built up close to the Sun while icy bodies accumulated farther out. Astronomers and space enthusiasts are weighing what this would mean for theories of how Earth and its neighbours came together.

Analysts say a Democratic sweep in the United States would benefit solar, energy storage systems (ESS) and power equipment companies. Shares tied to renewable energy and grid infrastructure are expected to gain as investors anticipate expanded clean energy spending and supportive policy under a Democratic-controlled government, drawing attention to related energy stocks.

Investors and analysts are watching the U.S. midterm elections for their potential to lift solar, energy storage system (ESS), and power equipment stocks. The expectation is that election outcomes could shape energy policy in ways favorable to renewable energy companies. South Korean media flagged the story, suggesting interest from Korean investors with exposure to U.S.-listed green energy shares.

Solar combined with battery storage is making its strongest case yet in Texas, according to energy industry reporting. The state's growing power demand and grid strain are driving interest in solar-plus-storage systems as a reliable alternative, and the argument is being closely watched by energy markets and policymakers elsewhere.

New research suggests icy moons can retain their subsurface oceans even after catastrophic impacts that break the moon apart. The finding implies that oceans on bodies like Europa or Enceladus could survive violent events, expanding the range of conditions under which habitable environments might persist in the outer solar system.

Harvard scientists report detecting a radio signal apparently coming directly from a planet outside the solar system. If confirmed, it would be a rare example of a radio emission traced to an exoplanet, possibly generated by the planet's magnetic field interacting with its star. Astronomers say such detections could open a new way to study distant planets, though further observations are needed to verify the signal's origin.

Investors are watching whether a political 'blue wave' could boost renewable energy and power stocks. Commentary suggests solar, energy storage systems (ESS), and power equipment companies stand to gain if election outcomes shift policy toward stronger support for clean energy, grid investment, and related infrastructure spending.

Researchers have tested underwater solar panels at a depth of ten metres in the South China Sea, according to an industry report. The trial explores whether photovoltaic systems can generate usable power below the surface, where light is weaker but conditions are more stable. Details on efficiency results and which institution led the test have not been released, leaving the technology's practical prospects uncertain.

Analysis is under way in Germany into how the expansion of battery storage is developing, using raw data from the Federal Network Agency's Marktstammdatenregister, the national market master data register. The approach mirrors earlier data-driven work on plug-in balcony solar systems, aiming to show concrete growth trends in electricity storage capacity.

Trade coverage in the solar sector argues that photovoltaic projects have outgrown off-the-shelf engineering approaches. Growing project scale, varied grid requirements, and site-specific conditions are making one-size-fits-all designs harder to apply, pushing developers and equipment makers toward more customised planning, equipment and system integration as the industry matures.

Renewables company X-NOOR has completed a solar installation at a steel wire rope factory in Dubai. The project adds to the growing uptake of solar power by industrial facilities in the United Arab Emirates. Details on the system's capacity and expected output have not been disclosed, and reaction to the announcement has so far been limited.

South Korean solar, energy storage system and power stocks are expected to benefit if the US midterm elections produce a 'blue wave' Democratic victory. Investors anticipate a Democratic sweep would accelerate US clean-energy policy and spending, boosting demand for Korean renewable energy equipment and battery suppliers with exposure to the American market.

Building materials maker CertainTeed has released Landmark PWR, a new solar roofing system. The product combines solar generation with traditional asphalt shingle roofing, aimed at homeowners who want renewable energy without separate panel mounts. Trade coverage in the solar industry is reporting the launch, though detailed specifications and pricing have not yet been widely shared.

CGTN's RAZOR programme explores whether solar technology can play a role in protecting global water supplies. The report examines how solar power could be used to address water scarcity, from powering desalination plants to pumping and purification systems. As droughts and water shortages intensify worldwide, the intersection of renewable energy and water security is drawing renewed attention from researchers and policymakers.

Building materials manufacturer CertainTeed has released Landmark PWR, a new solar roofing system for residential homes. The product combines solar panels with roofing shingles, aimed at homeowners who want to generate electricity without installing conventional rack-mounted panels. The launch adds to a growing market of integrated solar roofing options as demand for residential clean energy products continues to expand in the United States.

A Minnesota cabin owner tried to connect a do-it-yourself solar power system to the local utility grid, but could not get it approved, and professional installers say the outcome is common. Utilities typically require licensed, certified installations before allowing solar systems to feed power back into the grid, leaving self-built setups unable to connect without going through an approved contractor.

New reporting says asteroid Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid studied closely by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, may have originated in a region of the solar system that scientists did not previously expect. The finding could change how researchers understand Bennu's composition and the early solar system's history.

A Tesla Powerwall owner in Victoria, Australia says their installer blocked the system's solar and battery exports to the grid unless the household joined a virtual power plant program. The claim has raised concerns about consumer choice and whether installers can force VPP participation, with implications for other battery owners in the state.