Spacecraft bound for Mercury begins 'tricky' arrival

Phys.org Saturday 05 September 2026, 10:20 UTC 1 min read

Key Points

After an eight-year journey, a spacecraft carrying European and Japanese probes began the monthslong, high-risk approach to Mercury on Thursday to study the sun-scorched planet.

Mercury (ORG) European (ORG) Japanese (ORG)

Originally published by Phys.org Read original →

Rice University researchers have used a magnetically levitated particle to search for ultraheavy dark matter, extending the hunt for some of the heaviest possible forms of the invisible matter thought to hold galaxies together. Led by Christopher Tunnell, associate professor of physics and astronomy, the researchers used a tiny floating magnet as a highly sensitive detector designed to register the faint push an ultraheavy dark matter particle could produce as it passed through.

Phys.org 1h ago

Health warnings could reduce youth’s hours spent on social media

Pop-up messages that warn of the harms of social media could help reduce youth’s social media use, a new study found. Alcohol and tobacco products have health warnings about the negative impacts. Researchers say that social media could benefit from similar warnings too, such as “Using social media causes sleep problems.

Euronews 1h ago

Spacecraft bound for Mercury begins 'tricky' arrival

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