The “‘The Fighting Dragons of Ara” is a nebula in a huge molecular cloud. (Image credit: Image credit: Dark Energy Survey/DOE/FNAL/DECam/CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA. Image processing: R. Colombari and M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab))
QUICK FACTS
What it is: NGC 6188, also known as the Fighting Dragons of Ara or the Firebird Nebula
Where it is: 4,000 light-years away, in the constellation Ara (“the altar”)
When it was shared: July 9, 2025
From a cat’s paw to a cosmic tadpole, humans love to see figures of animals in the night sky — but the “‘Fighting Dragons of Ara” has to be one of the most dramatic. Astronomers using the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) in Chile have unveiled a mesmerizing new image that evokes a mythical duel of two celestial beasts.
The striking image appears to show two dragon heads emerging from dense clouds of cosmic dust, seemingly locked in an eternal standoff. Their glowing, sinuous forms are shaped by powerful stellar winds emitted from bright young stars born within the nebula, most of which are only a few million years old.
The mesmerizing shapes created by the interplay of radiation and dust are officially known as NGC 6188. It’s an emission nebula, which forms when the intense radiation of stars energizes gas, causing it to emit light, according to NASA. It’s in the little-known constellation Ara and is observable only from the Southern Hemisphere, where it’s found just under the tail of Scorpius, “the scorpion.” NGC 6188 is close to the edge of a massive molecular cloud, where stars form.
Related: 42 jaw-dropping James Webb Space Telescope images
The red in NGC 6188 comes from ionized hydrogen being illuminated by 27 very bright stars, which are barely a few million years old — newborns, on a cosmic scale — giving the image incredible depth. Ultraviolet radiation in the stellar winds coming from these stars have ignited, sculpted and shaped the gas and dust into the dragons’ heads. According to NASA, this ultraviolet radiation floods the gas with so much energy that it strips electrons from the hydrogen atoms in the nebula. This is called ionization. As the atoms recombine, they emit energy in the form of photons, which makes the nebula’s gas glow.
DECam is mounted on the Victor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile.
For more sublime space images, check out our Space Photo of the Week archives.
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Since entering Jupiter’s orbit in 2016, NASA’s Juno spacecraft has been hard at work unveiling the many mysteries of our solar system’s largest planet. And its latest discovery may be one of the most intriguing yet: an entirely new type of plasma wave near Jupiter’s poles.
In a paper published Wednesday in Physical Review Letters, astronomers describe an unusual pattern of plasma waves in Jupiter’s magnetosphere—a magnetic “bubble” shielding the planet from external radiation. Jupiter’s exceptionally powerful magnetic field appears to be forcing two very different types of plasmas to jiggle in tandem, creating a unique flow of charged particles and atoms in its polar regions.
Plasma is a key force in shaping Jupiter’s turbulent atmosphere. As such, the researchers believe the new observations will further advance our understanding of not only Jupiter’s weather events but also the magnetic properties of distant exoplanets.
An image of Jupiter’s auroras, taken by Juno’s Ultraviolet Spectrograph. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI
For the study, the researchers analyzed the behavior of plasma waves in Jupiter’s magnetosphere containing highly magnetized, low-density plasma. The team, a collaboration between researchers from the University of Minnesota, the University of Iowa, and the Southwest Research Institute, Texas, found an unexpected oscillation between Alfvén waves and Langmuir waves, which reflect the movement of the plasma’s atoms and the movement of the electrons in the plasma, respectively.
Electrons are much lighter than charged atoms, meaning that, normally, the two wave types ripple at very different frequencies—which was clearly not the case for Jupiter’s magnetosphere, prompting the researchers to take a closer look. The ensuing investigation unveiled a never-before-seen type of plasma oscillation near Jupiter’s poles.
“The observed plasma properties are really unusual, not found before and elsewhere in our solar system,” John Leif Jørgensen, a planetary scientist at the Technical University of Denmark who wasn’t involved in the new work, told New Scientist.
Unlike Earth’s auroras, which are caused by solar storms, Jupiter’s auroras—a barrage of frisky, superfast particles that are hundreds of times more energetic than auroras on Earth—sometimes emerge as a product of its powerful magnetic field. Getting a better grasp on how such phenomena work could be valuable information for future missions in the search for alien life on exoplanets, according to the study authors.
“While such conditions do not occur [on] Earth, it is possible that they apply in polar regions of the other giant planets and potentially in strongly magnetized exoplanets or stars,” the astronomers wrote in the paper.
“Jupiter is the Rosetta Stone of our solar system,” said Scott Bolton, Juno’s principal investigator, in NASA’s introductory page for the spacecraft. “Juno is going there as our emissary—to interpret what Jupiter has to say.”
Initially, NASA expected Juno’s mission to conclude in 2017, when they would intentionally steer the spacecraft into Jupiter’s atmosphere, a decision that adheres to NASA’s planetary protection requirements. But Juno’s flight path evolved over time, and NASA concluded that the spacecraft no longer posed a threat to Jupiter’s moons. As a result, the agency authorized extensions to the mission.
That being said, the scientists do believe that, by September this year, Juno’s orbit will degrade naturally, and it will be gobbled up by Jupiter’s atmosphere. However, this by no means ends humanity’s exploration of Jupiter; Europa Clipper is slated to reach Europa, Jupiter’s moon, in 2030 (the last time we checked, it did some sightseeing near Mars). Of course, even after Jupiter consumes Juno, scientists will still have loads of invaluable data from the spacecraft that they’ll continue to meticulously analyze for years to come.
A rock from Mars that traveled tens if not hundreds of millions of miles before improbably landing on our planet’s surface has found its final resting place: the private collection of some secretive plutocrat, whose identity has not been revealed to us members of the nosy public.
At roughly 54 pounds, NWA 16788, as it’s been dubbed, is by far the largest known rock we have from the Red Planet — the runner up in the category is barely half that weight — and is one of the only 400 meteorites confirmed to be of Martian origin ever found, according to a database maintained by the Meteoritical Society. That such a large portion survived a crash landing on Earth makes it an incredibly valuable object to scientists.
On Wednesday, the rock was bought at an auction at Sotheby’s in New York for $5.3 million. It’s now the most expensive meteorite ever sold, according to the luxury items broker.
“You get close to it, you can feel like you’re looking at the planet,” Cassandra Hatton, vice chairman for science and natural history at Sotheby’s, told the Washington Post. “This really looks like a piece of Mars, whereas pretty much every other Martian meteorite you see is going to just kind of look like a little rock.”
Discovered in November 2023 by a meteorite hunter scouring a remote region of Niger, an analysis determined that NWA 16788 was likely catapulted into space by another, much larger meteor smashing into Mars, according to CNN. The Martian surface is pockmarked with countless scars documenting encounters like these.
Hatton declined to reveal who the buyer of the huge rock was. While we can’t say for certain what will happen to it, or what the anonymous buyer’s intentions are, some scientists aren’t happy with the idea of this ultra-rare space rock being locked away, or even being put up for sale in the first place.
“It would be a shame if it disappeared into the vault of an oligarch. It belongs in a museum, where it can be studied, and where it can be enjoyed by children and families and the public at large,” Steve Brusatte, a professor of paleontology and evolution at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, told CNN before the rock was sold.
Meteorites “carry information about the history of the solar system that cannot be learned any other way,” Paul Asimow, professor of geology and geochemistry at the California Institute of Technology, told WaPo.
More streetwise scientists argue, however, that this is what it takes to keep the lights on, so to speak.
“Ultimately, if there was no market for searching, collecting and selling meteorites, we would not have anywhere near as many in our collections — and this drives the science!” Julia Cartwright, a planetary scientist at the University of Leicester in England, told CNN.
For scientists whining about losing access to this massive Mars slab, Hatton recommends they consult with the literal crumbof evidence that’s been graciously left behind for them to examine, preserved at the Purple Mountain Observatory in China.
“A sample has been taken and analyzed and published in the meteoritical bulletin, so they could go and get that,” Hatton told Space.com.
More on Mars: Trump Wants to Shut Down Several Perfectly Good Spacecraft Orbiting Mars for No Reason
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Now, Scotland Links With UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Canada, and Japan to Witness Tourism Boost During September 2025 Lunar Eclipse: Here’s More
Sunday, July 20, 2025
The mythical beauty of its dramatic landscapes and stargazing potential are about to stage an event of cosmic proportions likely to jump-start the sleepy tourist trade and spawn a new wave of wonder across the United Kingdom. On the night of Sept 7, the year 2025, a magical Lunar Eclipse will play out across the British Isles and various locations across the countries — including France, Germany and Ireland — as well as sections of Canada. To observers in Scotland, whose dark-sky clarity is among the best in Europe, the experience offers more than just awe: It presents economic and social potential.
From the misty peaks of the Highlands to the open expanse of the Outer Hebrides, this celestial event is being hailed as more than a visual spectacle — a moment of hope. One that might help further Scotland’s burgeoning reputation as a global center for astrotourism, while providing a welcome fillip to rural economies, long affected by disruption and seasonality.
A Rising Moon, a Rising Market
As the moon embarks on its stately orbit into the Earth’s shadow, Britons and visitors to these shores will be in for a rare celestial spectacle, when the moon turns from pale silver into a deep blood red — commonly known as a “Blood Moon”. Such a visual effect takes place when the sunlight passes through the Earth’s atmosphere and refracts upon the surface of the Moon, which provides it a reddish hue. Scotland has some of the best places in the country to view the rare planetary alignment, from Aberdeenshire to Argyll, and Dumfries to Isle of Skye.
Lunar eclipses have been of special interest to skywatchers, however, their importance has taken on new dimensions beyond mere astronomy. Recent studies by national government departments have shown that sustainable tourism – especially nature and event-based travel – is increasingly popular in the UK as well as throughout Europe. Tourism organisations have stressed the potential economic value of seasonal and rural tourism, which would be able to share visitor numbers more evenly over the year and across urban areas other than capital cities.
The recovering travel sector in the UK, which now contributes more than 4% to GDP, is pivoting from this crisis in a way that plays to regional strengths. Events like this eclipse are part of a wider strategy to disperse travel beyond crowded places and the core part of the year. For places like Germany and France, where regional tourism boards are already incorporating dark-sky events, this synergy with community based astronomy tourism can provide useful examples.
Scotland: Where Nature Meets Sky
This moment is one in which Scotland is particularly well-placed to seize. With a number of official dark-sky parks and reserves, perhaps most famously the Galloway Forest Park, the nation has some of the best places in the world for moon- and star-watching. Support for the protection of these skies, for environmental as well as cultural and tourism reasons, is evident in national planning guidance and environmental strategy in Scotland.
Some places have already been highlighted as top stargazing spots, including Luskentyre Beach in the Outer Hebrides, Ballageich Hill near Glasgow, and Conic Hill on the banks of Loch Lomond. With little light pollution and big horizons from which to view the eclipse, the sites are ideal – particularly as the Moon will be low in the sky when it is first visible.
The Scottish government, with VisitScotland, has already stressed the importance of allowing visitors to have experiences. This means promoting the country’s nightscapes as tourism resources. The eclipse provides an opportunity to realise this vision and to work with local business, guides, accommodation and local communities knowledgeably, rather than simply sightseeing.
Global Participation, Local Impact
What’s more, and a little extra special? This eclipse is visible across more than one continent. In addition to the UK, France, Ireland and Germany will have a clear sky during the peak stages. In Canada, some partial stages will be visible, depending on time zones, in parts of eastern provinces. Already, the cultural tie to celestial events is strong in countries such as Japan, whose ancient traditions link lunar phases with folklore and contemplation.
This global reach extends the potential for Scotland to attract visitors both from overseas and from here at home. Scottish airports are well-connected to other parts of Europe — and with the eclipse taking place on a weekend, it will provide the perfect excuse for a short, purpose-driven getaway. For travelers from Ireland, a simple ferry ride away, rural Scotland offers an alternate but related backdrop for skywatching.
And for anyone who is unable to travel long distances, yet would still like to be a part of experience, local communities and councils … Nothing will be Smaller: Scotland and the Universe can arrange viewing parties, educational workshops, and family-focused events throughout Scotland. These aren’t just about the science of the Moon — they’re about celebrating Scotland’s place in the world, and in the sky.
Value of the Eclipse, Economically and Culturally
Astronomical events-driven tourism is too often overlooked but the numbers tell a different story. In the U.K. and elsewhere—Germany and France, for example—previous experiences of celestial activity in the night sky have prompted surges in hotel bookings, restaurant visits and retail traffic, particularly in rural settings. It’s not just B&Bs in Scottish castles that could win out; passerby inns in the highlands, lowland lodges and coastal B&Bs are all poised to cash in.
And the eclipse comes at a time of year that serves as a seasonal pivot, the end of summer, when tourism starts to taper off. If tourism boards and local councils work together, the eclipse weekend could be a bridge to the autumn holiday season, with the potential to help maintain jobs and revenue during the seasonal lull.
In Canada, where nature-based tourism runs deep, similar eclipse events have led to localized spikes in bookings and spurred long-term investment in observatory tourism. Scotland, too, has the capabilities to build from this trend — especially with its growing array of National Scenic Areas and eco-leisure businesses,.
Community Engagement and Educational Growth
Even beyond the economic benefits, there’s a deeper value in gathering people together under the night sky. In a digital age, celestial events offer a welcome reminder of our shared humanity. Scottish schools, universities and science centres can make the most of this event by sharing curiosity through running public events and undertaking citizen science projects that involve all ages.
Community observatories, such as the ones in Dundee and of Stornoway, can work with local councils and astronomy clubs to supply telescopes, talks and safe viewing advice. What is more it can be low-cost, inclusive and incredibly rewarding.
Public health experts also point to the mental health benefits of immersion in nature and shared cultural experiences. The nocturnalizing and disruptions such as this eclipse provoke thought, awe, and serenity — all of which favor personal welfare. In this way, local governments could position eclipse engagement not as simply entertainment, but as community care.
Conclusion
On 7 September 2025 the sky over Scotland and the UK will host a natural show that transcends time, space and us. The eclipse, though relatively brief, might have lasting effects. It challenges us not just to look up, but out — to reimagine how we move, come together, celebrate the places we call home.
In France, Ireland, Germany, Canada and Japan (as elsewhere), recognition of the cultural underpinnings of the cosmos is an instrument for education, tourism, personal development. Scotland is now part of this global rhythm. With careful preparation, it can transform this one night into something lasting — a moment that brings light, even in the shadow of the Moon.
References: UK House of Commons Library Report on Tourism Statistics and Policy, Office for National Statistics – Tourism Economic Contribution Report.
Tags: astrotourism in Scotland, Canada, dark-sky events UK, eclipse travel destinations, edinburgh, france, Galloway Forest Park, germany, Glasgow, ireland, Isle of Skye, japan, loch lomond, outer hebrides, Scotland, Scotland lunar eclipse tourism, UK Blood Moon 2025, United Kingdom, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Get the key points on this story in our 1-minute read.
Meet ‘Ammonite’: A newly discovered sednoid – an icy, distant Solar System object nicknamed after its spiral fossil‑like orbit – officially called 2023 KQ14
Only the fourth known of its kind: Sednoids are extremely rare. Ammonite joins Sedna, 2012 VP113 and Leleākūhonua in this exclusive group
Exceptionally elongated orbit: It swings from ~66 AU (perihelion) to ~252 AU (aphelion) from the Sun, far beyond Neptune
Mid-sized cosmic object: Estimated diameter is between 220–380 km, similar to about 40 times the height of Mount Everest
4.5-billion-year time capsule: Orbital simulations show it’s been stable since shortly after the Solar System formed
Questions Planet Nine theory: Unlike other sednoids, its orbit is anti-aligned, reducing the argument for a distant Planet Nine shaping their paths
Hints at early Solar System chaos: The orbital mismatch may point to events like a rogue star passage or vanished planet stirring things up about 4.2 billion years ago
FOSSIL project success: Unearthed by the multi-national FOSSIL survey using the Subaru Telescope, plus archival data dating back to 2005, showing how wide‑field searches continue revealing ancient Solar System relics
Credit: AI-generated illustration by Ying-Tung Chen (ASIAA)
Our solar system has been around for 4.6 billion years. While that sounds like a long time, it’s just a blip in the 13.8 billion-year story of the universe. And one day, the solar system will cease to exist.
But when will the solar system end? And how will it die out?
The answers to those questions depend on how we define the death of the solar system.
The solar system consists of eight planets, several dwarf planets, hundreds of moons, and billions of asteroids, comets and meteoroids. The exact boundaries of the solar system are subject to debate, but there are three main candidates: the Kuiper Belt, a region of icy objects beyond Neptune; the heliopause, where the sun’s magnetic field ends; and the Oort cloud, a theoretical icy cloud lying beyond both the Kuiper Belt and the heliosphere. And, of course, at the center of it all, the sun is keeping it all together with its immense gravity.
Like all stars, the sun will eventually die. Right now, it creates heat and light by transforming hydrogen into helium in its core through a process called nuclear fusion. The sun will continue to burn hydrogen for approximately another 5 billion years, said Fred Adams, a theoretical astrophysicist at the University of Michigan. But once that hydrogen fuel runs out, the sun will become more and more unstable. Its core will collapse, its surface will expand, and it will transform into a cool, bloated red giant that will engulf Mercury and then Venus.
While our planet might be at the border of the red giant’s surface, Adams said, chances are, it will get sucked into the red giant, too. By this point, though, humans will have been long gone. Mars will likely survive the red giant, and the outer planets are all safely outside of the red giant’s reach. The Oort cloud will also be destabilized, Stern said, and the heliosphere will shrink down.
Related:When will the universe die?
About a billion years later, the sun will shrink to the size of Earth and transform into a white dwarf — a dim, extremely dense core of its former self. The solar system will become a freezing, desolate place.
“From a habitability standpoint, that’s kind of the end of the solar system,” Alan Stern, a planetary scientist and principal investigator of NASA’s New Horizons mission, toldLive Science.
Although the sun’s death marks the end of the solar system as we know it, it doesn’t necessarily mean its total demise. “A strict, nerdy answer is that the solar system will never end due to the sun’s evolution” or the death of the sun, Stern said. Even when the sun is a burnt out cinder, he said, many objects — including giant planets like Jupiter — will continue to orbit it.
Even further into the future, Adams said, the likelihood of rare events increases. Without the sun’s gravitational force, the solar system will become increasingly chaotic as the gravitational balance of the solar system shifts. The risk of collisions, passing stars or supernovas coming too close to the solar system and then tearing apart its celestial bodies and space rocks will also be magnified.
“We’re not just waiting until the universe is twice as old. We’re waiting till it’s a billion times older, a trillion times older, and a quadrillion times older,” he explained. “If you wait, those enormous time scales and rare events start to add up. It’s like, it’s rare for you to win the lottery, but if you play a billion times, your chances will go up.”
Even if the solar system is spared a catastrophic collision, it won’t last forever. Some scientists also think the protons that make up our universe will decay. The phenomenon has never been observed, but theoretical experiments have placed the proton’s lifetime past 1034 years, and that number might be pushed back even further as experiments into their longevity keep running.
Solar system quiz: How well do you know our cosmic neighborhood?
New analysis of a hominin skull previously believed to represent a new species of ancient human suggests that it may in fact be a Denisovan.
The Denisovans were first discovered in 2010, when ancient DNA from a finger bone in Denisova Cave, Siberia, revealed it to belong to a previously unknown ancient hominin that shared a common ancestor with Neanderthals. Over the last 15 years, several more fragmentary Denisovan remains have been found, while other studies have discovered evidence of their genetic legacy in the DNA of modern populations in Asia and the Pacific. However, the Denisovan fossil record remains extremely limited, which means that little is known about their physical appearance.
New analysis suggests that this skull from Harbin, north-east China, may be the most complete Denisovan fossil found to date.
This may be about to change thanks to new research on a cranium from Harbin, north-east China, which was initially unearthed in the 1930s, before being rediscovered in 2018. The skull is at least 146,000 years old and displays a combination of primitive and modern human characteristics, with a long and low braincase, flat cheeks, a broad mouth, an imposing brow, and a brain c.7% larger than the average present-day human. It was therefore proposed in 2021 that this individual should be recognised as a new species and given the name Homo longi (‘Dragon Man’) after the find spot, Long Jiang or ‘Dragon River’ (CWA 109). However, the specimen’s taxonomic affiliation remained a subject of controversy.
The latest analysis of the skull was carried out by a team led by Qiaomei Fu at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Qiang Ji of Hebei GEO University. After an unsuccessful attempt to recover ancient DNA from either the petrous bone or teeth, the researchers turned to palaeoproteomics, as ancient proteins often survive where DNA does not. Remarkably, they were able to extract 95 proteins from two petrous bone samples – surpassing all previous datasets for a fossil of this age. These proteins were then compared with those of modern humans, Neanderthals, Denisovans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. The results confirmed the Harbin individual’s place in the genus Homo and identified a clear connection between this specimen and the Denisovans.
Researchers were able to extract ancient mitochondrial DNA from the Harbin individual’s dental calculus.
To confirm this, the team went in search of DNA again, and this time they succeeded in extracting ancient host mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from dental calculus. This was compared with mtDNA from other ancient hominins, including Denisovans and Neanderthals, as well as groups of modern humans. The findings were consistent with Denisovan mtDNA. They were even able to determine that the Harbin individual is most closely related to the mtDNA branch represented by the older Denisovans (187,000-217,000 years old) found in Denisova Cave.
There remains some debate over the specimen’s classification, but these findings have the potential to be hugely significant. If this is indeed the most complete Denisovan fossil found to date, it could provide a wealth of morphological information about this mysterious species, and aid in the identification of other Denisovan fossils in the future. Its presence in Harbin also broadens the Denisovans’ known geographic distribution across Asia. The research has been published in the journals Science (https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adu9677) and Cell (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2025.05.040).
Text: Amy Brunskill / Images: Hebei GEO University; Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Researchers are creating new moiré materials at the nanometer scale using advanced DNA nanotechnology: DNA moiré superlattices form when two periodic DNA lattices are overlaid with a slight rotational twist or positional offset. This creates a new, larger interference pattern with completely different physical properties. A new approach developed by researchers at the University of Stuttgart and the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research not only facilitates the complex construction of these superlattices; it also unlocks entirely new design possibilities at the nanoscale. The study has been published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
Moiré superlattices have become central to modern condensed matter and photonic research. However, realizing such structures typically involves delicate and laborious fabrication steps, including precise alignment and transfer of pre-fabricated layers under highly controlled conditions. “Our approach bypasses traditional constraints of creating moiré superlattices,” says Prof. Laura Na Liu, director of the 2nd Physics Institute at the University of Stuttgart.
New paradigm for the construction of moiré superlattices
“Unlike conventional methods that rely on mechanical stacking and twisting of two-dimensional materials, our platform leverages a bottom-up assembly process,” explains Laura Na Liu. The assembly process refers to the linking of individual DNA strands to form larger, ordered structures. It is based on self-organization: The DNA strands join together without external intervention, solely through molecular interactions. The Stuttgart research team is taking advantage of this special feature. “We encode the geometric parameters of the superlattice — such as rotation angle, sublattice spacing, and lattice symmetry — directly into the molecular design of the initial structure, known as the nucleation seed. We then allow the entire architecture to self-assemble with nanometer precision.” The seed acts as a structural blueprint, directing the hierarchical growth of 2D DNA lattices into precisely twisted bilayers or trilayers, all achieved within a single solution-phase assembly step.
Exploring Uncharted Territory: Moiré Structures on the Intermediate Nanometer Scale
While moiré superlattices have been widely explored at the atomic (angstrom) and photonic (submicron) scales, the intermediate nanometer regime, where both molecular programmability and material functionality converge, has remained largely inaccessible. The Stuttgart researchers have closed this gap with their current study. The team combines two powerful DNA nanotechniques: DNA origami and single-stranded tile (SST) assembly.
Using this hybrid strategy, the researchers constructed micrometer-scale superlattices with unit cell dimensions as small as 2.2 nanometers, featuring tunable twist angles and various lattice symmetries, including square, kagome, and honeycomb. They also demonstrated gradient moiré superlattices, in which the twist angle and hence moiré periodicity varies continuously across the structure. “These superlattices reveal well-defined moiré patterns under transmission electron microscopy, with observed twist angles closely matching those encoded in the DNA origami seed,” notes co-author Prof. Peter A. van Aken from the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research.
The study also introduces a new growth process for moiré superlattices. The process is initiated by spatially defined capture strands on the DNA seed that act as molecular ‘hooks’ to precisely bind SSTs and direct their interlayer alignment. This enables the controlled formation of twisted bilayers or trilayers with accurately aligned SST sublattices.
Broad implications across molecular engineering, nanophotonics, spintronics, and materials science
Their high spatial resolution, precise addressability, and programmable symmetry endow the new moiré superlattices with significant potential for diverse applications in research and technology. For example, they are ideal scaffolds for nanoscale components — such as fluorescent molecules, metallic nanoparticles or semiconductors in customized 2D and 3D architectures.
When chemically transformed into rigid frameworks, these lattices could be repurposed as phononic crystals or mechanical metamaterials with tunable vibrational responses. Their spatial gradient design also opens avenues for transformation optics and gradient-index photonic devices, where moiré periodicity could steer light or sound along controlled trajectories.
One particularly promising application lies in spin-selective electron transport. DNA has been shown to act as a spin filter, and these well-ordered superlattices with defined moiré symmetries could serve as a platform to explore topological spin transport phenomena in a highly programmable setting.
“This is not about mimicking quantum materials,” says Laura Na Liu. “It’s about expanding the design space and making it possible to build new types of structured matter from the bottom up, with geometric control embedded directly into the molecules.”
SpaceX sends Starlink satellites to polar orbit in late night launch
by Allen Cone
Washington DC (UPI) Jul 19, 2025
SpaceX launched 24 more Starlink satellites late Friday from California into low-Earth orbit.
The Falcon 9 lifted off at 8:52 p.m. PDT from Vandenberg Space Force Base’s pad 4 East.
About eight minutes later, Falcon 9’s first-stage booster successfully landed on “Of Course I Still Love You” stationed in the Pacific Ocean. It was the booster’s 14th mission, and 141st on this vessel and 477th of all droneships.
SpaceX has launched 88 Falcon 9 rockets this year and 516th overall in California and Florida.
The satellites were deployed into a polar orbit about one hour later.
The Starlink network includes 7,965 active units launched since 2019, Space.com reported.
The satellites provide broadband internet access and direct-to-cell service.
The next SpaceX flight from Florida is scheduled for 5:12 p.m. EDT Monday at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Complex 40. A Falcon 9 will launch the fifth pair of 03b mPower satellites to medium Earth orbit for Luxembourg-based SES.
