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Unusual activity at the centre of the Milky Way has raised new questions about dark matter, potentially pointing to a previously overlooked candidate. Researchers suggest that a lightweight, self-annihilating form of dark matter could be influencing cosmic chemistry in ways that have gone unnoticed. This theory proposes that when two of these dark matter particles collide, they annihilate each other, producing electrons and positrons. The presence of these particles in dense gas regions may explain why the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) contains a significant amount of ionised gas. Scientists argue that this ionisation effect could be an indirect way of detecting dark matter, shifting the focus beyond its gravitational influence.

New Dark Matter Hypothesis

According to a study published in Physical Review Letters, a research team led by Shyam Balaji, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at King’s College London, suggests that dark matter with a mass lower than a proton may be responsible for the high levels of ionisation observed in the CMZ. Speaking to Space.com, Balaji explained that unlike traditional dark matter candidates, which are mainly studied through gravitational interactions, this form of dark matter might be detectable through its impact on the interstellar medium.

Dark Matter and Ionisation

Dark matter is believed to make up 85 percent of the universe’s mass, yet it remains undetectable by conventional methods due to its lack of interaction with light. The research indicates that even if dark matter annihilation is rare, it would be more frequent in galaxy centres where dark matter is expected to be denser. The team suggests that the ionisation observed in the CMZ is too strong to be explained by cosmic rays alone, making dark matter a compelling alternative explanation.

Future Observations and Implications

Balaji highlighted that existing observations do not contradict this hypothesis, and upcoming space missions, including

COSI gamma-ray telescope set to launch in 2027, could provide further evidence. If confirmed, this would open a new avenue for studying dark matter, not just through its gravitational effects but also through its chemical interactions within the galaxy.

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Crystalline Ice Discovered in Space: New Study Reveals Hidden Order in Cosmic Ice

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July 15, 2025

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Crystalline Ice Discovered in Space: New Study Reveals Hidden Order in Cosmic Ice

Water ice coats many outer solar system bodies – from Jupiter’s icy moon Ganymede (above) to interstellar dust. On Earth, ice freezes into a neat crystal lattice, but in the deep cold of space it was assumed to form a completely amorphous (glassy) solid. A new study by University College London and Cambridge scientists challenges this picture. Their computer simulations and X-ray tests on cosmic “low-density” ice suggest it actually contains tiny crystalline grains. In some models roughly 20–25% of the ice was in crystal form, overturning the long-held view that space ice is entirely structureless.

Simulations reveal hidden nanocrystals

According to the paper, computer simulations of space ice showed it contains nanocrystals. In one approach, researchers cooled virtual water to –120 °C at different rates to form model “ice cubes.” Depending on the cooling speed, the simulated ice ranged from fully amorphous to partly ordered. Structures with roughly 16–19% of the molecules in tiny crystal clusters best matched published X-ray data for low-density ice. In another simulation, thousands of nanometer-sized ice grains were packed together and then the remaining water molecules were randomized. This produced ice about 25% crystalline, yet still reproduced the known diffraction pattern.

In laboratory experiments the team also made actual low-density amorphous ice by vapor deposition and gentle compression. When these samples were slowly warmed to crystallize, the resulting ice showed a “memory” of its formation method.

Implications for planets and origins of life

The findings give “a good idea of what the most common form of ice in the Universe looks like at an atomic level,” which is important for models of planet and galaxy formation. They also bear on theories of life’s origins. Partly crystalline ice has less internal space to trap organic molecules, potentially making it a less efficient vehicle for amino acids or other prebiotic compounds. However, Dr. Davies notes that pockets of fully amorphous ice still exist, so cosmic dust grains and cometary ices could continue to harbor organic ingredients in those disordered regions.

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space ice, amorphous ice, crystalline ice, UCL, University of Cambridge, nanocrystals, planetary science, origins of life, X-ray diffraction, space research, Physical Review B

NASA Deploys High-Tech Aircraft to Support Texas Flood Relief and Recovery Efforts



MIT Develops Low-Resource AI System to Control Soft Robots with Just One Image

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Axiom Space’s Ax-4 Crew Returns from ISS Aboard SpaceX Dragon Grace After Record Research Mission

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July 15, 2025

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Axiom Space’s Ax-4 Crew Returns from ISS Aboard SpaceX Dragon Grace After Record Research Mission

The latest mission of Axiom Space with the four astronauts has found their stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule called Grace, unboarded from the ISS on July 14, 2025, carrying the quartet on the last leg of Ax-4 mission at 4:45 p.m. IST. It safely manoeuvred away from the orbit’s lab, which was the crew’s home for more than 2.5 weeks. Further, it performed the deorbit burn series and is on the path to come back to Earth at around 3:00 p.m. IST.

Ax-4 Mission Wraps Up After Extended ISS Stay and Record-Setting Research

As per NASA, The former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson is the commander, and the other crew members are pilot Shubhanshu Shukla and mission specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu. it is the first spaceflight for all three. However, its fifth mission for Whitson to orbit is recorded as 695 cumulative days.

The mission is an extension of the Houston-based company’s previous crewed flights, and is for research and science investigations which aim for the understanding of microgravity milieu. So far, Ax-4 has conducted 60 experiments and tech demos with contributions from 31 countries, as well as a number of public outreach events, and has broken the record as it continues to refine the orbital operations.

SpaceX Dragon Capsule Grace Returns via Pacific Splashdown

The mission was launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 26, 2025, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre, in Florida, and the crew was scheduled to stay aboard the space station for almost two weeks. This mission lasted four days longer than predicted. Departure started this morning, and now the crew and Dragon are on a 22.5-hour path on course for splashing down in the Pacific Ocean till the end of the day.

This will be the second West Coast crew recovery of SpaceX, while the first was of the Crew-9 ISS mission during March. SpaceX completely shifted to the Pacific Ocean, rather than the Gulf or the Atlantic, after the events of debris from Dragon’s trunk and crashing back to Earth. This new reentry minimises the chance of debris, said the representatives of SpaceX.

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NASA Deploys High-Tech Aircraft to Support Texas Flood Relief and Recovery Efforts

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July 15, 2025

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NASA Deploys High-Tech Aircraft to Support Texas Flood Relief and Recovery Efforts

NASA deployed two aircrafts to help state and local authorities in the continuing recovery operations, in response to the flood near Kerrville, Texas. The aircrafts are from NASA’s Disasters Response Coordination System, and is activated to support the emergency response for flood and is closely working with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the humanitarian groups Save the Children and GiveDirectly, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Persistent cloud-cover over there has made it quite difficult to capture the clear satellite images.

NASA Deploys Aircraft with Advanced Sensors for Texas Flood Response

As reported by NASA, if this can be done, the NASA’s Airborne Science Program can concur a series of flights to fetch observations of te impacted areas. NASA is sharing this data with emergency response teams to inform the search and rescue efforts and help in resource allocation and decision making. WB-57 aircraft departed from Ellington Field on July 8, 2025 for conducting aerial surveys. The aircraft is loaded with the DyNAMITE which is known as Day/Night Airborne Motion Imager for Terrestrial Environments sensor.

Real-Time Data and Imagery Aid Emergency Teams and Flood Recovery Efforts

The DyNAMITE views the Guadalupe River and many miles of the surrounding area, and provides high-resolution imagery which is important to evaluate the damage and support coordination of the foundation-based recovery efforts. This system enables the real-time data collection and analysis, which enhances the situational awareness and enhancing emergency response times.

Further, the agency’s Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Syntehtic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) aboard the Gulfstream III. UAVSAR is managed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and is planning to collect the observations over the Guadalupe, San Gabriel, and Colorado river basins on three weekdays, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. It can penetrate the vegetation to see water that sensors are unable to detect. The goal of the team is to characterise the flood extent of flood and help the understanding of the damage amount within communities.

Further, the Disasters are being coordinated with FEMA, the local responders and the Texas Division of Emergency Management for ensuring the data is quickly delivered to the decision making people on the ground. The data is being shared on the NASA Disasters Mapping Portal as soon as it is available.

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