Tackling the question of how electrons are accelerated to high energies in solar flares, researchers find that no one mechanism is solely responsible; instead, a variety of mechanisms work in concert.

Simulations suggests that the outer regions of neutrino-cooled disks could be a potential birthplace for neutron stars with masses of 0.01–1.0 solar mass — a population otherwise difficult to form through core collapse.

The known planets in the Gaia-4 and Gaia-5 systems mostly exclude the possibility of planets in the habitable zones of these stars; giant planets on eccentric orbits may disrupt other planets via a “wrecking ball” mechanism.

Modeling shows how Apophis’s response to a cloud encounter with Earth depends on the object’s particle size distribution, particle shapes, packing configurations, and interior structure.

Using a new method to detect and characterize random, rapid changes in the flux from gamma-ray pulsars, researchers found no evidence for changes above the 10% level, with certain cases ruling out changes above 1%.

A reanalysis of a stellar sample confirms that standard models of how stars spin down over time are sufficient for active stars, but weakened magnetic braking is needed to explain abrupt decreases in torque.