Plasma Physics
5 reportsFormal definitions and testable consequences form a case with different strengths and limits. Reports examine how plasma is confined and which instabilities limit performance, keeping definitions, predictions, and observations from being conflated.
NASA's PUNCH Mission Narrows Solar Storm Arrival Forecasts
NASA's PUNCH mission has enabled scientists to predict the arrival of a solar eruption near Earth with a margin of just 30 minutes, using continuous 3D imaging of coronal mass ejections as they travel through the inner solar system
MAVEN Data Reveals Earth-Like Aurora Mechanism on Mars
NASA's MAVEN orbiter has provided evidence that localized auroras on Mars are powered by a process similar to Earth's Dungey cycle, offering new insight into Martian atmospheric loss and magnetic field interactions
How the Heliosphere Shields the Solar System from Interstellar Space
Researchers are mapping the heliosphere, the vast bubble created by the solar wind that surrounds the Sun and planets, to understand how it protects the solar system from cosmic radiation and shapes planetary environments
Extreme Solar Storms May Exceed Previous Impact Estimates
A new analysis of solar wind data suggests that the most powerful solar storms could cause greater geomagnetic disturbances on Earth than previously calculated, with implications for satellites and power grids
Quantum Sensors and Compact Accelerators Highlight 2026 Instrumentation Briefing
The 2026 Physics World Instrumentation & Vacuum Briefing surveys advances in quantum sensors, ultrahigh vacuum engineering, compact particle acceleration, and real-time radiotherapy monitoring, with a focus on experimental progress and engineering challenges