NASA plans a mission to study the Sun’s magnetic heart and its hidden storms

NASA has selected a proposed solar mission for further study as part of its Small Explorer programme, extending early design work rather than approving a launch. The mission, known as the Chromospheric Magnetism Explorer, or CMEx, will now move into an extended Phase A study lasting 12 months, with a budget of two million dollars. This phase allows scientists and engineers to refine the concept and test whether it is ready for future consideration. CMEx is designed to focus on the Sun’s chromosphere, a thin and restless layer above the visible surface. Researchers believe this region holds key clues to how solar eruptions begin and how the solar wind forms. The mission builds on earlier experimental work but remains at a study stage only.

NASA’s CMEx is meant to observe the Sun’s magnetic heart

CMEx is planned as a single spacecraft mission using ultraviolet spectropolarimetric instruments. These tools have already been tested during NASA’s CLASP sounding rocket flight, which briefly sampled the chromosphere during a sub orbital mission. CMEx would take this approach further by making steady, long-term observations rather than short snapshots. Its main goal is to measure magnetic fields in the lower chromosphere, something that has not yet been done continuously. Scientists see this layer as a link between the Sun’s surface and its outer atmosphere, where solar storms grow stronger and more complex.

Sun’s chromosphere matters

The chromosphere, a thin but vibrant layer, is located just over the photosphere, the one that we perceive from Earth. It is a very volatile layer that sometimes changes within minutes, so it is difficult to study it through short-period observations. Magnetic fields in this area behave like a living organism; they grow by twisting and stretching, and just look at them, switching to new shapes by breaking free from the old ones. Such a change could release previously hidden energy in the form of heat and particles travelling at high speeds. This occurrence may severely affect all sorts of events, such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections, which are large clouds of charged material ejected from the Sun and capable of reaching Earth. A careful observation of this layer might be a significant breakthrough for scientists in predicting the early signs of such eruptions.

CMEx could improve space weather tracking

Solar wind is a constant stream of charged particles flowing outward from the Sun. It plays a major role in space weather near Earth, affecting satellites, communication systems, and power grids. Scientists believe the magnetic roots of the solar wind lie partly in the chromosphere. By tracking how magnetic fields there connect to those further out in space, CMEx could fill a long-standing gap in understanding. NASA officials say that better knowledge of these processes could improve forecasts of harmful solar activity, helping protect both spacecraft and astronauts operating near Earth, the Moon, or Mars.

What happens next for the mission

The current Phase A extension does not guarantee that CMEx will fly. Instead, it gives the team time to refine the mission design, assess risks, and confirm costs. The study is led by Holly Gilbert of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. CMEx was originally proposed under the 2022 Heliophysics Explorers Programme call, alongside other mission concepts. At the end of this extended study, NASA will decide whether the mission is ready to move forward. For now, CMEx remains a careful step toward seeing the Sun’s magnetic behaviour more clearly, without rushing ahead.

NEW DELHI: In a big setback to actor Vijay, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a plea against an order of stay passed by a division bench of the Madras high court over the certification of his movie “Jana Nayagan”.The top court asked KVN production to raise its grievances before a division bench of the Madras HC, which is examining the issue.A bench of Justices Deepankar Datta and AG Masih asked the Madras high court to decide the matter by January 20.On January 9, the Madras high court stayed a single judge’s order directing the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to immediately grant a censor certificate to Jana Nayagan, leaving the fate of actor-turned-politician Vijay’s film uncertain.KVN Productions LLP moved an appeal against the single judge’s directive, after a division bench of the high court last Friday put the order on hold and restrained the CBFC from issuing the certificate.Vijay recently launched his political party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.“Jana Nayagan”, widely projected as Vijay’s final film before his full-time entry into politics, was scheduled for a Pongal release on January 9. However, the release hit last-minute hurdles after the CBFC failed to issue certification in time.The division bench’s order came hours after Justice P T Asha directed the CBFC to clear “Jana Nayagan”, setting aside the film board’s decision to refer the matter to a review committee.Subsequently, the first bench comprising Chief Justice M M Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan, acting on an appeal filed by the CBFC, granted an interim stay on the single judge’s verdict.Earlier, while allowing KVN Productions’ plea seeking a direction to the CBFC to issue the censor certificate, Justice Asha held that once the board had decided to grant certification, the chairperson had no authority to refer the film to a review committee.The film board immediately challenged the order before the division bench.

Zerodha founder Nikhil Kamath has flagged concerns over the closure of Indian stock market exchanges on January 15, after trading was suspended due to municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra. Commenting on the decision, Kamath questioned the planning behind declaring a market holiday for the local civic election. “Indian stock exchanges are closed today for Mumbai’s municipal elections. The fact that our exchanges, which have international linkages, are shut down for a local municipal election shows poor planning and a serious lack of appreciation for second-order effects.”He further went on to site Charlie Munger, vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. “As Munger said: ‘Show me the incentive, and I will show you the outcome.’ The holiday exists because no one who matters has any incentive to oppose the market holiday.”He further flagged, “It also tells you how far we have to go before global investors take us seriously.” Nikhil Kamath is the founder of Zerodha, an online platform that allows users to invest in stocks, derivatives, mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, and other financial instruments. Both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) are closed on Thursday, with no trading across any segment. Trading is set to resume on January 16. In a statement confirming the change, the exchange said, “Sub: Changes in settlement schedule on account of Trading Holiday on January 15, 2026 This is with reference to NSE circular NSE/FAOP/72262 dated January 12, 2026, wherein Trading Holiday has been declared on January 15, 2026, on account of Municipal Corporation Election in Maharashtra.” The market closure comes as polling is scheduled for municipal corporation elections across Maharashtra, leading to the suspension of trading activities for the day. Market participants were informed that normal operations would resume the following day. Meanwhile, security was tightened in Mumbai ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. Mumbai Police set up barricades at several locations and carried out vehicle checks to ensure smooth polling. Officials said arrangements were in place to maintain law and order during the civic elections. Voting in Mumbai is scheduled between 7.30 am and 5.30 pm across 227 wards, with counting of votes set for January 16.

Bangladesh cricketers (ANI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh cricket plunged into fresh turmoil on Wednesday as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) publicly distanced itself from controversial remarks made by its director Najmul Islam, even as players threatened to boycott domestic matches and uncertainty deepened over the national team’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The controversy erupted after Najmul questioned the commitment of national cricketers, suggesting that certain players had failed to justify the support and resources invested in them. His comments were widely seen as disrespectful, triggering a strong backlash from former internationals, players’ bodies and fans on social media.

Responding to the uproar, the BCB issued a formal statement expressing regret over any remarks that may have been deemed inappropriate or hurtful, firmly stating that the comments did not reflect the board’s official position. “The BCB does not endorse or take responsibility for any statement unless it is formally issued through the board’s designated spokesperson or the Media and Communications Department,” the statement read, underlining that comments made outside authorised channels are personal in nature.It has since emerged that players had threatened to boycott Thursday’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match unless the board took a clear stand and protected players’ honour. The board also warned that it would take appropriate disciplinary action against any individual whose conduct or comments disrespect cricketers or damage the reputation and integrity of Bangladesh cricket.

Reaffirming its stance, the BCB said it holds all past and present players in the highest regard. “Players remain at the heart of Bangladesh cricket, and their contributions and welfare continue to be a top priority,” the statement added.Najmul’s remarks came against the backdrop of an escalating standoff involving the ICC, and the BCCI over the T20 World Cup venue. Last week, Najmul courted further controversy by calling former captain Tamim Iqbal an “Indian agent” after Tamim urged the board not to be driven by emotion while deciding on Bangladesh’s participation in the World Cup in India.The BCB has cited security concerns in refusing to travel to India, particularly after the BCCI instructed an IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release pacer Mustafizur Rahman from its 2026 squad amid tense bilateral relations. While the ICC remains reluctant to shift Bangladesh’s matches out of India, the BCB has stayed adamant.Former captain Mohammad Ashraful criticised public attacks on players by administrators. “Issues should be handled internally. Such remarks demoralise players and damage the image of Bangladesh cricket,” he wrote on social media. The Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) said it was “stunned, shocked and outraged” by Najmul’s comments, calling them “utterly condemnable”.Adding fuel to the fire, BCB finance committee chairman Najmul Hossain said the board would not face financial loss if Bangladesh skipped the World Cup. “There will be no loss for the Bangladesh Cricket Board; the loss will be for the players,” he said, noting that match fees and performance bonuses go directly to players. He also rejected the idea of compensating players if the team withdraws.

This screengrab from video provided by NASA TV shows the SpaceX Dragon departing from the ISS

Nasa began its first-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday, bringing back an astronaut in need of medical care along with three crewmates. The four astronauts, from the US, Russia, and Japan, are scheduled to splash down early Thursday morning in the Pacific near San Diego aboard a SpaceX capsule, cutting their mission short by over a month. “Our timing of this departure is unexpected,” Nasa astronaut Zena Cardman said before the return trip, “but what was not surprising to me was how well this crew came together as a family to help each other and just take care of each other.” Officials have not identified the astronaut requiring medical attention or revealed the specific health issues. Outgoing ISS commander Mike Fincke reassured that the astronaut is “stable, safe and well cared for,” noting that “this was a deliberate decision to allow the right medical evaluations to happen on the ground, where the full range of diagnostic capability exists.” Cardman, Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Russia’s Oleg Platonov were originally scheduled to remain on the station until late February. Nasa canceled a planned spacewalk on January 7 after the medical concern emerged and subsequently announced the crew’s early return. Officials emphasised that the health issue was unrelated to the spacewalk or other station operations and stressed that it was not an emergency situation. Nasa confirmed that standard splashdown and recovery procedures will be followed, with medical teams on hand aboard the Pacific recovery ship. It is not yet clear how soon all four astronauts will be flown from California to Houston, home of the Johnson Space Center.This was the first spaceflight for Cardman, a 38-year-old biologist and polar explorer, and Platonov, 39, a former Russian Air Force fighter pilot who had overcome a previous health issue that delayed his space debut. Fincke, 58, a retired Air Force colonel, and Yui, 55, a retired Japanese fighter pilot, were veteran space travelers. Fincke has spent more than 1½ years in orbit over four missions and conducted nine spacewalks, while Yui recently celebrated his 300th day in space across two missions. One US astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts remain aboard the ISS, just a month and a half into an eight-month mission that began with a Soyuz launch from Kazakhstan. Nasa and SpaceX are working to advance the launch of a replacement four-person crew from Florida, currently planned for mid-February.Nasa officials said it would have been riskier to leave the ailing astronaut in space for another month than to temporarily reduce the station crew by more than half. Until the next crew arrives, routine and emergency spacewalks, which require a two-person team with backup support, will be suspended. The medical evacuation marks the first major decision by Nasa’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, who took office in December. “The health and the well-being of our astronauts is always and will be our highest priority,” Isaacman said when announcing the decision last week.Computer modeling had projected that a medical evacuation from the ISS would occur roughly once every three years, but Nasa had never faced such a situation in its 65-year history of human spaceflight. The Russians, however, have experienced similar events, including in 1985 when cosmonaut Vladimir Vasyutin returned early from Salyut 7 due to a serious illness.

Mumbai: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has approved the shifting of its high-frequency (HF) transmitter/receiver station from Dahisar to Gorai, with state govt set to provide land and bear the relocation cost, according to an official letter sent by the ministry of civil aviation.Last month, state govt has announced the plan to move the HF receiver to Gorai. In the letter, dated Jan 14, the ministry informed state govt that the proposal was considered and approved by the AAI Board at its 237th meeting held on Jan 12. The proposal has also received the aviation ministry’s approval, it added. “To shift HF receiver from Dahisar to Gorai, 20 acres of land to be provided at Gorai by Maharashtra govt free of cost and free from all encumbrances. The cost of relocation of HF receiver, including the development of infrastructure will be borne by the state govt,” the letter said.The approval also includes the development of 29 acres of AAI’s existing land at Dahisar as a public garden. The remaining land may be utilised or developed by AAI in accordance with provisions of the AAI Act, with facilitation from the state govt and BMC, including change in land use where required. The ministry said ownership and FSI rights of the entire 64 acres of Dahisar land, including the garden area, will remain with AAI. Further modalities and timelines will be finalised between state govt and AAI.In a related development, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai complained to state election commissioner Dinesh Waghmare about a violation of model code of conduct by Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu. Desai claimed that Naidu is trying to woo voters by mentioning govt and public sector initiatives like the planned relocation of the HF receiver station for air traffic from Dahisar to Gorai. “This is a clear violation of the code of conduct rules by BJP. The party’s campaign messages and advertisements are being circulated on social media….We strongly request you to take immediate cognizance of this serious matter, file a case of violation of the code of conduct in this regard, and take appropriate legal action,” his letter stated.

The 7th match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai delivered a moment of pure athletic magic on January 14. As the Delhi Capitals (DC) Women looked to cruise toward a target of 155 against the UP Warriorz (UPW), the game paused for a collective gasp when Deepti Sharma pulled off stunner to dismiss the dangerous Shafali Verma.

Deepti Sharma takes a sensational diving catch to remove Shafali Verma

In the 12th over of the second innings, the Delhi Capitals were firmly in control, sitting at 94/0. Shafali Verma, who had played a composed knock of 36 off 32 balls (including six boundaries), looked to accelerate and wrap the game up early. However, the introduction of Asha Sobhana provided the breakthrough the Warriorz desperately needed.

On the third delivery of the 11.3 over, Asha tossed up a very slow delivery on a length outside the off-stump. Shafali, attempting to manipulate the field, shaped up for a reverse sweep. It was a tactical error; there was no pace on the ball to work with. The ball took a thick top edge, looping toward the short third region.

While the ball hung in the air, Deepti displayed elite anticipation. Moving swiftly to her left, she tracked the trajectory before launching into a full-length diving lunge forward. She managed to get both hands under the ball just inches from the turf, completing a spectacular grab. The dismissal momentarily halted the DC juggernaut and gave the Warriorz a flicker of hope in a high-stakes encounter.

Here’s the video:

Diving Deepti 🫴👌

A fine catch by Deepti Sharma to get @UPWarriorz the breakthrough 🔝

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/4vXszSpE1g #TATAWPL | #KhelEmotionKa | #UPWvDC | @Deepti_Sharma06 pic.twitter.com/bmqtP3V4xy

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) January 14, 2026

Also WATCH: Sneh Rana’s pumped-up celebration after removing Phoebe Litchfield in WPL 2026

Delhi Capitals maintain dominance despite UP Warriorz’ resistance

Despite the brilliance of Deepti catch, Delhi Capitals Women completed a commanding seven-wicket victory, never allowing the contest to drift away from them. Chasing a target of 155, the Capitals were set on course by a dominant knock from Lizelle Lee, who smashed 67 off 44 deliveries, laced with eight fours and three towering sixes, ensuring the chase remained firmly under control.

Earlier, UP Warriorz Women struggled to build sustained momentum after losing Kiran Navgire for a duck in the opening over. Captain Meg Lanning led from the front with a resolute 54 off 38 balls, while Harleen Deol provided valuable support with a composed 47 in the middle order. Despite those efforts, regular wickets curtailed any late acceleration, and the Warriorz were restricted to 154 for 8. Marizanne Kapp and Shafali Verma spearheaded the Capitals’ bowling attack with two wickets each.

By the time the chase entered its final stages, the outcome was all but sealed. Delhi reached 114 for 2 by the 14.4-over mark and comfortably knocked off the remaining runs with wickets in hand. While Deepti’s athletic effort stood out as a moment of individual brilliance, the night ultimately belonged to the Delhi Capitals, whose clinical batting display sealed a dominant win at Navi Mumbai.

Also READ: WPL 2026: Fans erupt after Harmanpreet Kaur and Nicola Carey script historic chase as Mumbai Indians extend flawless 8-0 run vs Gujarat Giants

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/we-shouldnt-let-this-moment-go-ex-us-nsa-to-ndtv-on-action-against-iran-10751976” on this server.

Reference #18.34fdd417.1768417875.1700bb1d

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.34fdd417.1768417875.1700bb1d