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The Miralga impact crater in Western Australia, once thought to be Earth’s oldest at 3.5 billion years, has now been redated to after 2.7 billion years ago. With a revised diameter of just 16 kilometers, the structure no longer supports theories of early crust or life formation, but remains scientifically valuable for studying Mars-like planetary geology.

NASA launched its twin TRACERS satellites on July 23, 2025, to study how solar wind causes magnetic reconnection in Earth's magnetosphere. However, a power issue on one spacecraft, SV1, has caused intermittent communication. Engineers believe the issue relates to sunlight availability on its solar panels and plan recovery efforts in August. Meanwhile, the second satellite, SV2, is healthy and undergoing final instrument commissioning. Once ready, SV2 will begin its science mission independently, while NASA works to recover SV1 and resume full dual-satellite operations critical to the mission’s original research goals.

A new study proposes that life may exist far from sunlight in a “radiolytic habitable zone” deep beneath the icy surfaces of Mars, Europa, and Enceladus. Cosmic rays, which can penetrate rock and ice, break water molecules apart to release hydrogen, oxygen, and energy-rich electrons. These can fuel microbes in subsurface water, much like bacteria living deep below Earth. Simulations show Enceladus has the strongest potential for such life, followed by Mars and Europa. This expands the search for life to darker, colder environments—even on rogue planets adrift in space.

In July 2025, a massive 8.8 earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula triggered eruptions in seven volcanoes, including Klyuchevskaya Sopka and Shiveluch. Scientists called the rare multi-eruption event a “parade of volcanoes”—not witnessed in nearly 300 years. Experts believe the quake altered crustal stress, making eruptions more likely. Dormant volcano Krasheninnikov erupted for the first time in 500 years. Though the region is sparsely populated, ash plumes could affect air travel. Researchers are watching closely, but say it’s too soon to determine if all eruptions were directly triggered by the quake.