An evaluation of the accessibility and equity of a programme of independent research projects shows that, with the right support from both teachers and active researchers, schools' ability to succeed at undertaking cutting-edge research appears independent of typical societal inequalities.

We show that integrating evaluation tools both before and after a drop-in engagement activity enables the demonstration of change and, thus, short-term impact. In our case, young families who listened to space sounds exhibited changed language and conceptions about space in their graffiti wall responses afterwards, exemplifying the power of sound in science communication. We suggest that evaluation tools be adopted both before and after drop-in activities in general.

The Space Sound Effects Short Film Festival integrated near-Earth space environment research into culture through independent film. By running a film festival challenging filmmakers to incorporate the sounds of space, creative works were produced which have gone on to be screened at numerous established film festivals and events internationally. These events introduced non-science audiences to this area of research which affects their everyday lives, having several unanticipated impacts on them.

Magnetosheath jets are high-velocity plasma structures that are commonly observed within the Earth's magnetosheath. Previously, they have mainly been investigated with spacecraft observations, which do not allow us to infer their spatial sizes, temporal evolution, or origin. This paper shows for the first time their dimensions, evolution, and origins within a simulation whose dimensions are directly comparable to the Earth's magnetosphere. The results are compared to previous observations.

We have studied fast plasma jets outside of Earth’s magnetic environment. Such jets are small-scale structures with a limited lifetime, which may be important in determining the properties of the near-Earth space environment, due to their concentrated kinetic energy. We have used data from the NASA Magnetospheric MultiScale (MMS) satellites to study their properties in detail, to understand how these jets are formed. We have found evidence that there are at least two different types of jets.

The first in-flight results from a new design of miniaturised magnetometer (MAGIC - MAGnetometer from Imperial College), aboard the first CINEMA (Cubesat for Ions, Neutrals, Electrons and MAgnetic fields) spacecraft in low Earth orbit, are presented. Not only can this sensor be used for determining attitude, but it is also able to detect the extremely small (20-40 nT) magnetic field signatures of field-aligned currents at the auroral oval. Thus, there are science capabilities with such sensors.