Articles by Andrea Thompson, Contributor

Andrea Thompson is an associate editor at Scientific American, where she covers sustainability, energy and the environment. Prior to that, she was a senior writer covering climate science at Climate Central and a reporter and editor at Live Science, where she primarily covered Earth science and the environment. She holds a graduate degree in science health and environmental reporting from New York University, as well as a bachelor of science and and masters of science in atmospheric chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Articles by: Andrea Thompson

composite shows the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant across the spectrum: Gamma rays (magenta) from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope; X-rays (blue, green) from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory; visible light (yellow) from the Hubble Space Telescope; infrared (red) from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope; and radio (orange) from the Very Large Array near Socorro, N.M.

What is a supernova?

By Andrea Thompson last updated 19 June 23

Reference A supernova is what happens when a star has reached the end of its life and explodes in a brilliant burst of light.

An astronaut on the International Space Station captured this image of a castle-like cloud on July 19, 2016, over the Bahamas' Andros Island.

'Castle Cloud' Caught in Spectacular Astronaut Photo

By Andrea Thompson published 17 January 18

It looks like a ghostly medieval tower — like something out of "Game of Thrones" — looming over the crystal-blue Caribbean waters of the Bahamas.

An artist's rendition of the OCO-2 Observatory.

NASA Satellite Reveals Source of El Niño-Fueled Carbon Dioxide Spike

By Andrea Thompson published 12 October 17

NASA's OCO-2 satellite observed carbon dioxide response to one of strongest El Niños on record.

Instruments aboard the Landsat 8 satellite captured these visible and thermal images on Sept. 16, 2017, of the A68 iceberg that snapped off Antarctica's Larsen C Ice Shelf.

Massive Calved Iceberg Comes into View as Antarctic Sun Rises

By Andrea Thompson published 10 October 17

An iceberg could shed light on warming-fueled fate of Antarctica.

Residential neighborhoods in Houston sit in floodwater in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Harvey.

Did Climate Change Intensify Harvey's Catastrophic Effects?

By Andrea Thompson published 30 August 17

Weather was the main driver, but climate change was likely a factor.

Mars: The Spacecraft Graveyard

By Andrea Thompson published 26 April 16

A look at the spacecraft that met their end on the Red Planet.

Want to See the Northern Lights? There's an App for That

By Andrea Thompson published 7 February 14

Want to see the beauty of the northern lights, but don't want to sit out in the freezing cold? There's an app for that: A scientist is developing an app with real-time views of Alaska's auroras.

Coldest Places on Earth Found, In Antarctica, Of Course

By Andrea Thompson published 10 December 13

Hurricane Raymond Seen from Space (Satellite Photos)

By Andrea Thompson published 22 October 13

Two satellites snapped pictures of Hurricane Raymond of the Pacific coast of Mexico just a day apart, -- it was only a tropical storm one day, but a major hurricane the next.

New Satellite Image Shows Moore Tornado Scar

By Andrea Thompson published 5 June 13

Damage path appears as beige streak across the Oklahoma landscape.

3D rendering of Decorah, Iowa and the location of a buried crater

Meteorite Crater Under Iowa Confirmed in New Images

By Andrea Thompson published 6 March 13

Crater is four to five times bigger than famed Meteor Crater.

Night skies above Death Valley National Park

Death Valley Named Largest Dark Sky Park

By Andrea Thompson published 20 February 13

Home of the hottest temperature on Earth also gets 'Gold Tier' rating for spectacular night skies.

Meteorite fragment from Russian fireball explosion

Meteorites from Russian Fireball Possibly Found

By Andrea Thompson published 18 February 13

Scientists with Russia's Ural Federal University say they've found 53 meteorite fragments from the Feb. 15 fireball.

Lightning Flash from Severe Storms Seen from Space

By Andrea Thompson published 30 January 13

Flash came from storms sweeping across eastern U.S.

Cyclone's 'Overshooting Cloud Tops' Seen from Above

By Andrea Thompson published 30 January 13

The clouds punch into the stratosphere and indicated strong storms.

Britain Blanketed by Snow in New Satellite Image

By Andrea Thompson published 29 January 13

A storm from the Atlantic and cold air from Scandinavia combined to create snow conditions.

Night-Sensitive Satellite Spots Elusive Clouds

By Andrea Thompson published 25 January 13

Suomi NPP satellite sees mass of marine layer clouds.

Tropical Cyclone Dumile over La Reunion Island and Mauritius

Tropical Cyclone Spotted Slamming Indian Ocean Islands

By Andrea Thompson published 4 January 13

La Reunion and Mauritius took a beating from the winds and rain.

Earth Has Its Picture Taken on 12/12/12

By Andrea Thompson published 12 December 12

An auspicious day to some, an ordinary one to others.

Telescope Gets Better View of Strange Thunderstorm Flashes

By Andrea Thompson published 10 December 12

Improvements help space telescope detect more terrestrial gamma-ray flashes.

Frankenstorm Sandy Spotted Dying Out on Halloween

By Andrea Thompson published 1 November 12

Satellite spots Sandy becoming a remnant low pressure system.

Hurricane Rafael Spotted from Space

By Andrea Thompson published 16 October 12

Rafael is the ninth hurricane of a busy 2012 Atlantic season.

Ernesto's Heavy Rainfall Measured from Space

By Andrea Thompson published 10 August 12

The storm has been drenching parts of Mexico.

Hurricane Fabio Spotted from Space

By Andrea Thompson published 16 July 12

Fabio is the sixth named storm and fifth hurricane for the East Pacific this season.

Help NASA Find an Alphabet in the Sky

By Andrea Thompson published 16 July 12

Look for letters in NASA's satellite images of Earth.

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