Douglas Main

Douglas Main

Contributing Writer

Douglas Main loves the weird and wonderful world of science, digging into amazing Planet Earth discoveries and wacky animal findings (from marsupials mating themselves to death to zombie worms to tear-drinking butterflies). He is now a senior writer and editor for National Geographic, focusing on wildlife, nature and the environment. 

Latest articles by Douglas Main

This image, captured by the Suomi NPP satellite, shows polluted air over northeastern China on Oct. 21, 2013.
China's 'Airpocalypse' Tracked by NASA Satellite

By Douglas Main Published

Air pollution in northern China recently reached astonishing lows, with visibility of about 30 feet. The clouds of smoke and smog have been tracked from above by NASA's Aqua satellite.

Satellites
The Juno spacecraft passes in front of Jupiter in this artist's depiction.
Jupiter-Bound NASA Probe to Grab Speed Boost from Earth Flyby Wednesday

By Douglas Main Published

Missions
Bay of Biscay Bloom
Beautiful Plankton Blooms Seen from Space

By Douglas Main Published

The plankton blooms occur most springs.

Earth
Smoke from California's Spring Wildfire
View from Space: Animation of California's Springs Wildfire

By Douglas Main Published

The fire kicked up a lot of smoke.

Climate Change
An ash plume drifts from Paluweh volcano in Indonesia in this image, taken April 29, 2013 from the Landsat Data Continuity Misison's Operational Land Imager instrument.
Volcano's Heat, Eruption Seen from Space

By Douglas Main Published

See the hot lava from space.

Earth
A prototype of GROVER
NASA Rover to Explore… Greenland

By Douglas Main Published

Grover the rover will inspect the apex of Greenland's ice sheet.

Missions
Big Atlantic Storm
How a Storm Became Big Enough to Span the Atlantic

By Douglas Main Published

The storm is creating waves up to 42 feet high.

Climate Change
Earth On Spring Equinox
What the Spring Equinox Looks Like from Space

By Douglas Main Published

During the equinox, night and day are almost the same length.

Earth
Colorado Snow Seen from Space NASA Terra satellite
Record-Setting Snowfall Seen from Space

By Douglas Main Published

The blizzard set records in several areas.

Earth
Night Shining Clouds from ISS
Astronaut Snaps Beautiful Photo of 'Night-Shining Clouds'

By Douglas Main Published

Watch from the International Space Station as high-altitude clouds glow.

Earth
Earth Observing Satellite NASA
NASA Sets Launch Date for New Earth-Observing Satellite

By Douglas Main Published

The new satellite will replaced Landsat 5, which is being decommissioned.

Satellites
King Tides Ocean Waves Beach
Lined-Up Sun, Moon Give Rise to 'King Tides'

By Douglas Main Published

Tides are higher due to the sun and moon being close to Earth.

The moon
Earth Observing Satellite NASA
NASA to Announce Launch of New Earth-Observing Satellite

By Douglas Main Published

The new satellite will replaced Landsat 5, which is being decommissioned.

Satellites
The World at Night
Zoom in On 'Black Marble' Earth View

By Douglas Main Published

See what the world looks like at night — from space.

Earth
UP Fall Foliage
Time-Lapse Captures Fall Color, Northern Lights

By Douglas Main Published

Thousands of pictures have been stitched together to make this movie.

Auroras
Storm over East Coast
Satellite Spies Dangerous East Coast Weather System

By Douglas Main Published

Some areas have already seen 5 inches of rain.

Weather
Guatemala's Fuego volcano
Satellite Gets Bird's-Eye Shot of Guatemala Volcano Erupting

By Douglas Main Published

The volcano's ash has displaced more than 30,000 people.

Earth
An artistic interpretation of how a large meteorite impact might have looked. The crater formed in modern-day Greenland may be the oldest and largest yet discovered on Earth.
Discovery: Earth's Oldest Crater Is Largest Too

By Douglas Main Published

The area may contain precious minerals.

Earth