Articles by Rebecca Sohn, Contributing Writer

Rebecca Sohn is a freelance science writer. She writes about a variety of science, health and environmental topics, and is particularly interested in how science impacts people's lives. She has been an intern at CalMatters and STAT, as well as a science fellow at Mashable. Rebecca, a native of the Boston area, studied English literature and minored in music at Skidmore College in Upstate New York and later studied science journalism at New York University.

Articles by: Rebecca Sohn

Rocket scientists: they're just like the rest of us.

Rocket scientists aren't any smarter than the rest of us, science says

By Rebecca Sohn published 28 December 21

The phrase "It's not rocket science" is commonly used to describe tasks that aren't difficult or complicated. But are rocket scientists really smarter than everyone else?

NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn (at left) and Kayla Barron are seen outside of the Quest airlock at the International Space Station during a spacewalk on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021.

NASA scientists consider the health risks of space travel

By Rebecca Sohn published 14 December 21

Space travel is risky business, but NASA scientists want astronauts to be as informed and safe as they can be.

NASA and ESA are working together to discuss how to make space more diverse and inclusive.

NASA, ESA experts weigh in on diversity and inclusion in space

By Rebecca Sohn published 16 November 21

During a panel discussion on diversity and inclusion in spaceflight, NASA and ESA experts discussed different ways they could work to become more diverse and inclusive.

Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov holds the record for the longest spaceflight. Polyakov spent 438 days in space, returning to Earth on March 22, 1995.

Long space missions could cause brain damage similar to concussions, study finds

By Rebecca Sohn published 2 November 21

Staying in space for a long time can cause brain damage, according to a new study.

NASA offers teachers, schoolkids and their families educational resources about many agency missions, including that of its Perseverance Mars rover. This mosaic, which shows Perseverance and NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter, was created by citizen scientist Seán Doran using 62 images captured by Perseverance on April 6, 2021.

NASA helps students launch into new school year with space-related educational resources

By Rebecca Sohn published 10 September 21

As students head back to school, NASA is ready with resources for students, teachers, and families.

Student winners of NASA's TechRise Student Challenge could see their experiment ideas launched on suborbital rockets built by Blue Origin (shown above), Up Aerospace and Raven Aerostar.

NASA challenges students to dream up experiments for suborbital rocket launches

By Rebecca Sohn last updated 9 September 21

NASA is looking for student teams to enter its TechRise Student Challenge, which tasks students in grades six through 12 with designing experiments to launch on a suborbital spaceflight.

graphic illustration of the Boötes constellation

Boötes constellation: Location, stars and mythology

By Tim Childers, Rebecca Sohn last updated 28 June 23

Refrence Boötes is a constellation in the northern hemisphere containing one of the brightest stars in the night sky, Arcturus.

artist's illustration jupiter great red spot close up showing swirls of rusty red and orange in an oval shape.

Jupiter's Great Red Spot: Everything you need to know

By Rebecca Sohn last updated 1 September 23

Reference Jupiter's Great Red Spot is the largest storm in the solar system and has been raging for hundreds of years. We explore the phenomenon in more detail here.

Pleiades star cluster appears as a group of bright blue stars surrounded by hazy clouds.

The Pleiades: Facts about the "Seven Sisters" star cluster

By Rebecca Sohn, Adam Mann last updated 19 July 23

Reference The Pleiades is a bright star cluster and a popular skywatching target. We take a look at where it is located and the mythology behind the famous asterism.

The Eagle Nebula: Facts about the home of the Pillars of Creation

By Rebecca Sohn last updated 7 May 23

Reference The Eagle Nebula, or Messier 16, is an area of active star formation about 5,700 light-years from Earth and is home to the iconic Pillars of Creation.

Scorpius constellation graphic illustration showing bright stars in the formation of a scorpion.

Scorpius constellation: Facts about the Scorpion

By Rebecca Sohn, Kim Ann Zimmermann last updated 30 July 23

Reference The Scorpius constellation is one of the 13 zodiac constellations and one of the brightest constellations in the sky. We explore the Scorpion in more detail here.

graphic illustration of Enceladus showing plumes of material being ejected from the surface with Saturn in the background.

Enceladus: Everything you need to know about Saturn's bright, icy moon

By Rebecca Sohn last updated 27 May 23

Reference Enceladus is one of Saturn's many moons. The tiny icy world has the potential to harbor life and is one of the most intriguing destinations in the solar system.

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