Robert Lea
Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University. Follow him on Twitter @sciencef1rst.
Latest articles by Robert Lea
Mysterious fast radio bursts could be caused by asteroids slamming into dead stars
By Robert Lea published
An asteroid hitting a neutron star could release enough energy to power humanity for 100 million years, more than enough to explain fast radio bursts!
Could dark matter have been forged in a second 'Dark Big Bang?'
By Robert Lea published
The Big Bang may not have been the origin of the universe's most mysterious matter. Instead, dark matter could have been created in a second creation event, a "Dark Big Bang."
Did Venus ever have oceans to support life, or was it 'born hot'?
By Robert Lea published
New research suggests that Venus may never have possessed liquid water oceans. That would mean "Earth's evil twin" was always hostile to life.
Destroyed observatory helped SETI unlock the secrets of 'cosmic lighthouses' powered by dead stars
By Robert Lea published
Years after the collapse of the Arecebo telescope data from the radio observatory has helped SETI scientists probe the characteristics of pulsars, cosmic lighthouses powered by dead stars.
Mysterious, record-breaking energy burst connected to dead star and red dwarf
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have tracked a mysterious, record-breaking blast of energy to a binary star system containing a red dwarf star and a white dwarf — solving a two-decade-long puzzle.
Dead stars within supernova explosions could solve the dark matter mystery in 10 seconds
By Robert Lea published
If astronomers could catch bursts of gamma rays from supernova explosions that create neutron stars near the Milky Way, the mystery of dark matter could be wrapped up in 10 seconds.
James Webb Space Telescope explores monster star supercluster Westerlund 1 (image)
By Robert Lea published
The James Webb Space Telescope has taken a detailed look at the Milky Way's monstrous young supercluster Westerlund 1.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope mission — Live updates
By Robert Lea last updated
Read the latest news about NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.
Japan's priceless asteroid Ryugu sample got 'rapidly colonized' by Earth bacteria
By Robert Lea published
A sample of the asteroid Ryugu returned to Earth by the Hayabusa2 mission was rapidly colonized by terrestrial microorganisms, new research has revealed.
Goodnight moon! Astronomers snap photo of Earth's departing mini-moon
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers used the Two-meter Twin Telescope to catch a "see-you-soon" image of the asteroid 2024 PT5 as it ended its stint as Earth's second moon on Monday (Nov. 25).
Earth's mini-moon has finally departed. Will it ever return as a 'second moon?'
By Robert Lea published
Departing on Monday (Nov. 25), Earth's recent "mini-moon" asteroid 2024 PT5 didn't stick around for Thanksgiving, but don't be sad. It will be back... but will it ever be a second moon again?
'Hidden black hole' devouring curious star exposed by new X-ray space telescope
By Robert Lea published
In a "rite of passage," the JAXA/NASA X-ray telescope XRISM has mapped in detail Cygnus X-3, a curious binary system with a potential black hole feasting stellar winds blowing from a massive star.
James Webb Space Telescope 'pushed to its limits' to see most distant galaxies ever
By Robert Lea published
The James Webb Space Telescope may have broken another of its own records, finding potentially five of the earliest and most distant galaxies ever seen.
Did alien life exist in hot water on Mars billions of years ago?
By Robert Lea published
Was alien life in "hot water" on Mars billions of years ago? New evidence from the Martian meteorite "Black Beauty" suggests so.
2-million-mile-per-hour galactic crash reawakens a dangerous 'cosmic crossroads'
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have observed a galaxy ripping through galactic debris left by multiple collisions at a dangerous "cosmic crossroads" called Stephan's Quintet.
Earth's 'second moon' is just visiting its cosmic parents for Thanksgiving
By Robert Lea published
The asteroid 2024 PT5 will leave Earth on Nov. 25 after visiting, but new analysis shows this temporary "second moon" may come from our original moon and, thus, from Earth itself.
James Webb Space Telescope spots 1st 'Einstein zig-zag' — here's why scientists are thrilled
By Robert Lea published
The James Webb Space Telescope has identified the first-ever "Einstein zig-zag," a distant quasar lensed six times by two precisely aligned galaxies that could help tackle a cosmological crisis.
Star imaged in detail outside the Milky Way for the 1st time (image, video)
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have captured the first zoomed-in image of a star beyond the Milky Way. The historic image reveals a dying behemoth star wrapped in a death shroud of gas about to explode.
Supermassive black holes bent the laws of physics to grow to monstrous sizes
By Robert Lea published
Scientists may have cracked one of the biggest mysteries in space science, determining that supermassive black holes bent the laws of physics to grow to their huge sizes.
'Mind-blowing' dark energy instrument results show Einstein was right about gravity — again
By Robert Lea published
The first year of data from the 5,000 robotic eyes of DESI shows Einstein's theory of general relativity is the right recipe for gravity despite the challenges of dark energy and dark matter.
These 5 stunning galaxy images tell us a story of cosmic evolution
By Robert Lea published
Five new portraits of galaxies located between 4 million to 30 million light-years from Earth could help astronomers unlock the secrets of cosmic evolution.
Artemis Accords: What are they & which countries are involved?
By Robert Lea last updated
Reference As the Artemis program aims to return humanity to the moon and beyond, the Artemis Accords lay out a framework for nations collaborating in this effort.
Supermassive black holes prefer to eat from wobbly plates
By Robert Lea published
Researchers have discovered the first evidence that the brightest accretion disks around supermassive black holes "wobble" as their monstrous occupants drag them around.
3D map reveals our solar system's local bubble has an 'escape tunnel'
By Robert Lea published
A 3D map of our cosmic neighborhood has revealed hot and cold regions as well as an "escape tunnel" from our local bubble.
NASA's Chandra X-ray spacecraft finds 'danger zones' around stars
By Robert Lea published
Using NASA's Chandra spacecraft, astronomers have found "danger zones" for worlds where planet-birthing disks are blasted with high-energy radiation from massive young stars and rapidly disintegrate.
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