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
Giant Mars asteroid impact creates vast field of destruction with 2 billion craters
By Robert Lea published
An asteroid that slammed into Mars around 2.3 million years ago left one nine-mile wide crater and created 2 billion smaller craters.
Stardust particle locked in meteorite holds secrets of a star's explosive death
By Robert Lea published
A tiny grain of dust sealed within an ancient meteorite weaves together the story of the solar system's creation and reveals a much older tale of a rare star's explosive supernova death.
Supermassive black hole’s mysterious hiccups' likely caused by neighboring black hole's 'punches'
By Robert Lea published
A black hole may be punching through the disk of gas and dust surrounding a supermassive black hole, causing its giant neighbor to "hiccup."
'Vampire' neutron star blasts are related to jets traveling at near-light speeds
By Robert Lea published
Scientists have measured for the first time the speed of jets launched by neutron star "vampires" as they feast on victim stars. The breakthrough connects these jets to thermonuclear blasts.
Climate change and polar ice melting could be impacting the length of Earth's day
By Robert Lea published
Humanity's activities and climate change are impacting the polar ice sheets, causing excessive melting, and this is slowing Earth's rotation, challenging official timekeeping standards.
Cosmic gold rush! Astronomers find 49 new galaxies in just 3 hours
By Robert Lea published
Using the MeerKat radio telescope, astronomers discovered a "gold rush" of galaxies in just three hours, including three joined by their gas content.
New view of the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way hints at an exciting hidden feature (image)
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have for the first time imaged the powerful magnetic fields that dwell around the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way, Sagittarius A*.
How are extreme "blue supergiant" stars born? Astronomers may finally know
By Robert Lea published
Scientists have discovered that the hottest and brightest stars in the cosmos, blue supergiants, are created when two smaller stars spiral together and merge, new research suggests.
Hubble Telescope witnesses a new star being born in a stunning cosmic light show (image)
By Robert Lea published
The Hubble Space Telescope has imaged a powerful jet erupting from an envelope of gas and dust that represents a newly born star announcing itself to the cosmos.
March's Full Worm Moon wriggles its way through a subtle lunar eclipse in stunning photos
By Robert Lea published
The Worm Moon underwent a slightly undramatic lunar eclipse on Sunday, March 24, two weeks before the main event: April's total solar eclipse.
'Quantum tornado' allows scientists to mimic a black hole on Earth
By Robert Lea published
Scientists created a giant vortex made of tiny quantum pieces to bring black hole physics down to Earth.
'Shiva and Shakti': The ancient star streams that helped weave the Milky Way
By Robert Lea published
The Gaia space telescope has discovered two ancient stellar streams woven through the heart of the Milky Way, which were present 12 billion years ago.
NASA suspends Swift gamma-ray space telescope operations
By Robert Lea published
NASA has shut down its Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, but don't panic; this is only a temporary pause for the space telescope that has served the space agency since 2004.
A 'snowball fight' may help scientists find life on Jupiter's moon Europa
By Robert Lea published
Impact craters in Europa's icy crust have been used to measure the thickness of the world's shell, leading scientists closer to learning if this frozen moon could host life as we know it.
Hubble Space Telescope discovers 'failed stars' are bad at relationships too
By Robert Lea published
Using the Hubble astronomers found that "failed star" brown dwarfs struggle to maintain relationships as passing stars disrupt them like the cosmic equivalent of the distracted boyfriend meme.
Stunning light shows on Uranus and Saturn may soon draw James Webb Space Telescope's eye
By Robert Lea published
The James Webb Space Telescope will soon investigate stunning light shows from Uranus and Saturn as two projects look at the auroras of these planets to discover the processes that make them tick.
'Singing' red giant stars could offer another way to measure the universe's expansion
By Robert Lea published
The different ways red giants "sing" could affect distance measurements of the universe, potentially helping soothe a cosmic headache: The Hubble tension.
Scientists find galaxy supercluster as massive as 26 quadrillion suns
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have discovered a treasure trove of 662 new galactic superclusters, the most prominent of which, the Einasto Supercluster, contains a staggering mass equivalent to 26 quadrillion suns.
Doomed egg-shaped exoplanet is death-spiraling into its star
By Robert Lea published
WASP-12b, an ultrahot Jupiter planet molded into the shape of an egg, is set to nose-dive into its star.
Arrokoth the 'space snowman' and other Kuiper Belt objects may be packed with ancient ice
By Robert Lea published
A new model of cometary evolution and interiors could help explain the explosive behavior of "ice bomb" comets as they pass close to the sun.
Citizen scientists and AI take a cosmic cruise to discover 430,000 new galaxies
By Robert Lea published
With the help of artificial intelligence, amateur scientists have discovered more than 400,000 new galaxies.
Condor Array Telescope confirms Chinese astrology records of 'new star' spotted in 77 BCE
By Robert Lea published
The first data from the Condor Telescope Array suggests a dwarf nova was the source of a new star seen in 77 BCE.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope mission — Live updates
By Robert Lea published
Read the latest news about NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.