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
James Webb Space Telescope finds 'puffball' exoplanet is uniquely lopsided
By Robert Lea published
Using the James Webb Space Telescope astronomers have found that a strange inflated exoplanet is even weirder than they realized finding a strange asymmetry in its atmosphere.
'Missing link' black hole lurks in strange binary system with red giant star
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have discovered a "missing link:" a tiny black hole lurking with a red giant star in a strange and difficult-to-explain binary system.
Equinox increases chances of geomagnetic storm from solar eruption this week
By Robert Lea published
The sunspot AR3835 erupted on Sunday (Sept. 22) during Earth's equinox when even a glancing blow can cause a geomagnetic storm.
How dark energy could relieve 'Hubble tension' and galaxy headaches
By Robert Lea published
The Hubble tension, a longstanding problem in cosmology, could potentially be relieved if early dark energy is taken into account.
The largest Einstein Cross ever discovered dwells among a rare 'carousel' of galaxies
By Robert Lea published
The largest Einstein Cross dwells among a rare arrangement of seven gravitationally lensed galaxies called the Carousel Lens located between 7 billion and 12 billion light-years from Earth.
Astronomers catalog over 500 extremely powerful cosmic explosions
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have cataloged over 500 gamma-ray bursts, which are some of the most violent explosions in the cosmos.
1st results of XRISM X-ray space telescope reveal black hole and supernova secrets
By Robert Lea published
The first results from JAXA's XRISM X-ray telescope are out, and they reveal new features of the superheated gas around a distant supermassive black hole and a closer supernova.
Exoplanets may be hiding behind the 'Neptunian ridge'
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have discovered a hidden feature in exoplanet distribution that could explain the absence of so-called "hot-Neptunes" close to their stars.
Black hole 'bullets' fired at Mars could reveal more about dark matter
By Robert Lea published
Tiny black hole "bullets" left over from the Big Bang could be passing through Mars at speeds in excess of 7,000 times the speed of sound, causing the Red Planet to "wobble."
James Webb Space Telescope witnesses a 'smiling' galactic collision (images)
By Robert Lea published
The James Webb Space Telescope has imaged a collision between two galaxies that appears to have created a beaming smile in space.
Black hole blasts largest jet ever seen at 23 million light-years long
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have seen the largest jets ever found erupting from a black hole. The giant jet system Porphyrion is 23 million light-years long, equal to 140 side-by-side Milky Way galaxies.
Earth will get another moon this month — but not for long!
By Robert Lea published
Earth will grab itself another moon this month, but only briefly. The "mini-moon" in the form of asteroid 2024 PT5 will stick around for just two months.
Did a star escape cannibalism by its dead 'monster' white dwarf companion?
By Robert Lea published
A distant star has a dead star companion lurking in its vicinity that could be a monster-massive white dwarf, raising the question: how has it avoided being devoured by this cosmic zombie?
James Webb Space Telescope witnesses a black hole 'killing' its galaxy (photo)
By Robert Lea published
Using the James Webb Space Telescope astronomers have observed a supermassive black hole "killing" its galaxy by starving it of the material needed to birth new stars.
Collisions could increase chance of 'God of Destruction' asteroid Apophis hitting Earth
By Robert Lea published
A chance encounter with another asteroid could steer Apophis destructively close to Earth during a future passage.
James Webb Telescope goes 'extreme' and spots baby stars at the edge of the Milky Way (image)
By Robert Lea published
The James Webb Space Telescope has taken things to the extreme, studying the outer edge of our own galaxy, the Milky Way and producing a stunning new image.
Iron winds and molten metal rains ravage a hellish hot Jupiter exoplanet
By Robert Lea published
"Iron Winds and Metal Rain." Not the title of a heavy metal album but an accurate weather prediction for a hellish exoplanet called WASP-76b.
Black hole or neutron star? Gravitational wave 'chirps' can tell us what becomes of dying stars
By Robert Lea published
The current generation of gravitational wave detectors could "hear" supernovas over 65 million light-years away, helping scientists determine if a dying star creates a black hole or a neutron star.
Mystery of dwarf planet Ceres' origin may finally be solved, thanks to retired NASA spacecraft
By Robert Lea published
Was Ceres born in the main asteroid belt, or did it migrate there from the outer solar system? The answer is buried in data from NASA's Dawn spacecraft.
These 2 monster black holes may be the closest pair ever discovered in visible and X-ray light (video)
By Robert Lea published
The tag team of NASA space telescopes Hubble and Chandra has demonstrated that two is definitely better than one when it comes to pairings of supermassive black holes and hunting for them.
Rare Milky Way star cluster is packed with red supergiants 1 million times brighter than the sun
By Robert Lea published
Many red supergiant monster stars lurk in a Milky Way cluster astronomers have discovered with the Gaia space telescope. The cluster, Barbá 2, could help understand why some stars become black holes.
What happens when your warp drive fails? Scientists have the answer
By Robert Lea published
Scientists have "boldly gone" where no one has gone before, discovering what would happen if a faster-than-light warp drive like the one used in Star Trek were to fail.
Gravitational waves hint at a 'supercool' secret about the Big Bang
By Robert Lea published
If the gravitational wave background detected last year came from a "supercool" phase transition around the time of the Big Bang, they hint at new physics.
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