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
![At left, an illustration of a spacecraft in orbit around Mars. At right, a spacecraft photo of icy gullies on Mars.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ETRA9wJVvBMdGu9HxLid4b-320-80.png)
Bad news for life on Mars? Red Planet's wet epoch may have been shorter than we thought
By Robert Lea published
Water freely flowed across Mars billions of years ago, suggesting the Red Planet could also once have supported life. But this water may have existed for just a short time.
![A blurry image of a supernova with a blue interior and pearl-like globules around that interview in a ring-shape. A diagram on the right shows the ring of pearls in more detail.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Y6ycs2LqxCx6j6A8HkXzKh-320-80.png)
Scientists may finally know why this infamous supernova wears a 'string of pearls'
By Robert Lea published
SN 1987A is ringed by a strange string of hydrogen pearls that have puzzled astronomers for a long time, but researchers may finally have an explanation.
![Blue, purple and yellow streaks are seen against a black background. It almost looks like abstract art, concentrated in a stripe in the center of the image.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/G23rcfYWjdwdmaJopud6aT-320-80.png)
Scientists reveal never-before-seen map of the Milky Way's central engine (image)
By Robert Lea published
A new map spanning 500 light-years reveals the interaction between magnetic fields and dust in the Milky Way that will become the building blocks of stars.
![An illustration of two ice-blue orbs smashing together, surrounded by warm reddish dust and gas.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gm8bZVLrnvDXKN6uVKdkSZ-320-80.jpeg)
Colliding neutron stars hint at new physics that could explain dark matter
By Robert Lea published
Extreme collisions between neutron stars could create exotic particles beyond the standard model, including axions, the hypothetical particle that comprises dark matter.
![(Main) The complex shape of Gz9p3 shows it origins as the result of a merger between galaxies (Inset) direct imaging by the JWST reveals Gz9p3 has a double nucleus indicating a merger that is still ongoing](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yS2GVVpr6fjfWnSUL7jiVK-320-80.png)
Speck of light glimpsed by Hubble is truly an enormous old galaxy, James Webb Space Telescope reveals
By Robert Lea published
The James Webb Space Telescope has zoomed in on a mere speck of light seen by Hubble, identifying it as a massive early galaxy that existed just 510 million years after the Big Bang.
![A view of a facility with white pillars on either side, attached to a metal structure with stairs. It's in a snowy area; the sky is very blue. An inset shows a diagram of how IceCube works.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TTduJRC5B4qvsrLZhC2LV4-320-80.png)
Scientists may have just caught 7 exotic 'ghost particles' as they pierced through Earth
By Robert Lea published
Devices buried deep within the south pole detected highly elusive tau neutrinos blasted toward Earth by powerful astrophysical events.
![An image of a region parallel to the massive protostar known as IRAS23385 (star not visible)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HepKNzwBcapZinddKy2STE-320-80.png)
James Webb Space Telescope spots the icy building blocks of life swirling around infant stars
By Robert Lea published
Two infant stars are surrounded by swirling clouds that astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope found contain icy molecules that could form the building blocks of life.
![An illustration shows Voyager 1 in interstellar space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oD7zudV5zGuM79JfZoSLdL-320-80.png)
NASA finds clue while solving Voyager 1's communication breakdown case
By Robert Lea published
In 2023, humanity's pioneering space mission, Voyager 1, stopped sending understandable data back to Earth. Now, NASA engineers may be closer to discovering the source of the issue.
![a large black and silver rocket vents vapor at night while standing upright on a launch pad](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AYyvdiNZ3YCKqSLrMSCNHK-320-80.png)
How to watch SpaceX's 3rd Starship launch test live online today
By Robert Lea last updated
SpaceX's megarocket Starship, the largest and most powerful space rocket ever built, is set for a third test flight on Thursday (March 14). You can watch it live online for free.
![An illustration shows the aftermath of a black hole shredding and devouring a star in a tidal disruption event](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/g6qcX9Qf6jDcThrr4pFgV-320-80.png)
Scientists find black hole spaghettifying star remarkably close to Earth
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have discovered rather close evidence of a star being ripped apart and devoured by a supermassive black hole in a tidal disruption event.
![An illustration of an atomic nucleus is space (inset) the multi-layer Compton camera originally designed to investigate astronomy not nuclear structure](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZpdsXSdk5KoBA9XPxTzn5K-320-80.png)
Deep-space astronomy sensor peers into the heart of an atom
By Robert Lea published
"Developed initially for space observations, the Compton Camera has now proven its worth as a tool for addressing complex scientific questions in other domains as well."
![illustration showing earth in the foreground with mars and the sun in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TRGnPuFsAFYikDYfwAJYx8-320-80.png)
Mars attracts: How the Red Planet influences Earth's climate and seas
By Robert Lea published
Scientists have discovered a surprising 2.4-million-year-cycle in deep-sea sediments that indicates Mars has an influence on Earth's oceans and climate.
![On the left, a red bubbly-looking orb is depicted. On the right is a similar orb with blueish regions.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JsNNnfQvSXfebPU6HizETX-320-80.png)
The boiling surface of giant star Betelgeuse may be creating an illusion
By Robert Lea published
Betelgeuse appears to be rotating faster than is possible for such a massive star. New research suggests this is an illusion caused by the violently boiling surface of the red supergiant.
![A James Webb Space Telescope image showing reddish hazy webs against a dark blue background. Toward the top left is a glare with the telescope's characteristic spikes.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aCnLv3NBMuV6ucJhhD5uD-320-80.png)
The James Webb Space Telescope hones in on star-forming region in the Triangulum Galaxy (images)
By Robert Lea published
The James Space Telescope has used its NIRCam and MIRI instruments to capture two dynamic views of the star-forming region NGC 604 in the Triangulum Galaxy.
![Two alternative models for the interior of white dwarfs placed side-by-side. The stars look like large blue orbs; there are arrows denoting where certain layers and processes are.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FtkbmRsrnXUp7x6w6YACMA-320-80.png)
Some 'dead' stars hide celestial fountains of youth beneath their surfaces
By Robert Lea published
Scientists have discovered that some "dead" white dwarf stars hide a metaphorical fountain of youth beneath their skin that helps them delay their cooling processes.
![A simulation of dark energy in the universe obtained using AI](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WJY9cBgM9DFNfDvFtAG7J6-320-80.png)
Dark energy remains a mystery. Maybe AI can help crack the code
By Robert Lea published
Dark energy has humans stumped. The force is sometimes even labeled "the worst prediction in the history of physics." Can AI do any better?
![An illustration shows the James Webb Space Telescope examining Mors Somnus](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gMdoeSDHVLQCtyekHWw8Co-320-80.png)
Icy asteroids help the James Webb Space Telescope uncover Neptune's history
By Robert Lea published
The powerful space telescope zoomed in on Mors-Somnus, a binary pair of icy asteroids that originated within the Kuiper Belt.
![An illustration shows the five spacecraft of the LIFE mission with Earth between them](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hFK7CZ9pfVtMSEw6A6Zy6T-320-80.png)
If aliens had our life-hunting equipment, could they find us?
By Robert Lea published
Scientists asked the question: If Earth was an exoplanet, what would reveal it hosts life? The answer was used to verify the usefulness of a planned space mission dubbed "LIFE."
![cartoon illustration of an astronaut sitting on a toilet while in space.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sgzwakuGvXUvFDBL3kXQo-320-80.jpg)
How do astronauts use the bathroom in space?
By Robert Lea published
Reference Going to the toilet is a basic human function that even astronauts, as they further human space exploration, have to undertake. So how do astronauts 'boldly go' in space.
![An illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope and some of its Cycle 3 observational targets.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EUavkT2EFN5V9uxSmL8qaL-320-80.png)
The James Webb Space Telescope's targets over the next year include black holes, exomoons, dark energy — and more
By Robert Lea published
The James Webb Telescope will be busy during Cycle 3 , with astronomers using the powerful telescope to hunt exomoons and supermassive black holes and investigate cosmic evolution.
![illiustration of a boxy silver rover on the lunar surface at night](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rNTpSnSARUKJHSfVcP66DN-320-80.jpg)
NASA's ice-hunting VIPER moon rover getting ready to slither to the launch pad
By Robert Lea published
NASA's VIPER moon rover is a step closer to making its lunar journey late this year: The robot's flight instruments are fully installed and the rover over 80% built.
![An illustration shows two supermassive black holes locked by their size and prevented from merging](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ExL7xX4WHkXNf95BsMXPVA-320-80.jpg)
Heaviest pair of black holes ever seen weighs 28 billion times more than the sun
By Robert Lea published
The discovery could explain why, although supermassive black hole mergers are predicted theoretically, they have never been observed in progress.
![Two metal devices with blue lights at their necks are pointed up toward the sky. In the sky, there are lots of stars and the center of the Milky Way is visible.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6U7UCq99RFg6CTDNNQsbfZ-320-80.png)
'Wiggles' of energy waves over Earth could hold the universe's history
By Robert Lea published
The CLASS telescope has mapped how microwave energy "wiggles" over Earth to learn more about the cosmic fossil that could help reveal the story of the universe.
![Hubble image of the Orion Nebula, and a zoom in on the protoplanetary disc d203-506 taken with the James Webb Space Telescope](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BGnqvgh8DH9GkixeTqAZPJ-320-80.png)
James Webb Space Telescope reveals how stellar blasts of radiation stunt planet birth
By Robert Lea published
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered how massive stars sculpt planetary systems and stunt planet birth with bombardments of harsh radiation.
![An illustration shows a hypothetical axion star which could shed light on dark matter.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XrdN5wGFwVKdoWnMYLrTek-320-80.png)
'Axion stars' that went boom after the Big Bang could shed light on dark matter
By Robert Lea published
Hypothetical particles called axions may have gathered to form "axion stars" that exploded in the early universe to create readable signals that could reveal the secrets of dark matter.