Trending
Samantha Mathewson
Samantha Mathewson joined Space.com as an intern in the summer of 2016. She received a B.A. in Journalism and Environmental Science at the University of New Haven, in Connecticut. Previously, her work has been published in Nature World News. When not writing or reading about science, Samantha enjoys traveling to new places and taking photos! You can follow her on Twitter @Sam_Ashley13. 

Articles by: Samantha Mathewson

NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins, Expedition 38 flight engineer, poses for a photo with his Thanksgiving meal in the Unity node of the International Space Station, on Nov. 28, 2013.

How NASA tech helped make your Thanksgiving food safe (and your family Zoom sessions, too)

By Samantha Mathewson

Space technology and prepared foods developed for astronauts will also help keep Americans safe this Thanksgiving, as many prepare for a socially distanced meal.

An artist's impression of the new brown dwarf BDR J1750+3809, or "Elegast." This faint, cold celestial body was detected using radio telescope observations for the first time.

Faint 'super-planet' discovered by radio telescope for the 1st time

By Samantha Mathewson

Scientists have discovered a cold, faint "super-planet" that has remained elusive to traditional infrared survey methods.

On Nov. 18, 2020, a bright green meteor streaked across the night sky near CSIRO’s research vessel Investigator, which is currently stationed in the Tasman Sea, off the southern coast of Tasmania, Australia.

Watch a bright fireball explode over the Tasman Sea (video)

By Samantha Mathewson

A bright green meteor streaked across the southern coast of Tasmania, Australia, and researchers caught the fireball on camera as it broke up over the ocean.

The Blue Ring Nebula is believed to have formed after a stellar collision, which ejected a cloud of hot debris into space. These emissions appear to form a ring around the nebula's central star, as the outflow of material forms a cone shape and the base of one of the cones is oriented almost directly toward Earth.

The dazzling Blue Ring Nebula puzzled scientists for 16 years — and now they finally understand why

By Samantha Mathewson

Scientists have uncovered new evidence of the mysterious fluorescent debris that makes up the Blue Ring Nebula.

Sixty just-launched SpaceX Starlink satellites zoom around Earth together before being deployed toward their operational orbits.

SpaceX opens Starlink satellite internet to public beta testers: report

By Samantha Mathewson

SpaceX is now sending out email invitations for public beta testing of Starlink, the company’s upcoming satellite internet service.

A view of the International Space Station.

International Space Station at 20: Former astronauts talk about living and working in space

By Samantha Mathewson

The International Space Station is celebrating 20 years of having astronauts continuously living and working on the orbiting lab.

The Skull Nebula, seen here by the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, is an eerie sight shaped by a strange triple-star system.

Eerie Skull Nebula glows bright for Halloween

By Samantha Mathewson

The Skull Nebula, formally known as NGC 246, is captured in a new image from the European Southern Observatory using the Very Large Telescope.

A high-resolution view of a recent cluster of craters on Mars that an artificial intelligence tool identified; this view comes from MRO's HiRise instrument.

Artificial intelligence helps classify new craters on Mars

By Samantha Mathewson

An innovative artificial intelligence (AI) tool developed by NASA has helped identify a cluster of craters on Mars that formed within the last decade.

NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will collect a sample from the asteroid Bennu on Oct. 20 using a robotic sampling arm in an event called "touch-and-go," or TAG.

NASA is about to play 'tag' with asteroid Bennu: Here's how it works.

By Samantha Mathewson

NASA's OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft will "TAG" asteroid Bennu Tuesday (Oct. 20) and collect a sample for return to Earth.

Mars will reach opposition on Oct. 13, 2020, when the Red Planet will be only 39 million miles (62.7 million km) from Earth — the closest pairing until 2035. As a result, Mars looks much brighter and bigger than usual.

Mars at opposition shines extra bright in the night sky tonight

By Samantha Mathewson

Mars reaches opposition today, Oct. 13, offering skywatchers an early Halloween treat.

Mars at opposition

Mars Opposition 2020: How to See It and What to Expect

By Samantha Mathewson

Get ready to see the Red Planet up close this week: , offering the closest view of the planet until 2035.

The Mars 2020 Perseverance mission launched to the Red Planet on July 30, and NASA's Eyes on the Solar System tool lets you track the spacecraft as it travels through space.

You can track NASA's 2020 Mars rover Perseverance on its journey to the Red Planet

By Samantha Mathewson

You can follow NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover in real time as it makes its way to the Red Planet.

NASA's new space toilet for the International Space Station undergoes testing at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

NASA's new $23 million space toilet is ready for launch

By Samantha Mathewson

The bathroom on the International Space System is getting a major upgrade with a new, high-tech, compact space toilet to be delivered next week.

Hilary Swank visits NASA's Johnson Space Center.

Netflix's 'Away' star Hilary Swank visits NASA's Johnson Space Center

By Samantha Mathewson

NASA shared a fun video of Hilary Swank's visit to mission control in preparation for her role as an astronaut in Netflix's new space series "Away."

An orbit diagram for the near-Earth asteroid 2020 QU6, which made a close approach to Earth on Sept. 10, 2020.

Amateur astronomer discovers large asteroid that flew by Earth this week

By Samantha Mathewson

An amateur astronomer from Brazil discovered the large, "potentially hazardous" asteroid that safely passed by Earth this week on Thursday (Sept. 10).

In preparation for Europe's first rideshare mission, flight VV16, Vega's upper composite containing 53 satellites secured on the new Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) dispenser move to the launch zone for integration with the launch vehicle at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on June 12, 2020.

Vega rocket launching on return-to-flight mission tonight: Watch it live

By Samantha Mathewson

Arianespace's Vega rocket is scheduled to launch from the Guiana Space Center tonight (Sept. 2) at 9:51 p.m. EDT, carrying 53 satellites into orbit.

ULA's Delta IV Heavy was the backdrop for a unique 3D projection that showcased the future of space exploration. The presentation took place at Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral in Florida.

United Launch Alliance debuts first-ever 3D projection on a Delta IV Heavy rocket

By Samantha Mathewson

United Launch Alliance (ULA) shared a spectacular 3D projection of the Delta IV Heavy rocket at Cape Canaveral ahead of this week's satellite launch.

While Marco made landfall in Louisiana late on Aug. 24, Tropical Storm Laura is following close behind, expected to make landfall along the Texas-Louisiana border on August 26.

Astronaut and satellites see tropical storms Laura and Marco from space

By Samantha Mathewson

Satellites have spotted tropical storms Marco and Laura as they simultaneously marched toward the Gulf of Mexico.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, on May 30, 2020, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX raises $1.9 billion in latest funding round: report

By Samantha Mathewson

SpaceX has raised over $1.9 billion in new funding this month, representing the largest single fundraising round to date.

An artist's representation of the microquasar SS 433 beating in unison with the gas cloud known as Fermi J1913+0515.

Mysterious gamma-ray 'heartbeat' detected from cosmic gas cloud

By Samantha Mathewson

A cosmic gas cloud has a mysterious gamma-ray "heartbeat" that appears to be in sync with a neighboring black hole.

An artist's impression of NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity flying on the Red Planet.

NASA powers up Ingenuity Mars helicopter in space for the 1st time

By Samantha Mathewson

NASA powered up its Mars helicopter Ingenuity for the first time on Aug. 7 and tested the little craft's electronics.

An artist rendering of the Drag Racer experimental mission, which includes two satellites to test space debris deorbit technologies with and without a space tether.

Experimental DragRacer satellites will test 'Terminator Tape' for space junk cleanup this fall

By Samantha Mathewson

An experimental mission to collect orbital debris is slated to launch this fall to test the deorbit performance of two identical satellites.

OSIRIS-REx is expected to collect a sample from asteroid Bennu on Oct. 20. This artist's concept shows the trajectory and configuration of the spacecraft during its matchpoint rehearsal.

NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft prepares for final asteroid-sampling rehearsal

By Samantha Mathewson

NASA's OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft is preparing for its final rehearsal before touching down on asteroid Bennu this fall to snag a piece of space rock.

An artist's illustration of the dense neutron star believed to be at the dusty core of Supernova 1987A.

Signs of 'missing' neutron star found in heart of supernova

By Samantha Mathewson

Evidence of a neutron star hidden deep inside Supernova 1987A helps astronomers solve a 33-year-old mystery surrounding one of the brightest star explosions ever observed.

A 3D simulation showing the impact (inset) and aftermath (main picture) of a giant planetary collision.

When worlds collide: Stunning 3D simulation shows what happens in giant planetary crashes (video)

By Samantha Mathewson

New 3D supercomputer simulations show the early stages of planetary collisions, demonstrating what may happen to an Earth-like planet struck by a giant object.