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.
Latest articles by Samantha Mathewson
A Venus-bound mission from NASA will carry a tiny sensor built by students to the planet's hellish surface
By Samantha Mathewson published
NASA's DAVINCI mission to Venus will carry a dime-sized, student-built sensor to study the planet's near-surface environment.
James Webb Space Telescope will study how the 1st black hole 'seeds' formed in the 'baby universe'
By Samantha Mathewson published
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is gearing up to start operations this summer, and one of its many assignments will be to search for primeval black holes in the early universe.
Glowing 'auroral beads' appear strung across the night sky. Here's what creates them.
By Samantha Mathewson published
A group of 13 telescopes allowed researchers to observe the process behind a unique type of aurora, known as auroral beads, for the first time.
Over 100 hidden asteroids detected thanks to new algorithm studying old telescope data
By Samantha Mathewson published
Researchers using an innovative astrodynamics algorithm have uncovered over 100 asteroids that had gone undetected in archived images of the sky.
Cubesat Mission Will Be First to Fly Lunar Gateway's Unusual Orbit
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
NASA has partnered with Advanced Space of Boulder, Colorado, to develop a cubesat satellite that will launch to the same lunar orbit targeted for the agency's Gateway outpost.
Hubble telescope snaps trippy new view of two swirling galaxies
By Samantha Mathewson published
A peculiar pair of galaxies swirls together in a mesmerizing new photo from the Hubble Space Telescope.
Hubble telescope sees haunting galactic dance of 2 galaxies linked by the corpse of a cannibalized neighbor
By Samantha Mathewson published
The Hubble Space Telescope captured a stunning new view of two galaxies intertwined in a turbulent gravitational dance.
Hubble telescope spots enormous elliptical galaxy surrounded by mysterious shells
By Samantha Mathewson published
The Hubble Space Telescope captured a stunning new view of a gigantic galaxy that is more than twice the size of the Milky Way.
Go inside Boeing's Starliner capsule with space station astronauts (video tour)
By Samantha Mathewson published
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station provided an up-close view of Boeing’s Starliner capsule in a recent video tour from orbit.
Super Flower Blood Moon lunar eclipse glows eerie red in new photo
By Samantha Mathewson published
The eclipsed moon glows an eerie deep red color in a new photo of the total lunar eclipse that occurred earlier in May.
1st maps of massive, translucent gas clouds in space reveal clues about the early universe
By Samantha Mathewson published
For the first time, researchers have mapped elusive gas clouds that are believed to hold clues about galactic evolution and star formation in the early days of the universe.
Glimmering Hubble Space Telescope photo shows stunning starburst effect
By Samantha Mathewson published
The iconic Hubble Space Telescope has captured a glimmering new photo of a densely packed region of stars located in the constellation Sagittarius.
What time is the Super Flower Blood Moon lunar eclipse?
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
A Blood Moon total lunar eclipse will occur this weekend and here's when to watch it.
NASA astronaut floats on the space station with Earth in the background (photo)
By Samantha Mathewson published
NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins is seen floating above Earth in a new photo from the International Space Station.
Microbes on Earth's seafloor may aid the search for alien life
By Samantha Mathewson published
Microorganisms living on a large slab of ancient seafloor in the Persian Gulf may reveal clues about life on other planets.
Hubble Space Telescope spots star that survived violent explosion of neighbor
By Samantha Mathewson published
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has spotted the surviving stellar companion of a star that exploded in a bright, fiery death.
The Milky Way's supermassive black hole burps 'mini-jets,' scientists find
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
The supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy periodically hiccups, burping a "mini-jet" out into space.
Listen to the 'echoes' of black holes chowing down on stars
By Samantha Mathewson published
Researchers have detected eight new "echoing" black hole systems in the Milky Way, and they sound like passing through an eerie wind tunnel.
Satellites watch record-breaking fires ravage New Mexico
By Samantha Mathewson published
Satellites have captured stunning new views of the early season wildfires raging across northern New Mexico since mid-April.
The first solar eclipse of 2022 occurs today! What time does it begin?
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
A partial solar eclipse occurs today (April 30) over parts of South America, Antarctica and the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Here's what skywatchers can expect.
How to watch the April 2022 solar eclipse online
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
The first solar eclipse of 2022 arrives this week across parts of the Southern Hemisphere — here's how you can watch the event live online from other parts of the world.
Rare Black Moon solar eclipse takes bite out of sun over South America
By Samantha Mathewson last updated
Skywatchers across parts of the Southern Hemisphere were treated to the first partial eclipse of the year today (April 30).
See a behemoth black hole and spiral galaxy like only the Hubble telescope can
By Samantha Mathewson published
A monstrous black hole lies at the center of a distant galaxy photographed by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.