
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

How military helicopters in Colorado will help land NASA's Artemis astronauts on the moon
By Samantha Mathewson published
NASA is using Colorado's rugged peaks to rehearse the risky final moments of future Artemis lunar landings.

Scientists discover minerals in asteroid Ryugu that are older than Earth itself
By Samantha Mathewson published
Asteroid Ryugu is proving to be one of the most scientifically valuable time capsules in the solar system.

Relive SpaceX's nighttime launch of the X-37B space plane with these dazzling photos
By Samantha Mathewson published
SpaceX shared spectacular photos of its Falcon 9 night launch carrying the U.S. Space Force's X-37B space plane to orbit on Aug. 21, 2025.

Supernova blast sculpts ghostly hand-shaped nebula in the cosmos (video)
By Samantha Mathewson published
An image from NASA's Chandra X-ray observatory shows a glowing hand stretching across the cosmos with its palm and fingers sculpted from the wreckage of a massive stellar explosion.

The Milky Way's faintest satellite may not be what astronomers thought. 'These results solve a major mystery in astrophysics'
By Samantha Mathewson published
A distant galaxy nicknamed "Cosmic Grapes" is bursting with massive star-forming clumps — far more than expected — offering fresh clues about how galaxies grew in the early universe.

X-ray telescope finds something unexpected with the 'heartbeat black hole'
By Samantha Mathewson published
Unexpected X-ray polarization challenges long-held ideas about how black holes behave.

James Webb Space Telescope uncovers 300 mysteriously luminous objects. Are they galaxies or something else?
By Samantha Mathewson published
The discovery could challenge current ideas about how galaxies formed in the early universe.

Satellites watch Tropical Storm Erin take shape over the Atlantic Ocean (video)
By Samantha Mathewson published
Forecasters warn Erin may intensify into the season's first major hurricane within days.

Watch the 2025 Perseid meteor shower peak in free webcast Aug. 12
By Samantha Mathewson published
The annual Perseid meteor shower will peak overnight Tuesday (Aug. 12), and you can enjoy the event live online with the Virtual Telescope Project's webcast.

Astronomers find bizarre 'Cosmic Grapes' galaxy in the early universe. Here's why that's a big deal (photo)
By Samantha Mathewson published
A distant galaxy nicknamed "Cosmic Grapes" is bursting with massive star-forming clumps — far more than expected — offering fresh clues about how galaxies grew in the early universe.

'Olympus' the 4-legged robot could help astronauts explore Mars someday (video)
By Samantha Mathewson published
A four-legged robot tested under simulated Martian gravity jumps from wall to wall, demonstrating how future missions could navigate terrain too challenging for today's rovers.

You can design the wheels for NASA's next moon vehicle with the 'Rock and Roll Challenge
By Samantha Mathewson published
NASA is calling on the public to help shape the future of lunar exploration by designing the next generation of wheels capable of navigating the moon's harsh terrain.

Satellites reveal a hidden lake burst through Greenland Ice Sheet in 2014, causing major flooding and a deep crater
By Samantha Mathewson published
The event released 23.8 billion gallons (90 million cubic meters) of meltwater over the course of 10 days.

What time is SpaceX's Crew-11 astronaut launch to the ISS on July 31?
By Samantha Mathewson published
Here's how to watch the July 31 launch of SpaceX's Crew‑11 mission, which will send NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui and cosmonaut Oleg Platonov to the ISS.

Senegal becomes 56th country to sign Artemis Accords for peaceful space exploration
By Samantha Mathewson published
Senegal has officially joined the Artemis Accords, becoming the 56th nation — and the fourth African country — to commit to a shared vision for peaceful and transparent space exploration.

These gorgeous new images of the cosmos from NASA's Chandra X-ray telescope took our breath away (video)
By Samantha Mathewson published
NASA has unveiled a dazzling new collection of cosmic images from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, capturing spectacular stars and galaxies in unprecedented detail.

5th planet found orbiting nearby star may lie in habitable zone
By Samantha Mathewson published
A super-Earth exoplanet has been detected within the habitable zone of a nearby red dwarf star, where liquid water might exist on its surface under the right atmospheric conditions.

NASA scientists sound alarm over threats to science and safety in 'Voyager Declaration'
By Samantha Mathewson published
The signatories warn that political interference and abrupt budget reductions could jeopardize decades of progress in space exploration, aeronautics and climate science.

When did our solar system's planets form? Discovery of tiny meteorite may challenge the timeline
By Samantha Mathewson published
Analysis of an ancient meteorite suggests that rocky planets both near and distant from the sun may have formed at the same time, challenging current models of our solar system’s evolution.

Meteor impact may have triggered massive Grand Canyon landslide 56,000 years ago
By Samantha Mathewson published
A meteorite impact thousands of years ago may have triggered a landslide in the Grand Canyon and reshaped the Colorado River that runs through the national park.

Telescope spies rare interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS zooming through our solar system (photos)
By Samantha Mathewson published
Astronomers unveiled a striking view of the new interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS on its journey toward the inner solar system.

Was ancient Mars habitable? NASA's Perseverance rover is grinding into a 'weird, uncooperative' rock to find out
By Samantha Mathewson published
NASA's Perseverance rover is digging deeper into Mars' geologic past as it begins grinding into rock surfaces to expose material that could hold clues to the planet's ancient environment and habitability.

New technique promises clearer, more frequent views of black holes
By Samantha Mathewson published
A powerful new technique is poised to revolutionize how astronomers observe black holes, by producing sharp, multicolored images that could reveal their dynamic evolution in real time.

Watch the stunning Mars and Regulus conjunction today with this free livestream
By Samantha Mathewson published

Mars settlement and more: Global space leaders will tackle big ideas next week at ISDC 2025
By Samantha Mathewson published
Space visionaries, scientists, entrepreneurs and students from around the world are set to gather in Florida next week for this year's International Space Development Conference.
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