Bird watchers, prepare to update your checklists. Ornithologists are pondering a new way of defining bird species. If the new thinking is accepted globally, the number of known bird species would double.

Deborah Byrd

December 13, 2016

Rare glimpse of feathered dinosaur tail

Noticed at an amber market in Myanmar, an amber specimen is now said to hold one of the best, most beautiful and most useful examples of dinosaur feathers.

Deborah Byrd

December 13, 2016

Glorious Horsehead Nebula

This dark cloud is located inside a larger star-forming region … a place where new stars are being born. Tips from the astrophotographer on how you can capture it.

Deborah Byrd

December 13, 2016

Exoplanet has ruby and sapphire winds

The planet is so hot that these minerals would be vaporized. The clouds themselves would be visually stunning, these researchers said.

Deborah Byrd

December 12, 2016

1st test of new theory of gravity

Eric Verlinde's new theory of gravity - an alternative to Einstein's theory - eliminates the need for dark matter. To test it, astronomers measured gravity around 33,000 galaxies.

Deborah Byrd

December 12, 2016

Moontrail over Beijing’s Forbidden City

Jeff Dai created this moontrail photo by keeping his camera still, rather than tracking along with the stars. He said it was about a 3-hour exposure.

Deborah Byrd

December 12, 2016

What happens to Earth in 5 billion years?

What will happen to Earth when our sun becomes a red giant? A possible planet for the old star L2 Puppis may offer a sneak peek.

Deborah Byrd

December 11, 2016

Deborah Byrd

Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.