Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Octopus opens a jar, from the inside

Check out this video. More evidence that octopuses are amazing.

Eleanor Imster

Deborah Byrd

May 30, 2015

New human ancestor found in Ethiopia

According to scientists who made the discovery, the find provides conclusive evidence that, millions of years ago, there was more than one human species.

Deborah Byrd

May 30, 2015

Comet Lovejoy near star Polaris

Comet Lovejoy on May 22, 2015. The comet is the brilliant green dot near the center of the photo. At the upper right of the photo is the star Polaris, aka the North Star.

Deborah Byrd

May 30, 2015

6.7-magnitude earthquake in Alaska

The quake took place 3 a.m. EDT (0700 UTC) Friday morning in the earthquake-prone, sparsely populated Aleutian arc, some 400 miles (600 km) from Anchorage.

Deborah Byrd

May 29, 2015

Fireflies are back, upstate New York

Photo and report from an EarthSky friend who regularly watches for them.

Deborah Byrd

May 28, 2015

Video: Translating climate change to music

Imagine setting global warming to music. That's what a student at University of Minnesota has done, basing his composition on actual temperature data since 1880.

Deborah Byrd

May 27, 2015

Hawaii governor says Thirty Meter Telescope has right to continue

$1.5-billion project halted last month, following demonstrations. Gov. David Ige said to continue, but that one-fourth of telescopes on Mauna Kea should be removed.

Deborah Byrd

May 27, 2015

Heat wave kills 1,100 in India

A deadly heatwave has gripped India since April. The death toll has now risen to more than 1,100. Cooling monsoon rains are not expected for several more days.

Deborah Byrd

May 27, 2015

Mammatus clouds over central Texas

Mammatus clouds don't keep extending downward to form tornadoes, as some believe. But they do come before, during or after severe weather.

Deborah Byrd

May 27, 2015

9 instruments chosen for Europa mission

NASA’s 2016 budget request includes $30 million for a mission to Europa, Jupiter's moon, thought to have a liquid ocean beneath its icy crust.

Deborah Byrd

May 26, 2015

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.