Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Today science: Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen

Here's why climbers use supplemental oxygen to climb Mount Everest. Also, the curtailment of the 2014 Everest climbing season following a deadly avalanche.

Deborah Byrd

Elizabeth Howell

May 8, 2014

A tornado cut this swath of destruction in Arkansas

Among the hardest hit areas during April's severe storms were the towns of Mayflower and Vilonia, Arkansas. A NASA satellite captured the tornado track from above.

Deborah Byrd

May 8, 2014

Rainbow rings of Saturn

Turquoise-hued rings of Saturn contain particles of nearly pure water ice, while reddish rings contain ice particles with more contaminants.

Deborah Byrd

May 7, 2014

Eta Aquarid meteor from Mount Bromo, an active volcano

Part of the night sky is obscured by sulphur dioxide gas emitted by Mount Bromo, an active volcano, in this photo by Justin Ng of Singapore.

Deborah Byrd

May 7, 2014

Why so few Eta Aquarid meteors in 2014?

We expected 20-40 meteors per hour this morning, at the shower's peak. But Eta Aquarid meteor rates in 2014 seem to have been far lower. Why?

Deborah Byrd

May 6, 2014

Ancient Peruvian culture predating Nazcas used desert lines to guide people to solstice festivities

The Paracas immediately preceded another culture called the Nazca, which is famous for making massive line drawings in the Peruvian desert.

Deborah Byrd

May 6, 2014

Maybe I’m not even here, and other crazy beautiful stuff physics told me

In her short animated documentary - called Why Do I Study Physics? - Xiangjun Shi finds beauty in both the orderly world of physics and the chaos of real life.

Deborah Byrd

May 5, 2014

Magma rising inside Mount St. Helens, but no eruption expected

There has been uplift and minor earthquake activity on Mount St. Helens, an active volcano in Washington state, but there are no signs that it is about to erupt.

Deborah Byrd

May 5, 2014

Bright daytime meteor seen over Canada and U.S. Northeast

People in the U.S. Northeast and Canada began reporting a bright daytime meteor on the afternoon of May 4, 2014. Photos and some dashcam videos here.

Deborah Byrd

May 5, 2014

A single drop of seawater, magnified 25 times

Ever wonder what's in seawater? This photograph shows a drop of seawater, magnified 25 times.

Deborah Byrd

May 2, 2014

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.