Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Scientists name bacterium for Frank Zappa

A form of P. acnes – the bacterium responsible for human acne – reminded these scientists of a Zappa song lyric.

Deborah Byrd

February 19, 2014

Aurora borealis seen at low latitudes on February 18-19

Observers in the northern half of the United States and Canada captured it in photos.

Deborah Byrd

February 19, 2014

Earth-orbiting satellites see Arctic surface darkening faster

The retreat of Arctic sea ice is diminishing Earth's albedo, or reflectivity, by an amount about twice as large as previously thought.

Deborah Byrd

February 18, 2014

Warm U.S. West balanced cold U.S. East to create average January

Overall, the average temperature for January 2014 in the U.S. was 30.3 degrees, only one-tenth of a degree below normal for the month.

Deborah Byrd

February 18, 2014

Interstellar magnetic fields warp as our sun and heliosphere move through galaxy

This illustration shows our heliosphere - the sphere of the sun's influence - moving through the space of our Milky Way galaxy.

Deborah Byrd

February 18, 2014

Crawling neutrophil chasing a bacterium

Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell. They defend your body against harmful bacteria, by actually ingesting the bacteria ... apparently, after a bit of a chase.

Deborah Byrd

February 16, 2014

Ronan the sea lion still rockin’ to a variety of beats

We knew Ronan could keep a beat. A new video presents Ronan's ability to respond to a familiar song at a range of unfamiliar tempos.

Deborah Byrd

February 16, 2014

Video: The World Outside My Window

Time-lapse photography from International Space Station Expeditions 29, 30 and 31.

Deborah Byrd

February 16, 2014

John Stanmeyer wins 2013 World Press Photo of the Year

The World Press Photo Contest honors outstanding photojournalism.

Deborah Byrd

February 14, 2014

Venus brightest in mid-February for all of 2014

What's that very bright star or planet in the east before sunrise now? It's the planet Venus, now near its time of greatest brilliancy.

Bruce McClure

Deborah Byrd

February 14, 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.