Posts by

Deborah Byrd

The race is on to sample an ancient Antarctic lake

British, Russian and American teams all are aiming to sample buried lakes in Antarctica. Now a British team has returned after successfully hauling its gear into place.

Deborah Byrd

January 16, 2012

Astronomy Picture of the Day helps solve supernova mystery

A powerful stellar explosion hundreds of years ago left behind this supernova remnant. Astronomers now believe they understand why the explosion took place.

Deborah Byrd

January 13, 2012

Milky Way has 100 billion planets, astronomers say

Our Milky Way galaxy contains at least 100 billion planets. That’s according to new a statistical study released today (January 11, 2012).

Deborah Byrd

January 11, 2012

Earthlike moons in habitable zones of double suns

Earthlike moons might exist in the habitable zones around double star systems, according to astronomers from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Deborah Byrd

January 9, 2012

Large-scale map of dark matter reveals intricate cosmic web

These astronomers say this is the first direct glimpse at dark matter on large scales showing the cosmic web in all directions.

Deborah Byrd

January 9, 2012

Lakes and storms on Saturn’s moon Titan explained

Saturn's moon Titan has an impenetrable methane atmosphere. Scientists explain mysteries of the "methane cycle" on Titan - a cousin to Earth's water cycle.

Deborah Byrd

January 7, 2012

Genetically engineered silkworms with spider genes spin super silk

Super strong silk from genetically engineered silkworms might be useful for sutures, artificial limbs and parachutes.

Deborah Byrd

January 7, 2012

Final Orion spacecraft water landing test will happen January 6

The Orion crew capsule test conjures up memories of Apollo astronauts splashing down in the oceans in the '60s and '70s.

Deborah Byrd

January 5, 2012

Satellite shows ghost shoreline of Lake Buchanan in Texas

By the morning of December 28, 2011, Lake Buchanan stood roughly 23 feet (7 meters) below its historic average for the month.

Deborah Byrd

January 5, 2012

Turn down the sound on your iPod or risk early hearing loss

One in four teens might be at risk of early hearing loss due to too many hours listening - at too high a volume - to music on their iPods and other MP3 devices.

Deborah Byrd

January 2, 2012

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.