Posts by

Deborah Byrd

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

Wild chimps sound alarms for unaware friends

Chimps are more likely to make alarm calls when snake is near when other chimps are unaware of the danger, the new evidence shows.

Deborah Byrd

January 2, 2012

New Year’s Eve fireball seen in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico

Scientists believe the fireball seen New Year's Eve 2011 came from the asteroid belt. It disintegrated 82 km (51 miles) above Earth's surface.

Deborah Byrd

January 1, 2012

Powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake shakes Japan

Buildings swayed in Tokyo on this New Year's Day 2012 as a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck in the ocean near Japan.

Deborah Byrd

January 1, 2012

Smart grid may be designed with GIS

Geographic information systems may play a role in building and implementing the U.S. electrical service smart grid, and other smart grids worldwide.

Deborah Byrd

December 30, 2011

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.