Posts by

Deborah Byrd

2011 Arctic sea ice minimum second-lowest in satellite record

Watch for the official announcement about 2011 Arctic sea ice minimum, coming soon. Expect to hear that 2011 proved to be a year of extreme melt.

Deborah Byrd

October 2, 2011

Bioluminescent surf at San Diego beaches in September, 2011

During the last week of September 2011, the coastline of San Diego County had bioluminescent surf that appeared lit from within by tiny sea creatures. See the videos.

Deborah Byrd

October 1, 2011

Moon’s shadow, like a ship, creates waves in Earth’s atmosphere

During a solar eclipse, the moon's shadow creates waves in Earth's atmosphere, much as a ship moving through the ocean creates waves at its bow and stern.

Deborah Byrd

October 1, 2011

Solar wind sandblasts Mercury

Solar wind sandblasts Mercury because its weak magnetic field provides little protection from the fierce solar wind, a squall of charged particles from the sun.

Deborah Byrd

Holly Clark Coburn

September 29, 2011

Two great videos carry you aboard ISS, flying over planet Earth

These two great videos give the feeling of being aboard the International Space Station, orbiting above our planet's night side.

Deborah Byrd

September 28, 2011

Earthquake at Washington Monument means it needs repairs

Check out this video showing terrified visitors inside the Washington Monument as a 5.8-magnitude earthquake shook the U.S. East Coast on August 23, 2011.

Deborah Byrd

September 27, 2011

Strong to severe geomagnetic storm in progress. Aurora alert!

A geomagnetic storm is in progress. If it's nighttime, and you're at a high latitude, go outside and look for auroras! And quit worrying, you. Just enjoy.

Deborah Byrd

September 26, 2011

Watch your own dreams on YouTube someday

UC Berkeley scientists decoded visual experiences in people's brains and reconstructed them into YouTube videos.

Deborah Byrd

September 24, 2011

UARS satellite reenters atmosphere over Pacific Ocean

UARS penetrated the atmosphere over the Pacific. No debris has been found. There are no reports of injury or property damage. Hoax videos are circulating.

Deborah Byrd

September 24, 2011

Fifth gas giant planet in early solar system?

Our solar system might've once had five gas giant planets. The fifth might have gotten the boot after a close encounter with Jupiter, 3.9 billion years ago.

Deborah Byrd

September 21, 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.