Posts by

Paul Scott Anderson

Shrinking exoplanets? Here’s how it happens

Scientists say they may have solved the mystery of shrinking exoplanets. Radiation from the cores of less massive sub-Neptunes pushes away their atmospheres.

Paul Scott Anderson

November 26, 2023

‘Bouncing comets’ could spread the seeds of life

Researchers in the U.K. said in a new study that 'bouncing comets' in some planetary systems could deliver prebiotic molecules needed for life to young planets.

Paul Scott Anderson

November 24, 2023

Salt glaciers on Mercury could harbor habitable niches

Researchers have found evidence of glaciers on Mercury. They are composed of salt, not ice, and could potentially create habitable niches for microorganisms.

Paul Scott Anderson

November 22, 2023

Are Eris and Pluto different on the inside?

Dwarf planets Eris and Pluto are outwardly similar. But a new study suggests they are quite different on the inside, and that they evolved differenly.

Paul Scott Anderson

November 21, 2023

Are 2 huge blobs inside Earth due to an ancient impact?

A new study from an international team of researchers says that 2 huge blobs inside Earth came from the collision with the planet Theia billions of years ago.

Paul Scott Anderson

November 13, 2023

Jupiter’s moon Ganymede is coated in salts and organics

NASA's Juno spacecraft has found salts and organics on Jupiter's largest moon, Ganymede. They suggest that watery brines came up to the surface from deep below.

Paul Scott Anderson

November 12, 2023

Rover spies rock features on Mars with odd circular shapes

NASA's Perseverance rover recently found odd circular rock features on Mars, similar to ones made by microbes on Earth in lakes. Evidence of life or geology?

Paul Scott Anderson

November 9, 2023

Best places to find ice on Mars revealed in new NASA map

NASA has released a new map of ice on Mars as part of the Subsurface Water Ice Mapping project. It shows all the known and suspected areas of underground ice.

Paul Scott Anderson

November 6, 2023

Astronomers spy new auroras for Uranus

For the 1st time, astronomers have detected infrared auroras for Uranus, the 7th planet. They say it'll help them learn about Earth's auroras.

Paul Scott Anderson

November 3, 2023

A network of life-supporting rivers for Mars?

Could there once have been a network of life-supporting rivers for Mars? A study from Penn State suggests Mars' rivers might once have been common.

Paul Scott Anderson

November 1, 2023

Paul Scott Anderson

Paul Scott Anderson has had a passion for space exploration that began when he was a child when he watched Carl Sagan’s Cosmos. He studied English, writing, art and computer/publication design in high school and college. He later started his blog The Meridiani Journal in 2005, which was later renamed Planetaria. He also later started the blog Fermi Paradoxica, about the search for life elsewhere in the universe. While interested in all aspects of space exploration, his primary passion is planetary science and SETI. In 2011, he started writing about space on a freelance basis with Universe Today. He has also written for SpaceFlight Insider and AmericaSpace and has also been published in The Mars Quarterly. He also did some supplementary writing for the iOS app Exoplanet. He has been writing for EarthSky since 2018, and also assists with proofing and social media.