Posts by

Paul Scott Anderson

Lightning on Venus? It’s rare, if it exists, says a study

Is there lightning on Venus? Contrary to previous belief, a new study from the University of Colorado Boulder suggests it is rare, if it even exists at all.

Paul Scott Anderson

October 10, 2023

Why did VERITAS mission scientists travel to Iceland?

An international team of scientists recently studied volcanic activity on Iceland. The data will be used to prepare for the future VERITAS mission to Venus.

Paul Scott Anderson

October 10, 2023

Curiosity rover reaches ancient ridge of mud and boulders

After 3 attempts, NASA's Curiosity rover has finally reached a large ridge composed of ancient mud and rocks. The ridge preserves a record of Mars' wet past.

Paul Scott Anderson

October 1, 2023

What is this weird golden orb from the seafloor?

Scientists have retrieved a weird object from the Gulf of Alaska. Dubbed the "golden orb," it's still a mystery. But now we know it's biological in origin.

Paul Scott Anderson

September 25, 2023

Did Europa’s carbon dioxide come from its ocean?

Two new studies suggest that Europa's carbon dioxide deposits originate in the moon's subsurface ocean. The results support a habitable ocean environment.

Paul Scott Anderson

September 24, 2023

There may be less water ice on the moon than we thought

We know there is water ice on the moon. But a new study suggests there is less of it in the moon's permanently shadowed regions than we previously thought.

Paul Scott Anderson

September 21, 2023

Closest black holes yet in famous Hyades star cluster?

Researchers in Europe say that they may have found the closest known black holes to Earth, in the Hyades open star cluster 150 light-years away.

Paul Scott Anderson

September 19, 2023

Aliens on TRAPPIST-1e could find us by our pollution

Researchers show how an alien civilization on TRAPPIST-1e could find us by detecting our pollution. They simulated Earth as seen from 40 light-years away.

Paul Scott Anderson

September 17, 2023

Most distant galactic magnetic field yet, in galaxy 9io9

Astronomers using the ALMA telescope have taken a close look at galaxy 9io9. The galaxy's magnetic field is the most distant that scientists have yet seen.

Paul Scott Anderson

September 10, 2023

Transparency? New UFO website for military reports

The Department of Defense has unveiled its new UFO website. It will make information available to the public as well as receive reports from military personnel.

Paul Scott Anderson

September 6, 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.