Posts by

Paul Scott Anderson

Natural radio signal buzzes in Venus’ atmosphere

New measurements from Parker Solar Probe - the first new direct measurements of Venus' atmosphere in nearly 30 years - showed an unexpected natural radio signal being emitted by Venus' ionosphere. The probe made the discovery while using Venus as a "gravity slingshot" to come closer to the sun.

Paul Scott Anderson

May 9, 2021

These 5 multi-star systems have habitable zones

Astronomers have identified 5 multi-star systems that have stable habitable zones. This means that any rocky worlds that may exist in those zones could potentially have life.

Paul Scott Anderson

May 9, 2021

History of Mars’ habitability preserved in ancient dunes

On Earth, scientists study rock layers and the fossils embedded in them to learn about ancient life. A new study focused on red Mars - the desert planet - did something similar. It looked at the record of changing habitability preserved in ancient dune fields.

Paul Scott Anderson

May 7, 2021

Mars might support microbial life, deep underground

New research suggests that the Mars underground has the right ingredients for present-day microbial life.

Paul Scott Anderson

May 7, 2021

NASA expects upcoming space telescope to find 100,000 new worlds

NASA's Roman space telescope mission - launching sometime in the mid-2020s - is expected to find at least 100,000 new exoplanets orbiting other stars, say astronomers.

Paul Scott Anderson

May 6, 2021

See 2 black holes in cosmic dance

NASA has released a cool new visualization showing two massive black holes orbiting each other in a stunning display of light. The intense gravity and other phenomena all play a part in producing this mesmerizing display. Watch here.

Paul Scott Anderson

April 27, 2021

1st complete view of Venus’ orbital dust ring

NASA's Parker Solar Probe, currently studying the sun, has observed the entire dust ring that encircles the sun along Venus' orbit. It is the first complete view of this dust band from any spacecraft.

Paul Scott Anderson

April 24, 2021

Martian hill named to honor Curiosity scientist

NASA has given the name Rafael Navarro Mountain to a hill in Gale Crater on Mars, where the Curiosity rover has been exploring since 2012. Navarro, a mission scientist, died in January 2021 from Covid-19.

Paul Scott Anderson

April 15, 2021

Possible life signs in the clouds of Venus

A new analysis of data from the 1978 Pioneer Venus mission, by researchers at Cal Poly Pomona, finds evidence not only for phosphine, but also possible chemical disequilibrium in Venus' atmosphere, an additional possible sign of biological activity.

Paul Scott Anderson

April 13, 2021

Scientists detect X-rays from Uranus

For the first time, scientists have detected X-rays being emitted by the planet Uranus. The discovery was made by a new analysis of data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Paul Scott Anderson

April 7, 2021

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.