Posts by

Paul Scott Anderson

Beautiful outcome of a fight between sibling stars

In a cosmic 'stellar fight,' a red giant star engulfed its smaller binary companion star. The chaos, however, created a beautiful space image.

Paul Scott Anderson

February 5, 2020

Tarantula Nebula seen through the eyes of Spitzer

Stunning new Spitzer Space Telescope image of the Tarantula Nebula in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud dwarf galaxy. Spitzer ended its 16-year mission on January 30.

Paul Scott Anderson

February 3, 2020

Study suggests early Earth’s atmosphere was rich in carbon dioxide

Scientists studying tiny ancient meteorites have found evidence that Earth's atmosphere used to contain much more carbon dioxide, and maybe less nitrogen, than it does now.

Paul Scott Anderson

February 2, 2020

Study says Enceladus’ inner complexity is good for life

The interior of Saturn's moon Enceladus is geochemically complex, making its subsurface ocean quite habitable for possible life, according to a new study from Southwest Research Institute.

Paul Scott Anderson

January 29, 2020

Is there a 2nd planet orbiting Proxima Centauri?

Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our sun, may have a second planet, according to researchers from the National Institute of Astrophysics. If confirmed, it would be an ideal candidate for direct imaging by new upcoming space telescopes.

Paul Scott Anderson

January 27, 2020

Could salt-loving microbes explain Mars’ methane?

New laboratory studies - simulating conditions on the planet Mars and using salt-loving microbes - suggest that similar organisms could be producing Mars' mysterious methane.

Paul Scott Anderson

January 26, 2020

Goldilocks stars best for alien life?

A new research study suggests that K-type dwarf stars (smaller and cooler than our sun) are the best place to search for alien life. These stars are not too hot, not too cool, and not too violent for life to evolve.

Paul Scott Anderson

January 23, 2020

Ancient stardust in meteorite is older than Earth

Grains of stardust - particles left behind by star explosions - in an Australian meteorite are now the oldest known material on Earth. A new study suggests this stardust came to be long before our sun ever existed.

Paul Scott Anderson

January 20, 2020

A new way to detect oxygen in exoplanet atmospheres

In recent years, astronomers have pondered the search for biosignatures, or signs of life, in the atmospheres of distant exoplanets. Will the James Webb Space Telescope - due to launch in 2021 - be able to detect them? A new technique says yes.

Paul Scott Anderson

January 17, 2020

Did phosphorus-rich lakes help kickstart life on Earth?

The building blocks of life as we know it require chemical reactions involving phosphorus. But phosphorus is scarce on Earth. Where did enough of it come from to fuel life's start? Carbonate-rich lakes, like Mono Lake in California, might hold a clue.

Paul Scott Anderson

January 17, 2020

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.