![Robert Lea](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FrPVWMGMDcv5rjJzExQQ4f.jpg)
Robert Lea
Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University. Follow him on Twitter @sciencef1rst.
Latest articles by Robert Lea
![Illustration of the magnetic white dwarf WD 0816-310, where astronomers have found a scar imprinted on the surface as a result of the star ingesting planetary debris.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8FDo3tdU5F3dj282qyN4Kd-320-80.png)
Zombie star earns metal scar while chewing its own planets: 'Nothing like this has been seen before'
By Robert Lea published
A zombie star feasting on its surrounding planets and asteroids hasn't escaped the cannibalistic process unscathed. Resulting debris has given this white dwarf a metal scar.
![An illustration of NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, as it approaches its target moonlet around the asteroid Didymos.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/i7efrzkNj5VvD87EDy3yne-320-80.jpg)
NASA's asteroid-impacting DART mission completely changed the shape of its target
By Robert Lea published
When NASA's asteroid-diverting DART mission slammed into the tiny moonlet Dimorphos, it didn't just shift its orbit — it also almost completely changed its shape, new research suggests.
![a bright full moon stands out starkly against a perfectly black night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FktzgmXLrTkY6hiRL8xTZN-320-80.jpg)
See February's Full Snow Moon light up the night sky around the world (photos)
By Robert Lea published
February's Full Snow Moon may have been the smallest full moon of 2024, but it had a big impact on moon lovers, skywatchers, and astrophotographers across the globe who braved the cold to catch it.
![A illustration shows a quantum experiment investigating gravity on a tiny scale.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3EJB8JkrefzSoGgKrXeNZY-320-80.png)
'Quantum gravity' could help unite quantum mechanics with general relativity at last
By Robert Lea published
Researchers have measured the gravitational pull exhibited by the smallest mass yet, a breakthrough that could lead to a quantum theory of gravity at last.
![NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X6.3-class solar flare on Feb. 22 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UgsMELTAtb9KuPnYCirNLG-320-80.png)
Sun erupts with most powerful solar flare since 2017 amid explosive week (video)
By Robert Lea published
The sun has blasted out its most powerful flare of the current solar cycle. The X6.3 solar flare peaked in the afternoon on Thursday (Feb. 22) and is the most powerful flare since 2017.
![An illustration shows a grasshopper on a branch with a total solar eclipse in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/inh2nHC3xFdvnJxpnAsThW-320-80.png)
NASA Eclipse Soundscapes Project will record how 2024's total solar eclipse impacts nature
By Robert Lea published
The public is invited to contribute to NASA's Eclipse Soundscapes Project by recording sensory data as 2024's total eclipse passes overhead to determine its effect on the animal kingdom.
![The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has observed the best evidence yet for emission from a neutron star at the site of a well-known and recently-observed supernova. The supernova, known as SN 1987A, occurred 160 000 light-years from Earth in the Large Magellanic Cloud.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BTevrpPGQTtNBV5s3wvjmD-320-80.png)
James Webb Space Telescope spots neutron star hiding in supernova wreckage
By Robert Lea published
The neutron star stayed hidden for 37 years while lurking in the wreckage of a stellar explosion, Supernova 1987A.
![An illustration of Jupiter-mass binary objects (JuMBOs) in the Orion Nebula](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zW2pD7cK5AZGupPayJiWqn-320-80.png)
Radio signals from Orion nebula reveal new data about strange celestial objects: 'JuMBOS'
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have discovered a radio signal from a 'JuMBO' in the Orion nebula, a weird celestial object discovered by the James Webb Space Telescope that defy star and planet formation models.
![illustration showing earth in the foreground, with the sun and a more distant intruding star in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3ivcYhgKTEGJioUFWSURNd-320-80.png)
'Intruder' stars have changed Earth's climate over the eons. Here's how.
By Robert Lea published
Intruding stars may have thrown Earth's orbit off-kilter in the past, causing shifts in our planet's climate, a new study suggests.
![An illustration shows the collision of two neutron stars. Scientists had proposed that such collisions might have filled our solar system with gold, but new research casts doubt on that claim.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kqucTrJLak47G9KM8osyyP-320-80.jpg)
Scientists create 5 new isotopes to learn how neutron star collisions forge gold
By Robert Lea published
Scientists have brought the stars 'down to Earth' by creating 5 new isotopes that could reveal how heavy elements like gold are created when neutron stars smash together.
![An illustration of two neutron stars colliding and merging to create a kilonova blast.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gm8bZVLrnvDXKN6uVKdkSZ-320-80.jpeg)
James Webb Space Telescope finds neutron star mergers forge gold in the cosmos: 'It was thrilling'
By Robert Lea published
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists have confirmed that neutron star mergers forge heavy elements like gold.
![Illustration of the supernova SN 2018evt whipping up a storm.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZxYzC77fREYauq9VBLxgXD-320-80.png)
These supernovas are whipping up a storm, contributing to cosmic life and death
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have observed a so-called standard candle supernova generating clouds of cosmic dust, bringing us a step closer to understanding the life and death cycle of stars.
![An illustration shows a gravastar stacked like a cosmic matryoshka doll.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/i9UChNYgBM29DbxwiGkiiZ-320-80.png)
Black hole-like 'gravastars' could be stacked like Russian tea dolls
By Robert Lea published
A new solution to Einstein's theory of general relativity suggests a hypothetical star could be made of stacked black holes.
![Diagram shows the South Pole Telescope using the Cosmic Microwave Background to observe the distribution of dark matter](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PWqtmwV8c2ySGqvBfBqNgg-320-80.png)
South Pole Telescope has a 'treasure map' to the secrets of dark matter
By Robert Lea published
A new camera on the South Pole Telescope has used the Cosmic Microwave Background as a celestial treasure map that could lead to the secrets of dark matter.
![An illustration shows the TMTS J0526 binary star system](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/muK5qzy8HUnPysrf8tnByU-320-80.png)
For this dead star, 72 years is a single Earth day
By Robert Lea last updated
Ultimately, this could reveal how stars smaller than Jupiter are born.
![Clusters of galaxies as seen by the eROSITA All-Sky Survey.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7mP3MYQhYbMeZ6tPAHLiKZ-320-80.png)
Major X-ray sky survey could relieve crisis surrounding the universe's 'lumpiness'
By Robert Lea published
Observations of galactic clusters made by the eROSITA X-ray all-sky survey could help solve a troubling tension in cosmology surrounding the 'lumpiness' of matter in the universe.
![An illustration of the recording-breaker quasar J059-4351, the bright core of a distant galaxy that is powered by a greedy supermassive black hole.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e6Bma9E639TMXcB7PXmsJV-320-80.png)
Brightest quasar ever seen is powered by black hole that eats a 'sun a day'
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have discovered a quasar that remained hidden for over the years is the brightest ever, powered by the fastest growing black hole ever discovered that eats a sun every day.
![An illustration of the twin cubesats of NASA's PEFIRE mission which will monitor heat lost to space from Earth's poles](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mi3CTNxUDfxyLVd79ULTAe-320-80.png)
NASA's twin spacecraft will go to the ends of the Earth to combat climate change
By Robert Lea published
In Spring 2024, NASA will launch two tiny twin satellites as part of the PREFIRE mission that will journey to the poles to collect data that will help monitor climate change.
![a dark background with a base of orange-hued clouds. in front, the image of a magazine showing an eclipse on the cover, on the right, smaller open magazines show people in sunglasses. the words 'SPACE COM ECLIPSES' are large.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QJCaSCBUJ87ryHqBrBN3Ha-320-80.png)
Get ready for the 2024 total solar eclipse with Space.com with our 'Eclipses' bookazine
By Robert Lea published
Grab a copy of Space.com's 2024 solar eclipse edition and a pair of solar eclipse glasses to get ready for April's exciting event.
![a large orange circle stretches the image height. Inside, dots are labeled to show the quarter moon near the Pleiades star cluster.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/g3gSDsVHRY3UAEekGtTddQ-320-80.jpg)
See the moon meet up with the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades tonight
By Robert Lea published
The moon meets up with the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades on Friday (Feb. 16) as skywatchers get a chance to see lunar landmarks known as the Lunar X and Lunar V.
![an illuminated sphere flies through black space, with wide rings jetting up and down from its surface. it's tailed by a smooth gaseous wisp of orangish yellow](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BiVGBXF7ELy6XcZLJqFZXV-320-80.jpg)
Dead star 'glitches' could reveal the origins of fast radio bursts
By Robert Lea published
The highly magnetic neutron star underwent two massive shifts in velocity and then slowed down due to powerful magnetar winds.
![An illustration of a glowing blue orb surrounded by a hazy blue disk. Another glowing blue orb is in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JjBNQvmuMgXPrfqF2HdwrV-320-80.jpeg)
'Odd couple' kissing stars created by unromantic cannibalistic feeding dance
By Robert Lea published
Valentine's Day won't be all hearts and flowers for some "kissing stars." These "odd couples" were created by a close-quarters feeding dance.
![An illustration shows 22 planetary nebula arranged according to size.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NBe4E2RXH6Mn39DySYxKjk-320-80.png)
Fire but no brimstone: Where is the universe's missing sulfur?
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers may finally know why some death shrouds created by the deaths of sun-like stars lack the element sulfur.
![(Left) Mars a future target for human space exploration (Right) Two of the bacteria that reserarchers found can survive in Martian soil](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XG2zDh3hmmwkuWpJTWDwkQ-320-80.png)
Astronauts may accidentally threaten Mars missions with their gut bacteria, scientists warn
By Robert Lea published
New research has shown that disease-causing bacteria carried in the human gut can also survive in Martian soil, a discovery with implications for future crewed exploration of Mars.