Gemma Lavender, Space, Astronomy and Physics Editor at Science Report.
Gemma Lavender
15 reportsEditor
Space, astronomy and physics editor
Gemma Lavender is a space, astronomy and physics editor covering observatories, planetary missions, stars, galaxies, black holes and the instruments used to study the universe. She focuses on what observations show, how measurements are made and where uncertainty limits scientific conclusions.
Latest News
ALMA Reveals Persistent Hotspots on Betelgeuse's Turbulent Surface
Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array have mapped Betelgeuse's surface in unprecedented detail, revealing long-lived hotspots and complex plasma flows that challenge current models of red supergiant stars
SpaceX Plans $100 Billion Starbase Louisiana for Starship Launches
SpaceX and Louisiana officials have announced a $100 billion investment to build Starbase Louisiana, a major new launch and manufacturing site designed to support thousands of Starship launches annually from the Gulf Coast.
Earth-Facing Sunspot Fires M6.9 Flare and CME Toward Earth
A highly active sunspot has produced an M6.9-class solar flare and launched a coronal mass ejection toward Earth, raising the possibility of geomagnetic disturbances and enhanced auroral activity later this week
Ares Shield to Equip Lonestar Satellites With Microwave Defense Modules
Florida-based Lonestar Data Holdings has signed a contract with Polish startup Ares Shield to supply high-power microwave defense systems for its planned orbital data centers, aiming to counter satellite threats without generating space debris
ISS Spacewalk Removes Failed Antenna but Leaves Replacement Unfinished
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and NASA astronaut Anil Menon spent over six hours outside the International Space Station on August 18, 2026, removing a malfunctioning antenna during a technically demanding extravehicular activity
SpaceX to Retire Falcon 9 as Starship Nears Operational Status
SpaceX has announced plans to phase out its Falcon 9 rocket once the Starship launch system achieves reliable, frequent operations. The transition could reshape commercial launch access and mission planning for years ahead
Pluto's Planet Status Revisited as Astronomers Debate IAU Definition
Two decades after Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet, new observations and ongoing debate among planetary scientists are challenging the criteria that define what counts as a planet in our solar system
Milky Way's Oldest Known Merger Leaves Lasting Mark at Galactic Center
Astronomers have identified evidence of the Milky Way's earliest known galactic merger, using Hubble Space Telescope data to trace ancient globular clusters and reveal a collision that shaped the galaxy's core nearly 12 billion years ago
NASA Backs 18 Advanced Concepts for Future Space Missions
NASA has awarded funding to 18 early-stage technology proposals, supporting research into new mission concepts including lunar cave exploration, exoplanet imaging, and distributed probes for Saturn's rings
China Delays Chang'e 7 Moon South Pole Launch Amid Severe Weather
China's Chang'e 7 lunar mission, designed to search for water ice near the Moon's south pole, has been postponed due to a tropical depression threatening the Hainan launch site. The new launch window remains uncertain
Seventeen Spacecraft Reveal Asymmetric Structure in Solar Ejection
A coronal mass ejection observed in December 2024 was tracked by 17 spacecraft across the solar system, revealing an unexpected double-lobed structure with significant speed differences between its components
Dark Energy Camera Reveals Ancient Stars and Stellar Birth in Corona Australis
A new image from the Dark Energy Camera on the Blanco 4-meter Telescope captures the Corona Australis Molecular Cloud, highlighting both newborn stars and one of the oldest star clusters in the Milky Way
X-15 Rocket Plane Sets 1963 Altitude Record Above Kármán Line
On August 22, 1963, the X-15 rocket plane piloted by Joe Walker reached an altitude exceeding 108 kilometers, providing rare data on hypersonic flight and spacecraft reusability during a pivotal era for space research
UFO Claims Face Scrutiny as New Book Examines Evidence and Uncertainty
A new book by Adam Kirsch investigates the enduring fascination with UFOs, comparing eyewitness accounts to scientific standards and exploring why concrete evidence remains elusive despite decades of reports
NASA Prepares Astronaut Training for Commercial Space Station Era
NASA's Johnson Space Center is adapting its astronaut training and mission operations to support a transition from the International Space Station to a new generation of commercial space stations, with government and private industry working side by side
