Gemma Lavender, Space, Astronomy and Physics Editor at Science Report.
Gemma Lavender
30 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.
30 latest articles by Gemma Lavender
Solar Storm Forces Historians to Revise Timeline of Early Technology Disruption
A new review of historical records has corrected the date of a well-known 19th-century train delay caused by a solar storm, offering a clearer picture of how early electrical systems responded to space weather.
US military expands defense planning from ocean floor to lunar orbit
The US military's top officer says future conflicts could extend from the seafloor to the Moon's orbit, as the Space Force openly acknowledges operating defensive weapons in space for the first time.
SpaceX Falcon 9 landing team wins Neil Armstrong Space Prize
SpaceX's Falcon 9 booster landing team has received the first Neil Armstrong Space Prize, recognizing their work in making large-scale rocket reuse routine and changing the economics of space launches.
Vampire white dwarfs can collapse into neutron stars under precise conditions
Researchers have modeled how certain white dwarfs feeding on companion stars can collapse into neutron stars if their mass and accretion rate fall within a narrow range, revealing a rare but physically distinct pathway for stellar evolution.
V-2 Rocket Explosion Cut Albert III's Spaceflight Short
A V-2 rocket carrying the monkey Albert III exploded seconds after launch in 1949, exposing the dangers of early animal spaceflight and the technical limits of postwar rocketry.
Neil deGrasse Tyson releases Lost in Space, a new encyclopedia of the cosmos
Neil deGrasse Tyson and Lindsey Nyx Walker introduce Lost in Space, a 400-page National Geographic encyclopedia packed with thousands of facts, images, and profiles of planets, telescopes, and cosmic phenomena.
Spielberg's Disclosure Day brings alien conspiracy drama to streaming
Steven Spielberg's $200 million film Disclosure Day explores alien cover-ups and lands on Peacock in October 2026 after a lukewarm box office run and mixed critical response
NASA opens competition for states to host new Space Academy
NASA is inviting states to propose locations for the U.S. Space Academy, aiming to start classes in 2028 and build a permanent campus by 2031 to train future scientists and astronauts.
Webb spots puzzling changes in Chariklo's rings between Saturn and Uranus
The James Webb Space Telescope has recorded unexpected changes in the rings of Chariklo, a small centaur object between Saturn and Uranus, challenging assumptions about the stability of minor ring systems in the outer solar system.
US Confirms Deployment of Space-Based Weapons Amid Treaty Concerns
The US Air Force has acknowledged the presence of operational space control weapons in Earth orbit, prompting renewed scrutiny of international agreements and the risk of an orbital arms race
Hubble captures a superbubble shaping star formation in the Large Magellanic Cloud
A new Hubble Space Telescope image reveals a vast cavity in nebula LHA 120-N44, showing how massive stars reshape their surroundings and spark new star birth in a neighboring galaxy.
Why Venus Is Hotter Than Mercury, Even Though It's Farther from the Sun
Venus's surface is hotter than Mercury's, despite being farther from the Sun. The reason lies in Venus's thick, heat-trapping atmosphere-not its distance from our star.
Researchers suggest searching the Moon for alien technology fragments
A new study proposes that tiny fragments of ancient alien technology might be preserved in the Moon's surface. The authors outline how future lunar samples and advanced analysis could help search for these microscopic technosignatures.
Mercury's Surface Hides Evidence of Greater Planetary Shrinkage
A new study using NASA MESSENGER data finds Mercury may have shrunk by up to 30 percent more than earlier models indicated, with impact debris masking the true scale of planetary contraction
New sensor concept aims to reveal hidden nuclear weapons in orbit
A proposed satellite-based detector could identify nuclear warheads concealed on spacecraft by measuring neutron emissions, offering the first practical method to verify the decades-old ban on nuclear arms in space
AI reconstructs black hole jet motion from decades of radio data
A new AI-driven analysis of 27 years of radio telescope data has produced the sharpest reconstruction yet of a black hole jet, revealing unexpected details about plasma motion in the blazar 3C 345
September sky offers rare view of five planets and the Harvest Moon
Astronomers in the Northern Hemisphere can observe all five naked-eye planets and the Harvest Moon this September as earlier sunsets and mild weather create optimal conditions for stargazing
UNEP report signals global temperature rise beyond Paris Agreement target
A new United Nations Environment Programme analysis finds that global average temperatures are set to exceed the 1.5°C threshold established by the Paris Agreement within years, raising the stakes for rapid emission reductions and climate adaptation
ALMA reveals chaotic birth of massive binary stars in real time
Astronomers using ALMA have reconstructed the formation of a massive binary star system just 5,300 light-years away, finding evidence that the two stars joined forces only decades ago rather than forming together
ESA astronaut honors Star Trek legacy aboard International Space Station
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot marked Star Trek's 60th anniversary by wearing a Starfleet badge on the International Space Station, highlighting the show's influence on real-world space exploration and international scientific cooperation
Zodiacal Light to Illuminate September Skies Before Sunrise
A faint pyramid of zodiacal light will become visible in the eastern sky before dawn this September, offering a rare opportunity for observers to witness sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust using only the naked eye under dark conditions
High Energy Photon From Distant Gamma Ray Burst Challenges Physics Limits
A photon with record-breaking energy from the gamma ray burst GRB 221009A reached Earth despite theoretical barriers. New analysis suggests a possible explanation involving axion-like particles and Lorentz invariance violation
Landsat 8 Captures Anak Krakatau Eruption from Orbit
NASA and USGS's Landsat 8 satellite recorded Anak Krakatau's eruption as volcanic gas and ash reached the atmosphere, grounding flights and halting local activity while the volcano remains active
US Space Command simulates orbital maneuvers in live satellite exercise
US Space Command has conducted its first live orbital maneuver exercise, using satellites to simulate close-approach operations and test military tactics for potential conflict in Earth orbit
China Targets 2028 Launch for Mars Sample Return Mission
China's Tianwen 3 mission is advancing toward a 2028 launch window, with plans to return Martian surface samples to Earth by 2031 using a multi-stage spacecraft and strict planetary protection protocols
Stoke Space Secures Major Funding for Fully Reusable Nova Rocket Program
Stoke Space has raised $1 billion to advance its Nova Pathfinder and Nova Block 2 rockets, both designed for full reusability and high payload capacity to low Earth orbit, with the first orbital launch targeted for early 2027
Vela Satellite Flash Suggests Possible Nuclear Test Over South Atlantic
A 1979 double flash detected by the Vela 6911 satellite over the South Atlantic has prompted decades of investigation into whether it signaled a clandestine nuclear explosion or a natural event
Quantum test reveals Einstein's gravity holds for falling atoms
A new experiment using ultra-cold rubidium atoms has measured how gravity affects quantum waves, providing the first direct test of Einstein's equivalence principle in the quantum regime
Genesis Sample Capsule Carash Exposed a Critical Spacecraft Design Flaw
NASA's Genesis mission was meant to return solar wind samples from deep space but ended with its capsule shattered in the Utah desert after a parachute system failure. The mission's outcome forced a reexamination of spacecraft safety and sample recovery methods
Gemini North Telescope Captures Spiral Galaxies in Active Merger
A new image from the Gemini North telescope on Maunakea reveals two spiral galaxies, NGC 7253, in the process of merging. The observation, led by local students, highlights the dynamic interactions that drive galaxy evolution
