Gemma Lavender, Space, Astronomy and Physics Editor at Science Report.
Gemma Lavender
137 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 actually show, how measurements are made and where uncertainty limits scientific conclusions.
Latest articles by Gemma Lavender
NASA's IXPE Detects Signs of Quantum Vacuum Effect Near Magnetar
NASA's IXPE telescope has measured X-ray polarization from a magnetar, providing evidence consistent with a quantum electrodynamics effect predicted for nearly a century but never directly observed in space
How Map Projections Distort the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse Path
Astronomers explain why the August 12, 2026, total solar eclipse appears to reverse direction on flat maps as it crosses the Arctic, despite the Moon's shadow always moving from west to east across Earth
Automated Mini-Labs Expand Space Station Research With Less Crew Time
Redwire's ADvanced Space Experiment Processors (ADSEPs) are enabling the International Space Station to run complex biological and materials science experiments with minimal astronaut involvement, advancing pharmaceutical and fundamental research in microgravity
NASA Joins Artemis III Orion Crew and Service Modules for Lunar Mission
Technicians at Kennedy Space Center have integrated the Orion crew and service modules for Artemis III, a key milestone ahead of the mission to test lunar landing system rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit
NASA Faces Challenge of Toxic Dust for Future Mars Astronauts
NASA's Martian Dust Limit Working Group has reviewed the health risks posed by Mars dust, which contains carcinogenic silica and heavy metals, and is developing exposure standards and mitigation strategies for future crewed missions
NASA's Juno Mission Transformed Jupiter Science After 2011 Launch
NASA's Juno spacecraft, launched in 2011 on an Atlas V rocket, reached Jupiter in 2016 and has since delivered unprecedented data and images, reshaping our understanding of the giant planet's atmosphere, magnetic field, and moons
Curiosity Rover Detects Extensive Polygon Patterns in Martian Valley
NASA's Curiosity rover has imaged a vast field of honeycomb-like polygonal fractures in Mars' Valle Grande, raising new questions about the planet's surface processes and past water activity
Faint X-ray Flash Reveals Unusual Supernova in Nearby Galaxy
A brief X-ray signal detected by China's Einstein Probe in March 2026 has allowed astronomers to observe the earliest moments of a rare Type Ic supernova, offering new insight into how massive stars end their lives
SpaceX Launches Three BlueBird Satellites for Direct-to-Cell Network
A Falcon 9 rocket is set to deploy three AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellites from Cape Canaveral, expanding a low Earth orbit constellation designed to deliver broadband directly to standard smartphones.
NASA Invites Public to Identify August 2026 Satellite Image
NASA Earth Observatory has released a new satellite image challenge for August 2026, inviting the public to analyze a puzzling landform and submit their interpretations based on visible clues and scientific reasoning
NASA's PUNCH Mission Narrows Solar Storm Arrival Forecasts
NASA's PUNCH mission has enabled scientists to predict the arrival of a solar eruption near Earth with a margin of just 30 minutes, using continuous 3D imaging of coronal mass ejections as they travel through the inner solar system
NASA Tracks Falcon 9 Rocket Stage Ahead of Planned Lunar Impact
NASA and SpaceX are monitoring a spent Falcon 9 upper stage expected to strike the Moon near Einstein and Bell craters, using ground and space-based telescopes to gather data and refine tracking methods
Radio Surveys Reveal Millions More Milky Way Stars Searched for SETI
A new analysis using the Besançon Galactic Model suggests that radio telescopes have surveyed over 6 million stars for extraterrestrial signals, far exceeding previous estimates based on star catalogues
Spirit Rover Data Reveals Widespread Ancient Water Activity on Mars
A new analysis of NASA's Spirit rover data has identified crystalline hematite and altered magnetite in Martian soil, supporting the view that liquid water once shaped large regions of Mars
Neptune's Inner Moons May Preserve Debris From Ancient Ice Worlds
Infrared observations from the James Webb Space Telescope reveal unexpected clay minerals on two small Neptunian moons, supporting a debris-origin scenario while leaving the fate of their original ice unresolved
