Doris Elin Urrutia

Doris Elin Urrutia

Contributing Writer

Doris is a science journalist and Space.com contributor. She received a B.A. in Sociology and Communications at Fordham University in New York City. Her first work was published in collaboration with London Mining Network, where her love of science writing was born. Her passion for astronomy started as a kid when she helped her sister build a model solar system in the Bronx. She got her first shot at astronomy writing as a Space.com editorial intern and continues to write about all things cosmic for the website. Doris has also written about microscopic plant life for Scientific American’s website and about whale calls for their print magazine. She has also written about ancient humans for Inverse, with stories ranging from how to recreate Pompeii’s cuisine to how to map the Polynesian expansion through genomics. She currently shares her home with two rabbits. Follow her on twitter at @salazar_elin.

Latest articles by Doris Elin Urrutia

Mercury will transit the sun on Nov. 11, 2019. Here is a timeline in UTC/GMT of the rare celestial event and Mercury's path across the sun.

Mercury Transit 2019: Here Are the Stages to Watch

By Doris Elin Urrutia last updated

Skywatchers must use special sun-viewing lenses to safely observe Mercury's transit.

Mercury
The transit of Mercury on May 9, 2016, as seen by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. The planet is a small black circle on the left side of the sun.

Mercury Transit 2019: How a Spacecraft Fleet Will Watch the Rare Event from Space

By Doris Elin Urrutia last updated

On Monday (Nov. 11), Mercury will move across the sun's face, and several missions will have their sights set on the rare event.

Launches & Spacecraft
A poster for the potential Interstellar Probe mission, which would seek to lay the foundation for future journeys to other star systems.

Scientists Chat Interstellar Probe Project in New York City

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Sending scientific instruments to the edge of the heliosphere, or the sun's region of influence, is like going to the edge of the fish bowl.

Satellites
The Fox series "neXt" premieres in 2020 and stars actors John Slattery (left), Fernanda Andrade (center) and Jason Butler Harner (right).

AI Thriller 'neXt' Takes a Frightening Look at Modern Society's Relationship with Technology

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

A rogue artificial intelligence ruthlessly seeks to get smarter in a new television thriller premiering on the Fox network in 2020.

Space Movies & Shows
Artist's concept of LightSail 2 above Earth.

Bill Nye and Planetary Society Set to Ride a Sunbeam with LightSail 2 Solar Sail

By Doris Elin Urrutia last updated

This Monday (June 24), the nonprofit organization The Planetary Society will launch LightSail 2, the first spacecraft propelled solely by sunlight.

Satellites
This Chewbacca and C3PO 2-pack comes with a mesh backpack and removable limbs. Hasbro representatives described the collectible items at New York Comic Con on Oct. 6, 2019.

See Hasbro's 'Star Wars' Collectibles from New York Comic Con 2019

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Representatives from Hasbro discussed new fall 2019 collectibles at New York Comic Con earlier this month.

Space Games & Toys
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Asteroid Hygiea May Be the Smallest Dwarf Planet in the Solar System

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

The asteroid Hygiea may qualify as a dwarf planet — and it could steal the title of the smallest dwarf planet in the solar system!

Asteroids
A small outpost sits just outside of the Martian base in the 2019 video game "Moons of Madness."

Mars Monsters Inspired by Lovecraft's Cthulhu Haunt Eerie 'Moons of Madness' Game

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

"Moons of Madness" is an eerie new video game in which horror meets spaceflight.

Space Games & Toys
Actor Jason Behr (far left) will appear in at least four episodes of the second season of "Roswell, New Mexico." He played alien Max Evans in the original 1999 television series based on the 1998 "Roswell High" books by Melinda Metz.

'Roswell' Star Will Direct On-Screen Love Interest in Reboot's Season 2

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Actor Jason Behr returns to the world of extraterrestrial drama as a recurring character in "Roswell, New Mexico," creators announced on Sunday (Oct. 6) at New York Comic-Con.

Space Movies & Shows
PC gamers who alove science fiction and horror will enjoy "Moons of Madness," published by Funcom and developed by Rock Pocket Games.

A Photo Tour of the Creepy Mars Base from 'Moons of Madness'

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

A brand new video game out today (Oct. 22) is best described as Mars exploration meets Lovecraftian horror.

Space Games & Toys
The artwork for "Moons of Madness," a 2019 P.C. game developed by Rock Pocket Games and published by Funcom. It will be available for PS4 and XBOX in late January 2020.

'Moons of Madness': 6 Ways This New Space Game Is Terrifying (Video)

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Check out the haunting encounters a player can experience in the new video game "Moons of Madness" in this new gameplay video.

Space Games & Toys
Netflix's "Lost in Space 2" premieres on Dec. 24.

Robots and Pitbulls: 'Lost in Space 2' Actors Bring Smiles to New York Comic Con

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Season 2 of Netflix's "Lost in Space" promises a whole new set of ambitious, problem-solving ideas from the Robinson family as they navigate a whole new world.

Entertainment
A scene from "The Expanse" Season 4 trailer from New York Comic Con on Oct. 5, 2019.

'The Expanse' Season 4 Trailer Echoes JFK's Moonshot as Cast Talks Spaceflight

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

The new season of 'The Expanse' premiere packs explosive action sequences and dramatic new shooting locations, and a new trailer makes a nod to President John F. Kennedy.

Space Movies & Shows
United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazzaa Ali Almansoori, clad in traditional garb, poses for a crew photo aboard the International Space Station with his crewmates on Oct. 1, 2019.

The 1st Emirati Astronaut Has Had a Blast in Space, But It's Time to Come Home

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

UAE astronaut Hazzaa Ali Almansoori is spending 8 days in space.

Human Spaceflight
The International Space Station's nine-person crew of Expedition 60 poses in "space band" shirts in this photo shared by European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano (upside down) on Sept. 30, 2019. The shirts say "Kryk Chayky" (Cry of the Seagull in Russian).

Crowded Space Station: There Are 9 People from 4 Different Space Agencies in Orbit Right Now

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

It's a bit crowded at the International Space Station right now.

International Space Station
The autumnal equinox arrives on Sept. 23, 2019, at 3:49 a.m. EDT (0749 GMT).

Happy Equinox! It's the 1st Day of Autumn in Earth's Northern Hemisphere

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

This morning (Sept. 23) at 3:49 a.m. EDT (0749 GMT) marked the official celestial beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

Earth
An illustration of Relativity Space's Terran 1 rocket launching into space.

Relativity Space to Launch Satellite 'Tugs' on 3D-Printed Rocket

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Relativity Space, a company that builds and lofts 3D-printed rockets, will launch a half-dozen missions for the in-orbit shuttle service company Momentus beginning in 2021.

Satellites
SOFIA, an airborne observatory run by a joint program between NASA and Germany's space program, DLR, is seen here in Palmdale, California, before its flight to Germany in September 2019

NASA's Airborne Observatory SOFIA Takes Flight Over Europe Today

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Today (Sept. 18) a unique airborne space observatory will perform its first scientific flight over Europe.

The Universe
The VISTA telescope from the European Southern Observatory captured this new, "unprecedented" look at the nearby dwarf galaxy known as the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Large Magellanic Cloud Shines in 'Unprecedented' New Telescope Imagery

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Beyond the border of our Milky Way lies a fascinating satellite galaxy that takes center stage in new imagery.

Space Exploration
Deforestation in the state of Rondônia, in western Brazil, was visible to NASA's Earth-observing Terra satellite in July 2012.

Brazil's Space Agency Head Was Forced Out for Defending Climate Science

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

In just one month, June 2019, the Amazon rainforest experienced deforestation over a region larger than Maui.

Climate Change
A total solar eclipse will be visible on April 8, 2024, over Mexico, the United States and Canada.

It's Not Too Early to Plan for the Great American Total Solar Eclipse of 2024

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Wednesday (Aug. 21) marked the two-year anniversary of the Great American Solar Eclipse!

Eclipses
Activists gather at the base of Mauna Kea to protest the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope.

Hawaii's Mauna Kea Observatories Will Reopen After Weeks of Telescope Protests

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Astronomers at the Mauna Kea telescopes in Hawaii are returning to work after pausing their operations in response to the gathering of thousands of activists over the past four weeks.

Space Exploration
The skin of grapes contain a compound that may help protect the musculoskeletal systems of future astronauts bound for Mars. A person on a long-duration mission to Mars would have to endure the deteriorative effects of the planet's gravity, which is about 40% as strong as what we experience on Earth's surface.

Martian Merlot? How a Red Wine Compound May Help Us Cope with Mars' Gravity

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Researchers recently studied the effects that a plant compound found in grapes and wine could have to preserve the density and mass of muscles in rats placed under Martian-like conditions.

Mars
Researcher Mike Meyer mounted several microtektites on micropaleontology slides. These microspherules are likely proof that a meteorite struck the ocean near the state of Florida a couple of million years ago.

These Glass Pearls from Clam Fossils Hint at Ancient Meteorite Crash in Florida

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Tiny glass pearls found inside fossilized clams are likely a sign that a meteorite made a sizeable splash near the ancient Florida peninsula, according to a team of researchers.

Meteors & Meteor Showers
Artist's concept of LightSail 2 above Earth.

LightSail 2 Deploys Solar Sail to Surf the Sun's Rays

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Today, a bread-loaf size spacecraft finally turned itself into a solar sail.

Satellites
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