Nola Taylor Tillman
Nola Taylor Tillman is a contributing writer for Space.com. She loves all things space and astronomy-related, and enjoys the opportunity to learn more. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English and Astrophysics from Agnes Scott college and served as an intern at Sky & Telescope magazine. In her free time, she homeschools her four children. Follow her on Twitter at @NolaTRedd
Latest articles by Nola Taylor Tillman
What is dark matter?
By Nola Taylor Tillman last updated
Reference Roughly 80% of the mass of the universe is made up of dark matter, a material that scientists cannot directly observe. So why do scientists think it dominates?
What are wormholes?
By Nola Taylor Tillman, Ailsa Harvey last updated
Reference The wormhole theory postulates that a theoretical passage through space-time could create shortcuts for long journeys across the universe.
Virgin Galactic launches researchers to suborbital space on 5th commercial flight (video)
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
Virgin Galactic's reusable space plane VSS Unity aced its fifth commercial mission today (Nov. 2), continuing the one-flight-per-month tempo the company began this spring.
New Horizons' Alan Stern will fulfill a lifelong dream on Virgin Galactic spaceflight this week
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
When Alan Stern launches to space this week on Virgin Galactic's fifth commercial flight, he'll accomplish the goal of a lifetime. But it won't just be a joyride for Stern — he'll be working.
OSIRIS-REx: A complete guide to the asteroid-sampling mission
By Nola Taylor Tillman last updated
Reference The OSIRIS-REx asteroid-sampling mission delivered pieces of asteroid Bennu to Earth on Sept. 24, 2023, before moving on to study asteroid Apophis in 2029.
Red giant stars: Facts, definition & the future of the sun
By Nola Taylor Tillman last updated
Reference A red giant star is a dying star in the last stages of stellar evolution. Our own sun will turn into a red giant, expand and engulf the inner planets — including Earth.
Perseverance rover: Everything you need to know
By Nola Taylor Tillman, Mike Wall last updated
Reference NASA's Perseverance rover isn't just exploring the Red Planet. The life-hunting robot will also help a little bit of Mars make it to Earth a decade or so from now, if all goes according to plan.
What is NASA? Exploring the universe for 65 years
By Elizabeth Howell last updated
Reference NASA is the United States space agency and was founded in 1958 to do human and robotic exploration of the solar system and to study the universe as well.
Tycho Brahe: Colorful life, accomplishments and bizarre death
By Nola Taylor Tillman, Emily Staniforth last updated
Reference Tycho Brahe was a pioneering Danish astronomer from the 16th century whose data collection and discoveries changed the way scientists looked at the skies.
Saturn's moons: Facts about the weird and wonderful satellites of the ringed planet
By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated
Reference Saturn has the most moons of any other planet in the solar system. Here we explore some of the 146 moons that orbit the ringed planet.
Sir Isaac Newton biography: Inventions, laws and quotes
By Nola Taylor Tillman, Jonathan Gordon last updated
Reference Sir Isaac Newton invented calculus and explained optics. His most significant work involved forces and the development of a universal law of gravity.
How long will the new supernova visible in the night sky last?
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
A new supernova that burst into the night sky in May 2023 should remain visible in the Pinwheel Galaxy for some time, astronomers say.
Black holes: Everything you need to know
By Nola Taylor Tillman, Daisy Dobrijevic last updated
Reference Black holes are real, they're some of the strangest objects in space. Discover what black holes are and how they form with our informative black hole guide.
Stephen Hawking biography: Theories, books & quotes
By Nola Taylor Tillman, Daisy Dobrijevic last updated
Reference Delve into the life and theories of Stephen Hawking; one of the greatest theoretical physicists in history.
What is the biggest star in the universe?
By Nola Taylor Tillman last updated
Reference The largest known star in the universe is UY Scuti, a hypergiant with a radius around 1,700 times larger than the sun.
Milky Way galaxy: Everything you need to know about our cosmic neighborhood
By Tereza Pultarova, Daisy Dobrijevic last updated
Reference We are living in a golden age of Milky Way research and exploration.
Olympus Mons: The largest volcano in the solar system
By Nola Taylor Tillman last updated
Reference Olympus Mons rises 16 miles above the Martian surface, making it the solar system's tallest volcano.
Space Plutonium: US Once Again Producing Fuel for Deep-Space Missions
By Nola Taylor Tillman last updated
Main sequence stars: definition & life cycle
By Nola Taylor Tillman, Ben Biggs last updated
reference Most stars are main sequence stars that fuse hydrogen to form helium in their cores - including our sun.
Weird Shift of Earth's Magnetic Field Explained
By Nola Taylor Tillman last updated
As Earth's iron core cools unevenly, the resulting whirls create a slow westward drift in a region of the magnetic field.
Parker Solar Probe: First spacecraft to 'touch' the sun
By Daisy Dobrijevic published
Reference NASA's Parker Solar Probe is on a mission to study the sun closer than ever before. Learn more about the fastest spacecraft to date in our solar probe guide.
How did Earth form?
By Nola Taylor Tillman last updated
Earth and other planets could have formed according to two different theories.
How big is Jupiter?
By Nola Taylor Tillman, Ailsa Harvey last updated
Reference This gas giant is the largest planet in the solar system, but just how big is Jupiter?
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