Robert Lea
Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University. Follow him on Twitter @sciencef1rst.
Latest articles by Robert Lea
![The remains of a massive stellar eplosion or supernova called Cassiopeia A](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbfoj5YJ63ZxZmhthNjZ7R-320-80.png)
Over 10,000 exploding stars catalogued by groundbreaking Zwicky Transient Facility
By Robert Lea published
The Zwicky Transient Facility has reached an incredible milestone, classifying over 10,000 supernovas, cosmic explosions that mark the death of massive stars.
![Hundreds of galaxies appear in this view, which is set against the black background of space. There are many overlapping objects at various distances. They include large, blue foreground stars, some with eight diffraction spikes, and white and pink spiral and elliptical galaxies. Numerous tiny orange dots appear throughout the scene](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ciip6oQ8DsY54s7JMBiqQ8-320-80.png)
Spiderweb protocluster is filled with baby galaxies, James Webb Space Telescope reveals (image)
By Robert Lea published
Using the JWST astronomers have dived deeper into a cosmic spiderweb called the Spiderweb protocluster located 10 billion light-years away than ever before.
![An illustration shows an ultra-light super puff planet orbiting a sun like star](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NY6X8xiqEErQ9dhUJYVSdU-320-80.png)
James Webb Space Telescope discovers 4th exoplanet in sweet triple 'super puff' star system
By Robert Lea published
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered a fourth planet in Kepler-51, a sweet system of cotton candy super puff planets.
![An illustration of a a cat's outline outside a black hole](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DUqn6t98bDKwPaBjpZ9rw8-320-80.png)
Are planet-killing black holes hiding inside your cat?
By Robert Lea published
New research suggests that tiny primordial black holes could be hollowing out planets and passing through everyday objects, maybe even you and your cat!
![An illustration shows an asteriod slamming into a neutron star releasing a Fast Radio Burst](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sEnqkLTBoGHY6KP3MDe77Q-320-80.png)
Mysterious fast radio bursts could be caused by asteroids slamming into dead stars
By Robert Lea published
An asteroid hitting a neutron star could release enough energy to power humanity for 100 million years, more than enough to explain fast radio bursts!
![An illustration shows a potential second Big Bang, a "dark Big Bang."](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LaL6rioYcomwZL8iZVZ6PH-320-80.png)
Could dark matter have been forged in a second 'Dark Big Bang?'
By Robert Lea published
The Big Bang may not have been the origin of the universe's most mysterious matter. Instead, dark matter could have been created in a second creation event, a "Dark Big Bang."
![An image of Venus's surface created using data from the Pioneer, Venera, and Magellan missions](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HBUDDbawrTaNoTcsfp2hkB-320-80.png)
Did Venus ever have oceans to support life, or was it 'born hot'?
By Robert Lea published
New research suggests that Venus may never have possessed liquid water oceans. That would mean "Earth's evil twin" was always hostile to life.
![An illustration of a pulsar, a rapidly spinning neutron star that sweeps beams of radiation through space like a cosmic lighthouse](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FBkzNLfV8mRJFfpSZuVFEP-320-80.png)
Destroyed observatory helped SETI unlock the secrets of 'cosmic lighthouses' powered by dead stars
By Robert Lea published
Years after the collapse of the Arecebo telescope data from the radio observatory has helped SETI scientists probe the characteristics of pulsars, cosmic lighthouses powered by dead stars.
![A large glowing orange sphere next to a much smaller blue orb](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/59ttHY7zWEYpzvfVfgWQbP-320-80.png)
Mysterious, record-breaking energy burst connected to dead star and red dwarf
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have tracked a mysterious, record-breaking blast of energy to a binary star system containing a red dwarf star and a white dwarf — solving a two-decade-long puzzle.
![A light blue sphere in a clearing at the heart of an orange cloud of gas](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mSbs6WxfPyfcxcoQskth3i-320-80.png)
Dead stars within supernova explosions could solve the dark matter mystery in 10 seconds
By Robert Lea published
If astronomers could catch bursts of gamma rays from supernova explosions that create neutron stars near the Milky Way, the mystery of dark matter could be wrapped up in 10 seconds.
![A stunning image of the young stars of westerlund 1 as seen by the JWST](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wyrC7FihmN7qAioKqhnuDN-320-80.png)
James Webb Space Telescope explores monster star supercluster Westerlund 1 (image)
By Robert Lea published
The James Webb Space Telescope has taken a detailed look at the Milky Way's monstrous young supercluster Westerlund 1.
![A square shaped grey rock with a rough surface next to a silver pair of tweezers lifting a circular ring above a green square filled with irregular shapes](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LQyBu3L8SdUFoXn9xvqBPY-320-80.png)
Japan's priceless asteroid Ryugu sample got 'rapidly colonized' by Earth bacteria
By Robert Lea published
A sample of the asteroid Ryugu returned to Earth by the Hayabusa2 mission was rapidly colonized by terrestrial microorganisms, new research has revealed.
![A black and white field of view with a faint white dot in red crosshairs](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bbPFHnr8mJyuYD93vxGmJg-320-80.png)
Goodnight moon! Astronomers snap photo of Earth's departing mini-moon
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers used the Two-meter Twin Telescope to catch a "see-you-soon" image of the asteroid 2024 PT5 as it ended its stint as Earth's second moon on Monday (Nov. 25).
![An illustration of the asteroid PT5 as it leaves Earth after a stint as our "second moon."](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nCWc3RtvgdcyVVHBWnNm2o-320-80.png)
Earth's mini-moon has finally departed. Will it ever return as a 'second moon?'
By Robert Lea published
Departing on Monday (Nov. 25), Earth's recent "mini-moon" asteroid 2024 PT5 didn't stick around for Thanksgiving, but don't be sad. It will be back... but will it ever be a second moon again?
![A bright blue orb next to an orange swirl against a smoky red background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dPEG2WfCvqHTrU6soTBvqL-320-80.png)
'Hidden black hole' devouring curious star exposed by new X-ray space telescope
By Robert Lea published
In a "rite of passage," the JAXA/NASA X-ray telescope XRISM has mapped in detail Cygnus X-3, a curious binary system with a potential black hole feasting stellar winds blowing from a massive star.
![A large red swirl with a glowing red center (inset) Ten black squares in two layers of five containing red and blue dots](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jZvj9FpWq2pEoCYS3tQgpE-320-80.png)
James Webb Space Telescope 'pushed to its limits' to see most distant galaxies ever
By Robert Lea published
The James Webb Space Telescope may have broken another of its own records, finding potentially five of the earliest and most distant galaxies ever seen.
![On the left an orange-brown sphere on the right a smooth black rock](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j6pYFVEcdEu6ELPaUcA8nK-320-80.png)
Did alien life exist in hot water on Mars billions of years ago?
By Robert Lea published
Was alien life in "hot water" on Mars billions of years ago? New evidence from the Martian meteorite "Black Beauty" suggests so.
![Glowing orbs against a black background with a white hexagon indicating the site of colliding galaxies](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MsF7Qmectwr4VSAynAjMz7-320-80.png)
2-million-mile-per-hour galactic crash reawakens a dangerous 'cosmic crossroads'
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have observed a galaxy ripping through galactic debris left by multiple collisions at a dangerous "cosmic crossroads" called Stephan's Quintet.
![A blue green and white sphere next to a irregular grey object and a light grey sphere.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QDwbMADmD6BYnjiaPy5D77-320-80.png)
Earth's 'second moon' is just visiting its cosmic parents for Thanksgiving
By Robert Lea published
The asteroid 2024 PT5 will leave Earth on Nov. 25 after visiting, but new analysis shows this temporary "second moon" may come from our original moon and, thus, from Earth itself.
![An arc of four purple lights over an elongated yellow orb next to a red swirl with a fifth purple orb at the bottom of the image](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HnsucBTgHJyh687dopVoKo-320-80.png)
James Webb Space Telescope spots 1st 'Einstein zig-zag' — here's why scientists are thrilled
By Robert Lea published
The James Webb Space Telescope has identified the first-ever "Einstein zig-zag," a distant quasar lensed six times by two precisely aligned galaxies that could help tackle a cosmological crisis.
![An orange ring with a misshapen yellow sphere at its center](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XeKdsiorGhBzPQ84CAzkQS-320-80.png)
Star imaged in detail outside the Milky Way for the 1st time (image, video)
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have captured the first zoomed-in image of a star beyond the Milky Way. The historic image reveals a dying behemoth star wrapped in a death shroud of gas about to explode.
![A orange disk emiting white smoke across its plane with a black orb at its center](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NCc7MeWiHYmeSGQ4NhDPUn-320-80.png)
Supermassive black holes bent the laws of physics to grow to monstrous sizes
By Robert Lea published
Scientists may have cracked one of the biggest mysteries in space science, determining that supermassive black holes bent the laws of physics to grow to their huge sizes.
![A rainbow composed of jagged fibres extends out from the grey dome of an observatory](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q5gWeFvQRDqThzoaNwaXSg-320-80.png)
'Mind-blowing' dark energy instrument results show Einstein was right about gravity — again
By Robert Lea published
The first year of data from the 5,000 robotic eyes of DESI shows Einstein's theory of general relativity is the right recipe for gravity despite the challenges of dark energy and dark matter.
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