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
Accidental discovery reveals 'millinovas,' a new class of cosmic explosion 100 times brighter than the sun
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have accidently spotted a new type of cosmic explosion called a "millinova" triggered by white dwarfs feeding on stars. If that sounds familiar get ready for a suprise!
Artemis Accords: What are they & which countries are involved?
By Robert Lea last updated
Reference As the Artemis program aims to return humanity to the moon and beyond, the Artemis Accords lay out a framework for nations collaborating in this effort.
Brown dwarfs: The stars that 'fail'
By Robert Lea last updated
Brown dwarfs blur the lines between stars and planets.
NASA's Hubble and Chandra telescopes discover a strange 'sideways' black hole in a cosmic crime scene (image)
By Robert Lea published
Using the NASA space telescopes Hubble and Chandra astronomers have discovered a strange black hole that has been knocked on its side in a cosmic crime scene.
'Missing link' black hole found? Not so fast, new study says
By Robert Lea published
A "missing link" black hole in Omega Centauri is still missing. What appeared to be an intermediate-mass black hole was a cluster of stellar-mass black holes.
This baby exoplanet is made of different stuff than its birth cloud
By Robert Lea published
Investigating a young exoplanet called PDS 70b in its cocoon of natal gas and dust has shown that planets don't always resemble the environments they form in.
James Webb Space Telescope catches monster black hole napping after 'overeating' in the early universe
By Robert Lea published
The James Webb Space Telescope has caught a napping monster black hole in the early universe. The cosmic giant is slumbering after a massive meal like a reveller on Christmas Day.
Hubble trouble or Superbubble? Astronomers need to escape the 'supervoid' to solve cosmology crisis
By Robert Lea published
The disagreement in the rate of expansion of the universe, the Hubble tension, could arise from the fact Earth sits in an under-dense supervoid region of space.
Astronomers discover 1st binary stars orbiting supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have used the Very Large Telescope to discover the first binary stars around the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way.
1st monster black hole ever pictured erupts with surprise gamma-ray explosion
By Robert Lea published
The Event Horizon Telescope, which captured the first image of a black hole, has done it again. The Earth-sized telescope spotted an unexpected explosion from the same supermassive black hole.
Galaxy-size jet from monster black hole blasts mystery object in deep space (video)
By Robert Lea published
Using NASA's Chandra X-ray telescope, astronomers witnessed a massive black hole jet slam into an unknown object in space.
Violent superflares explode from sun-like stars every 100 years
By Robert Lea published
Violent superflares erupt from sun-like stars about once a century, far more frequently than previously expected. As a civilization around such a star, what does this mean for us?
ORCs in space! Astronomers find another vast odd radio circle in 'completely unexpected discovery'
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have discovered a new vast Odd Radio Circle, or "ORC," that could help determine the origin of this strange galaxy-encompassing phenomenon.
Large Hadron Collider finds first evidence of important exotic heavy antimatter particle
By Robert Lea published
Using the Large Hadron Collider and the ALICE detector scientists have found the heavist antimatter particle yet, generated in Big Bang like conditions.
Hubble space telescope sees 'weird things' around supermassive black hole-powered quasar
By Robert Lea published
The Hubble Space Telescope has peered deeper than ever before into the heart of the supermassive black hole-powered quasar 3C, 273 spotting "weird" structures.
Not all stars with black hole companions die gruesome deaths, scientists say
By Robert Lea published
Stars in binaries with black holes usually suffer gruesome fates, but two systems discovered by Gaia hint at a survival mechanism.
'Our understanding of the universe may be incomplete': James Webb Space Telescope data suggests we need a 'new cosmic feature' to explain it all
By Robert Lea published
'Hubble was right!' The largest cosmic survey from the James Webb Space Telescope indicates scientists may need another ingredient in their cosmic recipe.
How did the universe's most monstrous giant galaxies grow? Scientists may finally know
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have discovered that large flows of cold gas created by collisions between galaxies in the early universe may have forged some of the most monstrous star systems.
How big can black holes get? Scientists may have the answer
By Robert Lea published
If they are right, we may have already discovered the largest possible ultramassive black hole! Scientists may have discovered a limit to how massive black holes can grow. If they're right, we may have already discovered the largest possible ultramassive black hole!
Hidden black holes could be revealed by gravitational wave map of the cosmos
By Robert Lea published
A map of the universe in gravitational waves could reveal "hidden" black holes, supermassive black hole collisions, and the large-scale structure of the cosmos.
Dwarf planet Ceres could be rich in organics, defunct spacecraft data reveals
By Robert Lea published
Data from a now defunct NASA spacecraft has revealed a massive internal reservior of organic material within the second wettest solar system body, Ceres.
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.
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.
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