Lisa Grossman

Astronomy Writer, Science News

Lisa Grossman is the astronomy writer for Science News. Previously she was a news editor at New Scientist, where she ran the physical sciences section of the magazine for three years. Before that, she spent three years at New Scientist as a reporter, covering space, physics and astronomy. She has a degree in astronomy from Cornell University and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Lisa was a finalist for the AGU David Perlman Award for Excellence in Science Journalism, and received the Institute of Physics/Science and Technology Facilities Council physics writing award and the AAS Solar Physics Division Popular Writing Award. She interned at Science News in 2009-2010.

All Stories by Lisa Grossman

  1. Space

    The Vera Rubin Observatory is set to revolutionize astronomy

    Equipped with the world’s largest digital camera, this new telescope is poised to help solve some of the universe’s biggest mysteries.

  2. Planets

    Pluto and its moon Charon may have paired up with a kiss

    After about 30 hours of contact, Charon could have separated from Pluto and drifted into its current orbit.

  3. Planets

    A distant crumbling planet spills its guts

    Based on the light being emitted by its shed minerals, astronomers can for the first time determine the internal composition of an exoplanet.

  4. Space

    Jane Rigby helped make the James Webb telescope a superstar 

    The senior project scientist for the JWST, Rigby believes being part of the LGBTQ+ community has made her a better astronomer.

  5. Space

    This zombie star’s spiky filaments are baffling astronomers

    The star's odd tendrils were somehow formed by a supernova that skywatchers saw way back in 1181.

  6. Earth

    It’s electric! Long-sought new field found in Earth’s atmosphere

    This ambipolar electric field is weak. Yet it’s still strong enough to control the evolution of Earth’s upper atmosphere — and maybe life as we know it.

  7. Artificial Intelligence

    Two AI trailblazers win the 2024 Nobel Prize in physics

    John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton used brain-like networks based on principles of physics to jump-start machine learning.

  8. Planets

    ‘Percy,’ NASA’s rover, finds its first hint of ancient life on Mars

    The robot examined a Mars rock containing organic compounds and “leopard spots.” On Earth, such spots usually come from microbial life.

  9. Space

    Here’s why some shooting stars have long-lasting afterglows

    Atmospheric chemistry is the most important factor in determining which meteors leave behind these persistent trails.

  10. Space

    James Webb telescope catches newborn stars sculpting spiral galaxies

    Dark voids riddle the galaxies, revealing new details about how stars alter their environments.

  11. Space

    The next astronauts to walk the moon will be more diverse than the last

    Space agencies are preparing to send the next generation of astronauts to the moon and beyond. Here’s how future crews will differ from the last.

  12. Planets

    Saturn’s moon Enceladus wears a thick blanket of snow

    Pits on the frosty moon reveal the snow’s surprising depth, up to 700 meters (2,300 feet) in some places.