Lisa Grossman

Lisa Grossman

Astronomy Writer

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 UC 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. Planetary Science

    What will it take to go to Venus?

    Undeterred by funding woes, scientists are scraping together ideas to tackle heat, pressure and acidity challenges of landing on Venus.

  2. Astronomy

    SpaceX just launched its biggest rocket for the first time

    SpaceX just launched the Falcon Heavy — the most powerful rocket since the Saturn V — for the first time.

  3. Cosmology

    The way dwarf galaxies move puts a new spin on galaxy formation

    Distant dwarf galaxies orbit a larger galaxy in a coordinated loop, rather than randomly as expected. The finding could challenge theories of dark matter.

  4. Astronomy

    Some of TRAPPIST-1’s planets could have life-friendly atmospheres

    The seven planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1 are probably rocky and some may have life-friendly atmospheres, two new papers suggest.

  5. Astronomy

    Universes with no weak force might still have stars and life

    An alternate universe that lacks one of the four fundamental forces might still have galaxies, stars, planets and perhaps life, a new study suggests.

  6. Astronomy

    Stars with too much lithium may have stolen it

    Some small stars have extra lithium before they grow old, suggesting they get extra amounts of the element from an external source.

  7. Astronomy

    Mysterious high-energy particles could come from black hole jets

    Three types of high-energy cosmic particles could all have the same source: black holes in galaxy clusters.

  8. Planetary Science

    Shallow ice sheets discovered on Mars could aid future astronauts

    Exposed water ice on steep Martian slopes suggest there’s a lot within a meter or two of the surface.

  9. Planetary Science

    Hubble telescope ramps up search for Europa’s watery plumes

    Astronomers are redoubling their efforts to confirm that the icy moon Europa spews water from its south pole.

  10. Astronomy

    Fast radio bursts may be from a neutron star orbiting a black hole

    A repeating fast radio burst has twisted waves, suggesting its home has an unusually strong magnetic field.

  11. Planetary Science

    How to keep humans from ruining the search for life on Mars

    As the race to put humans on Mars heats up, researchers worry they are running out of time to find life on the Red planet.

  12. Astronomy

    White dwarf’s inner makeup is mapped for the first time

    The first map of the internal composition of a white dwarf star shows these stellar corpses contain more oxygen than expected, challenging stellar evolution theories.