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. Astronomy

    We probably won’t hear from aliens. But by the time we do, they’ll be dead.

    Astronomers build on the Drake Equation to probe the chance that humans will find existing aliens. The answer: Not likely.

  2. Astronomy

    Massive stellar flare may have fried Earth’s nearest exoplanet

    A massive flare made Proxima Centauri 1,000 times brighter in 10 seconds, dimming hopes that its planet may be habitable.

  3. Astronomy

    Loner gas clouds could be a new kind of stellar system

    Weird loner clumps of gas that have wandered for 1 billion years may have been stripped from a trio of larger galaxies.

  4. Astronomy

    Watch an experimental space shield shred a speeding bullet

    Engineers tested how well a prototype shield for spacecraft would stand up to space debris by shooting it with a solid aluminum pellet.

  5. Astronomy

    An amateur astronomer caught a supernova explosion on camera

    An amateur astronomer has caught a supernova explosion on camera.

  6. Astronomy

    James Webb Space Telescope challenges artists to see in infrared

    Astronomy artists face new challenges in translating James Webb’s invisible data into visuals.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.