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

    Why are the loops in the sun’s atmosphere so neat and tidy?

    Observations during the total solar eclipse may explain why the sun’s atmosphere is so organized despite arising from a tangled magnetic field.

  2. Astronomy

    What can the eclipse tell us about the corona’s magnetic field?

    The corona’s plasma jumps and dances thanks to the magnetic field, but scientists have never measured the field directly.

  3. Astronomy

    Can the eclipse tell us if Einstein was right about general relativity?

    During the eclipse, astronomers will reproduce the 1919 experiment that confirmed Einstein’s general theory of relativity.

  4. Astronomy

    What can we learn about Mercury’s surface during the eclipse?

    Instruments aboard twin research jets will take advantage of the total solar eclipse to make the first thermal map of Mercury.

  5. Astronomy

    What happens in Earth’s atmosphere during an eclipse?

    The charged layer of Earth’s atmosphere gets uncharged during an eclipse, and that could have implications for everything from GPS accuracy to earthquake prediction.

  6. Astronomy

    What do plants and animals do during an eclipse?

    A citizen science experiment will gather the biggest dataset to date of animal responses to a total eclipse.

  7. Astronomy

    What will scientists learn from the Great American Eclipse?

    Between now and August 21, astronomy writer Lisa Grossman will explore the top questions scientists will tackle during the 2017 total solar eclipse.

  8. Astronomy

    Why is this year’s solar eclipse such a big deal for scientists?

    Total eclipses offer scientists a way to see all the way down to the sun’s surface.

  9. Astronomy

    Nostalgic Voyager documentary relives first exploration of the solar system

    A new TV documentary is a tender tribute to Voyagers 1 and 2, which launched 40 years ago and were the first spacecraft to visit the outer solar system.

  10. Astronomy

    Astronomers may have found an exomoon, and Hubble is going to check

    A distant object may be the first exomoon detected.

  11. Astronomy

    Balloons will broadcast the 2017 solar eclipse live from on high

    Astrophysicist Angela Des Jardins is coordinating the first-ever livestream of a solar eclipse filmed from balloons.

  12. Planetary Science

    New Horizons’ next target caught making a star blink

    The team behind the spacecraft that visited Pluto has seen its next quarry blocking the light from a distant star.