Paul M. Sutter is a visiting professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College at Columbia University, as well as an author, NASA advisor, television host and U.S. cultural ambassador.
The Strangest Alien Worlds Are beyond Astronomers’ Wildest Dreams
Alien worlds that glow like lightbulbs or harbor molten-rock rain are revealing planets’ profound cosmic diversity—and pointing the way toward finding those that truly resemble our own familiar Earth
It’s Time for a Nature Preserve—On the Moon
The far side of the moon holds the keys to the future of radio astronomy. We must maintain its pristine silence to benefit everyone
Could Gravitational-Wave ‘Memories’ Prove Einstein Wrong?
According to Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity, the universe remembers every gravitational wave—and scientists could soon test these cosmic recollections
We Need Small Astronomy as Much as Big Astronomy
In an era of budget-busting mega-telescopes, we shouldn’t forget the importance of smaller telescopes, more focused missions and the unexpected surprises they reveal about the universe
Three Times That Solar Eclipses Transformed Science
From the discovery of new elements to the testing of novel theories of gravity, total solar eclipses have helped spark scientific progress for centuries