Lewis Dartnell
Astrobiologist
Dr. Lewis Dartnell is an astrobiologist and science author based at the University of Westminster.
Recent articles by Lewis Dartnell
The fingerprints of extraterrestrial life could be found in the atmospheres of distant worlds beyond our Sun
The equilibrium, or lack of it, in an exoplanet's air could point to life, writes Lewis Dartnell.
Could we find aliens by detecting solar panels on a distant planet?
Planets orbiting two white dwarf stars could be common in the Universe
Could an exoplanet orbit a pair of binary white dwarf stars?
How did astronomers weigh the Kuiper Belt?
Using data from the Cassini mission, astronomers have come up with an ingenious method of calculating the mass of trans-Neptunian objects.
A galactic tide could be pushing comets into collisions with white dwarfs
Spacecraft powered by light sails and lasers offer a quicker way to explore the Solar System. But there's a catch.
If every clock on Earth disappeared, how would we know what time and date it is?
How would you tell the time if every clock on Earth
were suddenly to disappear? Astronomy can help.
Eclipses clear the clouds! Research suggests solar eclipses have an effect on weather and cloud cover
Could solar eclipses change weather and clouds on Earth?
When Betelgeuse goes supernova, will it be dangerous to observe through a telescope?
How bright will Betelgeuse be when it goes supernova, and would it be safe to observe through a telescope?
The Moon is orbiting further away from us, changing Earth's tides over billions of years
Marks left by tides billions of years ago suggest the Moon lay much closer.
Artificial Intelligence is uncovering underground caves on Mars
What if a supernova exploded close to Earth? Could they be responsible for past mass extinctions?
How devastating would a supernova explosion be if it were too close to Earth, and could our planet's magnetic field stifle the blast?
What would the Andromeda Galaxy look like if we went there? And how would our Solar System appear?
What would Earth and the Sun look like when viewed from the Andromeda Galaxy? And what would the galaxy look like if we could travel there?
An astronaut on Mars would be able to see Earth pass in front of the Sun. This is what it would look like
It's possible to see transits of Venus and Mercury from our planet, but could a Martian astronomer see a transit of Earth?
Life on hellish planet Venus? There may be hope yet, hidden in the chemistry of its acidic atmosphere
Experiments show the possibility for biochemistry based on a concentrated sulphuric acid solvent. Perhaps there could be life on Venus.
Why are there so many different kinds of planet?
If all planets form in largely the same why, why are there so many different kinds of planets discovered beyond our Solar System?
What happens when a planet orbits two stars at once
It's possible for a planet to orbit two stars at once, causing extraordinary cosmic dances to occur. What weird orbits might be possible around binary stars?
Chicxulub, the story of the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs
Scientists are slowly revealing the secrets of the Chicxulub impact crater and the asteroid that caused it.
Could humans be too heavy to land on Mars?
Landing humans on Mars comes with all sorts of difficulties. But could a key issue be the weight of a lander and its cargo?
The planets that orbit a backward-spinning star
A planetary system appears to have been pulled out of line by a neighbouring star, causing the planets to orbit in the opposite direction of the star's spin.
Space junk and why it's a big problem
Free-for-all access to low-Earth orbit is increasing the risk of collisions. But how likely is a space junk collision?
Biosignatures could point to life on distant planets
Oxygen, ammonia and other gases in exoplanet atmospheres could be an indicator of biological processes.
How dark is space?
Could two spaceships travelling in the deep dark Universe see each other?
Exoplanets orbiting close to stars could trigger clusters of solar flares
Exoplanets could draw out flares from their star if they get close enough.