Lewis Dartnell

Astrobiologist

Dr. Lewis Dartnell is an astrobiologist and science author based at the University of Westminster.

Recent articles by Lewis Dartnell

What would happen if Earth's magnetic field flipped? Credit: Elen11 / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Scientists discover how a reversal of Earth’s magnetic field could affect our climate

A star like our Sun swelling into a red giant and engulfing its orbiting planets. Credit: Stocktrek Images/Tomasz Dabrowski / Getty Images

Could reducing the Sun’s mass stop it destroying Earth in the future?

A group of SpaceX Starlink satellites in the night sky over Uruguay. Photo by Mariana SUAREZ / AFP via Getty Images

How big a problem are Starlink satellites for astronomers?

Ancient tide marks show the Moon used to orbit much closer to Earth. Credit: Abstract Aerial Art / Getty Images

Ancient tide marks show the Moon once orbited much closer to Earth

What causes the tides? Credit: Yinwei Liu / Getty Images

What causes the tides?

An unknown object slams into Jupiter, causing the most energetic flash seen this century, comparable to the Tunguska event. Credit: Ko Arimatsu

Astronomers observe Tunguska-like impact events on Jupiter

Can astronauts survive radiation on Mars? Credit: cokada / Getty Images

How astronauts can hide from radiation on Mars

An artist's impression of the Trojan asteroids, which share the same orbital path around the Sun as gas giant Jupiter.

Examining Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids

Scientists are teaching drones to hunt for meteorites on Earth. Credit: Curtin University

Scientists are teaching drones to hunt for meteorites on Earth

Space junk is the name given to spent satellites and other debris in orbit around Earth. Credit: janiecbros / Getty Images

What is space junk and why is it a big problem?

Gases - or biosignatures - indicating life may be detectable on exoplanets orbiting M-class red dwarfsCredit: Darryl Fonseka/iStock/Getty Images

How biosignatures could indicate life on distant planets

Exoplanet HAT-P-7b. Credit: NASA, ESA and G. Bacon (STScI)

Meet the scorching exoplanet that’s dark as charcoal with a sapphire sky

Globular cluster Messier 54, captured by the VLT Survey Telescope at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in northern Chile. Credit: ESO

How dark is space?

An artist's conception of a hot Jupiter. These are exoplanets similar to Jupiter in our own Solar System, but orbiting much closer to their host star. Credit: NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech

What if a hot Jupiter existed in our Solar System?

Artist's illustration showing what it would look to see a transit of Earth from Mars. Credit: NASA/JPL

Is it possible to see Earth transit the Sun from Mars?