Russell Deeks
Science writer
Russell Deeks is a freelance journalist specialising in science and technology. He has been an occasional contributor to BBC Sky at Night Magazine since 2006.
Recent articles by Russell Deeks
Schumann resonances explained
Schumann resonances are resonant frequencies of the Earth-ionosphere cavity, and represent standing electronic waves encircling our planet.
Ever seen the creepy 'doorway' on Mars? We took a closer look at the image. Here's what's really going on
There's a strange feature on Mars that looks like a doorway into a cave
A spacecraft just skimmed past our planet on its way to Jupiter. Here's its spectacular view of Earth
A beautiful view of Earth from space captured by the Juice spacecraft during a flyby of our planet on 28 September 2026
There's an enormous black hole pointing its jet at Earth – and scientists only found it because of a strange flash in deep space
Hidden away behind vast clouds of dust, IRAS 18293-0941 is a binary system with a black hole orbiting a massive, hot star
Mercury is shrinking faster than expected. Here's how the planet has pulled the wool over our eyes for over 50 years
The closest planet to the Sun is shrinking at an alarming rate
'Black dust covered my bed' – the day alien science smashed through a New Jersey roof
Scientists analysing the space rock have found it contains life-supporting chemistry
NASA satellite video shows an enormous volcano spewing out lava – from space
Timelapse video captured by a satellite and released by NASA shows lava spreading out from Russia’s Krasheninnikov volcano
Why it's called Harvest Moon
The Harvest Moon is a sure sign that autumn is here. Here's the science behind the Harvest Moon and where it gets its name from
29 of the scariest things in space
Take our tour of terror through the cosmos.
Ever wondered why full Moons have such weird names? Here's how to tell the Beaver from the Strawberry - and what they really mean
A guide to full Moon nicknames
This creepy 'statue' that looks like a robed figure on Mars gives us the chills. Here's what's really going on
The 'robed statue of a female figure' on Mars was spotted by the Spirit rover on the Red Planet in 2007
This week's lunar eclipse proves Earth isn't flat
The shadow of Earth during lunar eclipses proves that Earth isn't a flat disc, but is instead a round, spherical object
It's official. Spaceflight affects our genes. Now scientists need to work out how to combat the effects of weightlessness
Scientists have identified human genes that are adversely affected by exposure to microgravity and weightlessness during spaceflight
Stargazers see bright clouds – astrophysicists see an impending collision. These are the two nearby galaxies you've probably never heard of
A beginner's guide to the Magellanic Clouds and their impending collision with our own Galaxy
The physics secrets that dictate where NASA launches its rockets from (and why we don’t launch rockets from mountains)
The best places to launch rockets from and why some places on Earth are better for rocket launches than others
Ancient eclipses – from angry gods to Sun-eating dragons, how our ancestors worshipped and feared the moment the Moon swallowed the Sun
How ancient cultures viewed solar eclipses and how they interpreted them through their own culture and beliefs
Jupiter's strange icy moon has a secret ocean, making it one of the best places to search for life in our Solar System
Facts about Jupiter's icy moon Europa, one of the best places to search for life beyond Earth in our Solar System.
The planet that lost its crown. 28 amazing facts about Pluto, the icy world on the edge of the Solar System
Facts about Pluto, the dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt
This large moon has the most battered surface in the Solar System – and NASA could put a base on it. Amazing facts about Jupiter's moon Callisto
Facts about Jupiter's moon Callisto, the third largest moon in the Solar System and the most heavily-cratered object.
Gallery | Uranus
A guide to the icy ringed giant
It's cracked and frozen, but it's one of the best places to search for alien life. Meet Saturn's icy moon Enceladus
Facts about Saturn's icy moon and its subsurface ocean
What is Area 51 and what really goes on there?
Area 51 is most known for it's inclusion in alien conspiracy theories. But what actually is Area 51 and what really goes on there?
This weird moon looks like mouldy pizza and is covered in active volcanoes. Meet Io, Jupiter's chaotic satellite
Io is a moon around Jupiter covered in active volcanoes. We've taken a look at what makes this Jovian satellite so special.
