
Brandon Specktor
Brandon is the space/physics editor at Live Science. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Reader's Digest, CBS.com, the Richard Dawkins Foundation website and other outlets. He holds a bachelor's degree in creative writing from the University of Arizona, with minors in journalism and media arts. He enjoys writing most about space, geoscience and the mysteries of the universe.
Latest articles by Brandon Specktor

The CIA wants to bring woolly mammoths back from extinction
By Brandon Specktor published
The CIA is the latest investor in Colossal Biosciences, a company that wants to bring woolly mammoths and Tasmanian tigers back from extinction using DNA editing.

Mt. Everest's highest glacier lost 2,000 years worth of ice since the 1990s
By Brandon Specktor last updated
The highest glacier on Mount Everest is losing ice at an alarming rate, new research finds.

One of the most extreme black hole collisions in the universe just proved Einstein right
By Brandon Specktor published
A monster merger between two black holes sent ripples through time and space, and may prove Einstein right about a gravitational phenomenon called precession.

Watch the Draconid meteor shower rain fire over Earth on Oct. 8 and 9
By Brandon Specktor published
The Draconid meteor shower peaks on Oct. 8 and 9, but will be largely outshined by the full Hunter's Moon.

How much water do you really need to drink?
By Brandon Specktor published
Hydration is the key to a happy and healthy life, but how much water do you really need to drink?

'Cataclysmic' 50-minute orbit between two stars is the fastest ever recorded
By Brandon Specktor published
Astronomers have discovered a rare binary star system with an orbital period of just 51 minutes – a blazing new record.

The full Hunter's Moon could outshine a 'dragon' meteor shower on Oct. 9
By Brandon Specktor published
October’s full moon, also called the Hunter’s Moon, rises Oct. 9. Here’s how to watch, and the story behind its name.

A 'galactic underworld' of ancient, blown-up stars lurks just beneath the Milky Way's surface
By Brandon Specktor published
Where are all the galaxy's dead stars hiding? New research draws the map.

Could an asteroid destroy Earth?
By Brandon Specktor published
When large asteroids hit the Earth, they trigger mass extinctions and climate chaos. But could an asteroid destroy the planet entirely?

Astronomers discover secret star at the center of gorgeous Cat's Eye Nebula
By Brandon Specktor published
Astronomers modeled the stunning Cat's Eye Nebula in 3D, revealing the mysterious planetary nebula's history for the first time.

The Milky Way is 'rippling' like a pond, and scientists may finally know why
By Brandon Specktor published
New research suggests that a strange 'ripple' is causing the Milky Way's stars to vibrate out of step, and an ancient collision with Sagittarius may be to blame.

China discovers rare lunar crystal and nuclear power source on near side of the moon
By Brandon Specktor published
Chinese researchers have discovered a brand new type of crystal in a sample of moon rocks, as well as a source of helium-3 — a potential fuel for nuclear fusion reactors.

Ghostly rings of Neptune shine in new James Webb Telescope images
By Brandon Specktor published
The James Webb Space Telescope zooms in on Neptune to reveal the icy planet's collection of little-known rings

Why are sunspots black?
By Brandon Specktor published
Why are sunspots black? According to astronomers, it may be a big, cosmic optical illusion.

Can the James Webb Space Telescope really see the past?
By Brandon Specktor last updated
Astronomers are using the James Webb Space Telescope to look back in time. How is this possible? It's just the nature of light, according to NASA.

Giant blob of solar plasma could 'graze' Earth this weekend, NOAA says
By Brandon Specktor last updated
A mild coronal mass ejection could slam into our planet on Saturday, May 7, according to NOAA.

Could a solar storm ever destroy Earth?
By Brandon Specktor last updated
Could a solar storm ever destroy Earth? According to scientists, there’s no evidence that any solar weather has ever harmed a human.

2 geomagnetic storms will lash Earth today, but don't worry (too much)
By Brandon Specktor last updated
Two mild geomagnetic storms are expected to hit Earth on March 14 and 15 after a large coronal outburst, NOAA warns

Cat brains are shrinking, and it's all humans' fault
By Brandon Specktor last updated
Researchers compared the skulls of domesticated house cats to the skulls of their closest wild ancestor, and found that cat brains are definitely shrinking.

Cats can memorize their friends' names, new study suggests
By Brandon Specktor last updated
Cats may be able to remember the names of cohabitating cats — but it depends where they live, new research suggests.

'Cosmic' and 'phantom' UFOs are all over Ukraine's skies, government report claims
By Brandon Specktor published
Dozens of 'phantom' and 'cosmic' UFOs have been detected in the skies over Ukraine, a new government report claims.

Uranus will vanish during 'lunar occultation' Wednesday night
By Brandon Specktor published
Viewers in some parts of the world may see Uranus disappear behind the moon for several hours on Wednesday, Sept. 14 in a 'lunar occultation' event.

New James Webb telescope images reveal the chaotic beauty of Orion's sword
By Brandon Specktor published
The James Webb Space Telescope captured the clearest images ever of the Orion Nebula, one of the brightest and closest nebulas to Earth.
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