Latest articles by Harry Baker
Submerged sandbanks shine like underwater auroras in astronaut's view of the Bahamas
Earth from space A 2016 astronaut photo of the Bahamas shows a series of luminous, rippling sandbanks partly carved out by a coral reef. The image also reveals subtle differences in the ocean's surface caused by a steep, hidden ocean drop-off.
Tractor beams inspired by sci-fi are real, and could solve the looming space junk problem
Researchers are developing a real-life tractor beam, with the goal of pulling defunct satellites out of geostationary orbit to alleviate the space junk problem.
See the exact point where a glacier, a lake and a river 'touch' in Argentina
Earth from space A 2021 astronaut photo shows a triple valley system in Argentina's Los Glaciares National Park where a massive climate-resilient glacier, a pristine turquoise lake and a murky green "river" come together at a single point.
Rare dusting of snow covers one of the driest place on Earth and shuts down massive radio telescope
Earth from space A satellite photo from July shows intricate snowy stripes painted across the Atacama Desert in Chile. The icy weather temporarily put the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observatory into "survival mode."
Best space photos of 2025
An alien comet, a Martian volcano, a man’s fall from the sun and a groundbreaking telescope’s first images: Here are the most jaw-dropping space photos of 2025.
Live Science crossword puzzle #24: Elemental particle associated with light — 11 down
Science crossword Test your knowledge on all things science with our weekly, free crossword puzzle!
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is rapidly moving away from us. Can we 'intercept' it before it leaves us forever?
3I/ATLAS has passed its closest point to Earth, meaning we will soon lose sight of it for good. Some scientists want to send a spacecraft to chase down the alien comet — or the next interstellar object.
Spiders on Jupiter? Scientists uncover secret origins of arachnid-like 'demon' lurking on gas giant's moon.
A new study reveals the likely origin of a mysterious spider-like pattern first spotted on Jupiter's moon Europa in 1998. The finding could have implications for a NASA spacecraft en route to the frozen world.
City-size 'cosmic butterfly' carved into Mars' surface contains traces of ancient water
The European Space Agency has released new images of a rare "butterfly" crater on the Red Planet. The bug-like structure sports a pair of smooth, rocky wings, which were likely "fluidized" by buried Martian ice.
Deep snow blanket transforms Yellowstone Lake into a giant white void
Earth from space A 2022 astronaut photo shows a thick blanket of snow covering Yellowstone Lake, transforming the frozen body of water into a featureless white void. But below the ice lie some of Earth's hottest hydrothermal vents.
Live Science crossword puzzle #23: Distance around the edge of a circle — 6 down
Science crossword Test your knowledge on all things science with our weekly, free crossword puzzle!
'Necessary for the future of humankind': Who was honored at the first-ever Global Space Awards?
The winners of the inaugural Global Space Awards were recently announced at a star-studded ceremony at London's Natural History Museum. The event championed innovation and sustainability, while also celebrating the life of a late NASA astronaut.
Rare 'sunglint' transforms Alabama River into a giant 'golden dragon'
Earth from space A 2023 astronaut photo shows the moment the Alabama River briefly morphed into an undulating golden serpent, similar in shape to a Chinese dragon. This temporary transformation was the result of a rare mirror-like phenomenon known as a "sunglint."
Live Science crossword puzzle #22: Subatomic particle with a positive charge — 13 across
Science crossword Test your knowledge on all things science with our weekly, free crossword puzzle!
Giant sunspot on par with the one that birthed the Carrington Event has appeared on the sun — and it's pointed right at Earth
A massive new sunspot complex, dubbed AR 4294-4296, has emerged on the sun and is facing directly at Earth. The dark patch is on par with the infamous sunspot that birthed the 1859 Carrington Event — but, for now, it's staying quiet.
Trio of 'black mesas' leftover from Paleozoic era spawn rare sand dunes in the Sahara
Earth from space A 2023 astronaut photo shows three dark hills, or mesas, towering above part of the Sahara desert in southern Mauritania. The structures are remnants of a single Paleozoic era formation, and have helped to create a series of striking sand dunes.
Russia accidentally destroys its only working launch pad as astronauts lift off to ISS
The recent launch of a Soyuz rocket carrying three astronauts to the International Space Station has caused significant damage to Russia's only launch pad capable of sending humans into space.
Live Science crossword puzzle #21: NASA rover that landed on Mars in 2012 — 16 across
Science crossword Test your knowledge on all things science with our weekly, free crossword puzzle!
Bizarre, UFO-like halo of red light appears over small Italian town — for the second time in 3 years
An eerie new photo shows a giant red ring shining above Possagno, near the Italian Alps. The eye-catching image is almost identical to one taken in the same town in early 2023.
RIP 'other ATLAS': Watch the doomed comet explode into pieces in incredible new images
Stunning new photos show the pieces of the "other ATLAS," C/2025 K1, breaking apart in space after the golden comet suddenly exploded earlier this month.
Marooned no more! Stranded Chinese astronauts finally have a way home following launch of unmanned 'lifeboat'
China has launched an unmanned "lifeboat" to the Tiangong space station, ending a month-long fiasco. The spacecraft will eventually ferry home the marooned Shenzhou-21 crew, who have been stuck without a return capsule for over a week.
Twin tornadoes tear perfectly parallel tracks through Mississippi during deadly 'superstorm'
Earth from space A satellite photo from March shows a pair of parallel tornado tracks in Mississippi, leftover from a deadly storm system that spawned over 100 twisters in more than a dozen U.S. states.
Live Science crossword puzzle #20: Largest contiguous land empire in history — 3 down
Science crossword Test your knowledge on all things science with our weekly, free crossword puzzle!
Odd-looking rock on Mars is totally alien to the Red Planet, Perseverance rover finds
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover recently came across an odd rock, dubbed "Phippsaksla," that is unlike anything else the robot has found on the Red Planet. It turns out that it probably isn't from our neighboring world and likely crashed on Mars instead.
Secretive SpaceX satellites operated by US government are shooting disruptive radio signals into space, astronomer accidentally discovers
An amateur astronomer has accidentally uncovered a series of puzzling radio signals coming from SpaceX's government-operated "Starshield" network. The signals overlap with protected frequencies and could disrupt other nearby spacecraft, experts warn.
