
Harry Baker
Harry is a U.K.-based senior staff writer at Live Science. He studied marine biology at the University of Exeter before training to become a journalist. He covers a wide range of topics including space exploration, planetary science, space weather, climate change, animal behavior and paleontology. His recent work on the solar maximum won "best space submission" at the 2024 Aerospace Media Awards and was shortlisted in the "top scoop" category at the NCTJ Awards for Excellence in 2023. He also writes Live Science's weekly Earth from space series.
Latest articles by Harry Baker

Bizarre 'pet cloud' reappears above its favorite spot in New Zealand
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space A recent satellite image captured the reemergence of a unique, UFO-like cloud, known as the "Taieri Pet," which appears above New Zealand's South Island when conditions are just right.

Listen to haunting sounds of Earth's magnetic field flipping 41,000 years ago in eerie new animation
By Harry Baker published
A new video shows how Earth's magnetic field weakened and warped before temporarily flipping during a recent "polar reversal event."

The Milky Way could be part of a much larger 'cosmic neighborhood' than we realized, challenging our understanding of the universe
By Harry Baker published
A probabilistic new map of the universe surrounding the Milky Way reveals that our galaxy is likely part of an even larger "basin of attraction" than we previously assumed.

NASA finds signs of hellish, lava-covered 'exomoon' circling an alien world — and it could meet a 'destructive end'
By Harry Baker published
A new analysis of a peculiar metallic cloud surrounding the exoplanet WASP-49 b provides further evidence that it may have been birthed by a volcanic satellite, which may become the first officially recognized "exomoon."

Scientists finally confirm that solar maximum is well underway — and the worst could still be to come
By Harry Baker published
A surprise announcement from scientists involved in monitoring the solar cycle has finally confirmed that the sun's most active and dangerous phase — solar maximum — is already well underway, and could continue for at least a year.

Rare illusion gives 'once-in-a-lifetime' comet a seemingly impossible 2nd tail after closest approach to Earth for 80,000 years
By Harry Baker published
New photos of comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS appear to show a faint "anti-tail" pointing away in the wrong direction. The puzzling extra limb is the result of a rare illusion that is only possible when our planet is in a certain position.

4 near-identical glaciers spark new life in Arctic island's 'polar desert'
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space This 2012 satellite photo shows a quartet of near-identical glaciers on Canada's Ellesmere Island. The ice masses help to spark life in the otherwise barren Arctic environment.

China’s secretive new 'Thousands Sails' satellites are an astronomer's nightmare, 1st observations reveal
By Harry Baker published
The launch of the Qianfan satellites on Aug. 6 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center.

Watch atoms fuse into world's 'smallest bubble' of water in 1st-of-its-kind 'nanoscale' video
By Harry Baker published
A new study captured never-before-seen footage of hydrogen and oxygen atoms combining to form a miniature water droplet out of "thin air." The newly improved reaction could one day help astronauts make water in space.

Scientists discover bright 'sungrazer' comet that could be visible with the naked eye this month — after Tsuchinshan–ATLAS
By Harry Baker published
Newfound comet C/2024 S1 will light up Earth's skies in late October before a super close slingshot around the sun.

Beautiful 'lake of haze' in Himalayan valley has a darker, more sinister source
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space This 2014 satellite photo shows a cloud of haze sitting in the Kashmir Valley in the Himalayas. The ethereal "lake" consists mainly of smog and other pollutants from nearby factories.

Scientists accidentally find deep-sea 'jelly' creatures merged into 'single entity' after injury, revealing bizarre new behavior
By Harry Baker published
Researchers discovered that some comb jellies can fuse their bodies together when injured. The unique adaptation, which involves merging their nervous systems and stomachs, has never been seen in any other species.

X9 solar flare launched from sun is the biggest in 7 years — and Earth is in the firing line (again)
By Harry Baker published
The sun has unleashed the most powerful solar flare since 2017, just days after it spat out another monster explosion. Both outbursts have launched solar storms that will likely hit Earth this weekend and trigger vibrant aurora displays.

New NASA images reveal giant hole in Curiosity rover's wheel after 12 years of 'abuse' on Mars
By Harry Baker published
Images captured by Curiosity's onboard cameras show several large tears in the tire of one of the rover's wheels. However, the damage does not appear to be slowing the roaming robot down.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket grounded for the 3rd time in 3 months following 'off-nominal' crash-landing in the ocean
By Harry Baker published
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the uncontrolled reentry of part of a Falcon 9 rocket that delivered passengers to the International Space Station in a capsule that will return stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Earth next year.

Deep tidal channels cut between 'pirate hotspot' islands in the Bahamas
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space This 2015 photo from the International Space Station showcases the deep tidal channels that cut through a line of cays in the Bahamas. Astronauts say it is "one of the most recognizable points on the planet."

Monster X-class flare launches massive solar storm towards Earth — and could trigger auroras this weekend
By Harry Baker published
The sun just unleashed one of its largest solar explosions in recent years, temporarily causing a radio blackout on Earth and spitting out a coronal mass ejection that will likely collide with our planet this weekend.

Newest Starlink satellites are leaking even more radiation than their predecessors — and could soon disrupt astronomy
By Harry Baker published
A new study reveals that Generation 2 Starlink satellites are leaking up to 30 times more radio waves than their predecessors. If SpaceX continues to deploy the newer versions as planned, we could reach an "inflection point" where astronomers can no longer properly study the cosmos, researchers warn.

Russian cosmonaut returns to Earth after completing record-breaking 1,111th day in space
By Harry Baker published
60-year-old Oleg Kononenko has safely returned to Earth following a record-breaking year-long stint onboard the International Space Station. His latest trip to space means he has now spent more time in orbit than any other human.

Human genome stored inside near-indestructible '5D memory crystal' that could survive to the end of the universe
By Harry Baker published
The record-breaking crystal will act as a DNA time capsule that could be used to bring back humanity after our extinction, researchers say. But not everyone is convinced.

Iconic 'Star Trek' symbol shines brightly in sea of muddy Arctic sea ice
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space A 2012 satellite photo captured a patch of snow-covered sea ice with an uncannily similar shape to badges pinned on the uniforms of Starfleet officers in the "Star Trek" franchise.

'Knife-wielding orca' and alien-looking figures among 300 Nazca Lines discovered in groundbreaking AI study
By Harry Baker published
Scientists used AI to find 303 never-before-seen geoglyphs in Peru's Nazca Desert, including abstract humanoid figures, ancient ceremonies, "decapitated heads" and a "killer whale holding a knife."

'Martian dog' and dozens of other mysterious blobs found hiding under Mars' north pole in new 'gravity map'
By Harry Baker published
A new map that details gravitational anomalies on Mars has revealed 20 mysteriously dense blobs, including a dog-shaped mass, buried below the planet's north pole. And researchers have no clear idea where they came from.

Mysterious sound coming from the Mariana Trench has finally been explained
By Harry Baker published
A new study has revealed the exact origin of the Pacific Ocean's mysterious "biotwang" noises, which were first detected by underwater surveys near the Mariana Trench in 2014.

Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' contains surprisingly accurate physics — suggesting he understood the hidden 'dynamism of the sky'
By Harry Baker published
A new analysis of the brushstrokes and colors in Vincent van Gogh's famous painting Starry Night reveals a striking similarity to "hidden turbulence" in Earth's atmosphere, suggesting the iconic artist had a surprisingly detailed understanding of natural processes.
Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.