Colin Stuart
Science communicator
Colin Stuart is an astronomy author and speaker.
Recent articles by Colin Stuart
Secrets of our Moon could be lost forever thanks to upcoming lunar missions
Pristine, scientifically interesting regions of the Moon should be given legal protection, experts argue.
Something very weird is happening inside Earth’s core. Here's what that means for the planet
The mysteries of Earth’s core – the deeper scientists look into the heart of our planet, the more puzzling it becomes.
Leading astronomers are hunting for alien messages in supernova explosions. Here’s why
Astronomers in the US think extra-terrestrials could take advantage of the spectacular cosmic events to inform us of their existence.
Asteroid sneak attack: Why Earth is under threat from tiny city-destroying space rocks
History has shown that even small asteroids can cause a significant amount of damage - and we can't even detect them.
Artemis: Everything you need to know about humanity’s return to the Moon
The ambitious project aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface for the first time since 1972.
Bits of old spaceships will continue to fall out of the sky, but that’s the least of our problems, warn astronomers
The danger of getting injured by a falling satellite is incredibly low, but the amount of debris in orbit around the Earth is a growing issue.
Could bringing back samples of Martian rock contaminate the Earth with foreign microbes?
NASA and ESA plan to bring back samples or rock, soil and air from the Red Planet within the next two decades.
A race is afoot to make billions from the Moon's resources. Here's the story so far
A new space race has begun. Over the coming years, an armada of rockets will head to the Moon to hunt down precious resources, satisfy the urges of billionaire tourists and maybe do some intriguing science along the way.
JUICE: What secrets lie beneath the icy surface of Jupiter’s moons?
The European Space Agency’s JUICE mission aims to peer beneath the surfaces of Jupiter’s moons to determine whether something could be living in the waters below.
Reality Check | Why is the ISS being retired and what will happen to it?
NASA has set out a timeline for the last decade of the ageing space station's life that includes private occupants, movies and a watery grave.
Mysterious, ancient black holes may have been shaping the Universe's destiny since its birth. Here's how
Since just after the Big Bang, ancient black holes may have been shaping the Universe as we know it. Now, scientists are tantalisingly close to glimpsing these mysterious objects for the first time.
Could we build an elevator to the Moon?
Blasting off in a rocket is an expensive, difficult and dangerous way to get to the Moon. Colin Stuart looks into another way we could travel there and back.
Reality Check | Space Junk: Is it a disaster waiting to happen?
Experts are calling for urgent action before debris floating in orbit around the Earth triggers a runaway cascade of collisions known as the Kessler Syndrome.
Inside the mission to spot an alien city by harnessing the Sun’s colossal gravity
Astronomers generally view the Sun as an obstacle to the objects they want to study. But it might just be the key that enables them to observe Earth-like exoplanets located many light-years away.
Ghost stars | The radical theory that could solve the mystery of dark matter
Mysterious discoveries around the globe have opened up a tantalising possibility: the cosmos could be full of ghostly stars that are invisible to our most sensitive detectors.
How to build a Moon base
With NASA, ESA, Russia and China all researching lunar living, we look into the challenges and advantages of building a Moon base.
Can life exist around a black hole?
New research suggests that 'Goldilocks zones', where planets could have the perfect conditions for life, could exist near supermassive black holes.
The Solar System | How do we know how it formed?
From Earth's prime position as the third planet out from the Sun, we’re finally understanding the origins of our Solar System
Comet Interceptor | Unlocking the secrets of the early Solar System
Comets may hold the secret to life on Earth. That’s why scientists are designing a mission that will pay a visit to one of these enigmatic, icy travellers to take a closer look.
Cosmic origins: the miraculous journey from dust clouds to life
We are made of starstuff - but how did that starstuff form the Sun, then the Earth, then us?
Race to the Moon | Inside China's plans to build a lunar base
The landing of Chang'e 4 on the far side of the Moon is only start of China's groundbreaking lunar feats.
Planet Nine | How we’ll find the Solar System's missing planet
Beyond Neptune, a handful of small worlds are moving in harmony. Astronomers think they might be dancing to the tune of a third world lurking in the darkness, one that’s four times bigger than Earth and significant enough to be named our Solar System’s ninth planet. Now they think they know exactly where to look for it…
The Apollo programme | Why we need to go back to the Moon
It’s been nearly half a century since humans last ventured beyond Earth’s orbit. But resolve is growing for a return to the Moon.
First contact | What if we find alien life?
If we're going to spend time and resources searching for extraterrestrial life, we should know what happens when we make alien contact.