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Leah Crane is the physics and space reporter at ¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Leah Crane

Physics and space reporter

Bio

Leah Crane is a Senior Reporter at ¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ, covering topics ranging from private space flight and cosmology to quantum mechanics. She is based in Chicago. Before joining ¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ in 2016, her work was published at SpaceNews, Eos, Smithsonian and Symmetry Magazine. She writes ¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ's space newsletter, Launchpad.

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More from Leah Crane

Explore the latest news, articles and features

the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern lights, putting on a show over Achmelvich beach, Sutherland, in the Highlands of Scotland, UK.

Space

How to see tonight's northern lights – the strongest in 20 years

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A slice through the largest 3D map of our universe to date

Space

Invisible 'dark radiation' may explain a big problem with dark energy

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This enchanting spiral galaxy can be found in the constellation of Ursa Major (the Great Bear). Star-studded NGC 3972 lies about 65 million light-years away from Earth, meaning that the light that we see now left it 65 million years ago, just when the dinosaurs became extinct. NGC 3972 has had its fair share of dramatic events. In 2011 astronomers observed the explosion of a Type Ia supernova in the galaxy (not visible in this image). These dazzling objects all peak at the same brightness, and are brilliant enough to be seen over large distances. NGC 3972 also contains many pulsating stars called Cepheid variables. These stars change their brightness at a rate matched closely to their intrinsic luminosity, making them ideal cosmic lighthouses for measuring accurate distances to relatively nearby galaxies. Astronomers search for Cepheid variables in nearby galaxies that also contain a Type Ia supernova so they can compare the true brightness of both types of stars. That brightness information is used to calibrate the luminosity of Type Ia supernovae in far-flung galaxies so that astronomers can calculate the galaxies' distances from Earth. Once astronomers know accurate distances to galaxies near and far, they can determine and refine the expansion rate of the universe. This image was taken in 2015 with Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3, as part of a project to improve the precision of the Hubble constant ? a figure that describes the expansion rate of the universe. Text: European Space Agency

Space

Has the biggest problem in cosmology finally been solved?

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Boeing's Starliner spacecraft

Space

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft launch delayed due to rocket fault

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Space

China is sending its Chang’e 6 spacecraft to the far side of the moon

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path of fast radio burst FRB 181112

Space

Mysterious space signals may come from a dead star with a planet

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A view of a supernova explosion with its bright light and shockwave visible; Shutterstock ID 2298465659; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Space

Kill the sun! How wild thought experiments drive scientific discovery

Features

great american eclipse, solar eclipse; Shutterstock ID 1972642418; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Space

How could we make a solar eclipse happen every day?

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Space

How India has slowly but surely become a major player in space

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Artists impression of a black hole

Space

Supermassive black holes may provide a nursery for mini ones to grow

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Japan’s SLIM moon lander has shockingly survived a third lunar night

Space

Japan’s SLIM moon lander has shockingly survived a third lunar night

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Space

Knot theory could help spacecraft navigate crowded solar systems

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