
Damien Pine
Damien Pine (he/him) is a freelance writer, artist, and former NASA engineer. He writes about science, physics, tech, art, and other topics with a focus on making complicated ideas accessible. He has a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Connecticut, and he gets really excited every time he sees a cat.
Latest articles by Damien Pine

Solar wind might be making water on the moon, groundbreaking NASA study reveals
By Damien Pine published
Lunar samples show evidence that solar wind could be behind the water molecules on the moon's surface, according to NASA. The results could shine a light on how water ice collects in cold traps formed by patches of permanent darkness at the moon's poles.

It's time to clean up space junk before orbits become 'unusable,' according to new ESA report
By Damien Pine published
A new report released April 1 by the European Space Agency sheds light on space pollution surrounding our planet — how bad the problem is, and what we need to do to keep Earth orbits clean enough to use.

Perseverance rover spots peculiar 'spider egg' rock on Mars — and scientists have no idea how it got there
By Damien Pine published
On March 11, NASA's Perseverance Mars rover spotted a mysterious rock made of hundreds of tiny spheres that resemble spider eggs. Studying its formation could help us look for fossilized remains of microbial life on Mars.

Scientists turn light into a 'supersolid' for the 1st time ever: What that means, and why it matters
By Damien Pine published
For the first time, researchers transformed light into a quantum crystalline structure to create a "supersolid" that's both solid and liquid at the same time. Here’s what that means, and why it's such a big step forward.

Blue Ghost spacecraft captures rare, stunning views of Earth eclipsing the moon
By Damien Pine published
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost spacecraft took some unique photos of our home planet on its Mission 1 flight to the moon in late January and early February. The spacecraft is now in orbit around the moon, with a planned landing date of March 2.

Pale Blue Dot: The iconic Valentine's Day photo of Earth turns 35 today — and you're probably in it
By Damien Pine published
On this day 35 years ago, NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft took a picture that changed how we see our planet. The iconic "Pale Blue Dot" image is just as awe-inspiring today.

Giant 'kidney beans' spotted in Mars satellite images could point to signs of water and life
By Damien Pine published
A NASA satellite has spotted frozen "kidney beans" on Mars' sand dunes trapped in place until springtime. Photographing them can help us determine if there was ever enough water on Mars to sustain life.
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