Nick Oakes - Science & Science Fiction Writer

The Spacers Saga • 27th April 2025

The Petrichor Conspiracy - Chapter 1

Everything changed when an asteroid hit Phoenix. Millions died, and the world was never the same. Thirty-six years later, fusion power is the new norm and the Moon is the frontline of a showdown between NATO and the Shanghai Pact for control of helium-3 resources. But for Doctor Alicia Ricardo, life revolves around searching for evidence of ancient aliens, and in April 2049, that means searching the fjords of Svalbard. And her search is about to pay off in a big way...

Astronomy Magazine • 9th April 2025

Three new planets found around Barnard’s Star

As of 2025, astronomers have identified at least 14 stars within 10 light-years of the Sun. After the Alpha Centauri system, the next closest is Barnard’s Star, a solo red dwarf roughly 6 light-years away. And thanks to new observations, we now know that Barnard’s Star is orbited by four small, rocky exoplanets.

Astronomy Magazine • 10th March 2025

Cryovolcanism on Titan may replenish its thick atmosphere

Experiments suggest that processes in the interior of the moon could keep it swathed in an atmosphere that should otherwise have been lost.

Astronomy Magazine • 6th January 2025

Pluto may have ‘kissed’ Charon to capture it

New research suggests that Pluto may have acquired its most massive moon, Charon, through an ancient grazing impact, which the science team refers to as a “kiss and capture”.

Astronomy Magazine • 31st December 2024

JWST reveals surprising surface chemistry is occurring on Pluto’s moon Charon

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) recently took a closer look at Pluto’s moon Charon, where it helped scientists to discover Carbon Dioxide on the surface.

29th October 2024

Portfolio of projects completed in Blender 3D

A profile of projects completed in the free 3D rendering and animation software Blender, all of which were done with self-taught skills.

Argonne National Laboratory • 9th October 2024

A quantum material could be the future of high-energy X-ray imaging and particle detection

Scintillators are detectors that make high-energy X-rays or particles visible through flashes of light to form an image. Their many applications include particle physics, medical imaging, X-ray security and more.

Argonne National Laboratory • 21st September 2024

Elam named as a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society

Jeffrey Elam, senior chemist, Distinguished Fellow, and founder of the atomic layer deposition (ALD) research program at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, was named as a fellow of the Electrochemical Society (ECS).

Argonne National Laboratory • 26th August 2024

Six ways that Argonne leads the way in hydropower

As the world moves towards renewable energy sources in pursuit of decarbonization, one of the principal methods being implemented is hydropower, and the Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory is at the forefront of this promising field.

Department of Physics • 19th July 2024

Blasting Off to the Future of Physics Education at WashU

Students from this summer's Intro to Physics course recently held the annual Water Rocket Competition, a capstone event fit to bring together a semester of hands-on learning orchestrated by innovative instructor Reza Khanbabaie.

Department of Physics • 11th July 2024

New Routes to Josephson Effects in Bose-Einstein Condensates

Superconductors and superfluids lose nearly all of their resistance to electricity when chilled down to temperatures approaching Absolute Zero, and new research has devised a novel way to induce this effect in exotic matter.

Department of Physics • 27th June 2024

Quantum Advantage: Building 'Time-Traveling' Quantum Sensors

Science tells us that going back in time is a no-go. But what if scientists could leverage the advantages of quantum physics to uncover data about complex systems that happened in the past? New research indicates that this premise may not be that far-fetched.

11th June 2024

Scientists find new way to enhance durability of lithium batteries | Argonne National Laboratory

Scientists find new way to enhance durability of lithium batteries, as new nickel-rich cathodes could allow batteries to store more energy | (Co-authored by Jared Sagoff)

Department of Physics • 22nd May 2024

Seidel Recognized as Outstanding WashU Faculty

Professor of Physics Alexander Seidel was recently recognized with one of the 2024 Outstanding Staff and Faculty awards at Washington University in St. Louis.

Department of Physics • 9th May 2024

Okawa selected for URA fellowship at Fermilab

As the academic year winds down at Washington University in St. Louis, doctoral student Takuya Okawa of the Department of Physics has been selected for a research fellowship at Fermilab.

Department of Physics • 6th May 2024

Kapoor selected for Lindau Nobel Laureate conference

Yashika Kapoor, a doctoral student in the Washington University Department of Physics, has been selected to participate in the 73rd annual Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting.

Department of Physics • 1st May 2024

Physics student Brodie selected for prestigious DOE program

Liam Brodie, a Washington University graduate student working with Professor of Physics Mark Alford, has been selected to participate in the Department of Energy’s Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program.

8th April 2024

New study shows renewable energy could work as power source at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station | Argonne National Laboratory

A recent analysis shows that renewable energy could be a viable alternative to diesel fuel for science at the South Pole. The analysis deeply explores the feasibility of replacing part of the energy production at the South Pole with renewable sources.

NASA • 13th February 2024

How NASA Uses Simple Technology to Track Lunar Missions

NASA is using a simple but effective technology called Laser Retroreflective Arrays (LRAs) as part of its Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS) initiative to determine the locations of lunar landers more accurately.

NASA • 1st February 2024

NASA to Study Effects of Radio Noise on Lunar Science

An overview of an instrument aboard the Intuitive Machines-1 mission, which is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS) that aims to make lunar missions more routine by offloading the costs to commercial partners

Astronomy Magazine • 29th January 2024

Exoplanet WASP-69 b is trailed by a 350,000-mile-long tail

One hundred and sixty light-years from Earth, an exoplanet orbits the star WASP-69. Astronomers have just confirmed that the blazing-hot world is trailed by a 350,000-mile-long (563,000 kilometers) gaseous tail.

Astronomy Magazine • 6th December 2023

Hubble measurement reveals another super-Earth, hot enough to cook a pizza

Gives an overview of the recent discovery of an Earth-sized exoplanet using data from the TESS mission and in collaboration with scientists on the Hubble mission team.

Astronomy Magazine • 29th November 2023

How do comets get their names?

Explains the history of naming conventions for comets, and gives examples of the different categories to illustrate how these conventions are presented.

Astronomy Magazine • 26th October 2023

Why Titan should be on humanity's must-visit list | Astronomy.com

When it comes to worlds for humans to visit, Titan may not naturally jump to the top of any travel agency’s list. But Titan has advantages for astronauts looking for a long-term getaway.