The Conversation - Beam us up some support, Scotty!

Dear Reader,

You’ve probably heard the phrase “space, the final frontier” time and time again.

But this is hardly just a throwback to Captain Kirk: There is so much discovery, wonder and adventure happening in the cosmos today. And as The Conversation U.S.’s space editor, I am lucky enough to bring you stories about the latest research and missions that shoot for the stars.

You might have read our recent piece on the latest drama unfolding in space, that the Boeing Starliner had returned to Earth without its crew. If you read or heard the story elsewhere, you got a reporter’s take. At The Conversation, an astronaut wrote the article you read. Our author is a former commander of the International Space Station and an expert on the topic being covered.  

And that is The Conversation’s secret sauce: Our journalists work with experts to bring you evidence-based, well-researched journalism that doesn’t distort or muddle the truth. 

I've worked with talented scholars on their cutting-edge research peering into the solar wind, investigating the light from very old galaxies, building models to study black holes and much more. But our coverage isn't limited to new research findings and upcoming missions. 

As with any emerging research field, space exploration comes with ethical considerations. Our stories have described how colonial histories on Earth can inform first contact with extraterrestrial intelligence and build guardrails for the commercial space industry. We've explored how space junk can crowd Earth's orbit, how building lunar bases could threaten astronomy research, and how at the end of the day there just aren't that many clear, enforceable rules around what you can and can't do in space.

As the technology develops and more missions launch, we’ll see countless new scientific discoveries, but the ethical issues will also grow more pressing. If all that sounds overwhelming, don't worry. We'll be right there to provide you with context and necessary information. 

That’s why I love working at The Conversation − the space beat here isn’t just limited to astronomy, planetary science and aerospace engineering. We bring in scholars from the sciences alongside those studying international relations, sociology and the humanities. Together, we bring you stories that explore these complex topics deeply and with care. 

When you support us, you are supporting wonder, curiosity and the wide expanse of knowledge coming to readers like you. We can’t do it without you. So please beam us up some support! 

At The Conversation, we bring you a world filled with well-researched analysis and insights not seen elsewhere on a wide range of topics, including politics and democracy, religion and ethics, health and wellness, education and the environment. This is the last appeal in our fall fundraising drive. Your generosity makes this work possible. 

With gratitude,

P.S. If you could donate what you typically spend on a streaming subscription, you’ll make our day − and get two e-books that will take you to new frontiers in religion and work. Major donors who donate $1,000 or more will get a paper book, a compilation of our best articles on the future of work.

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