Dr Robin George Andrews

A graphic of a book. The cover is a deep red and had a good line illustration of an erupting volcano.

It's about time I announced a project that I've been working on in the last year... I wrote a book!

'Volcanoes: 10 things you should know' published by @orionbooks.bsky.social Seven Dials will be out in September. It's available to pre-order now. Links: linktr.ee/volcanologist

One
Year
Ago
Today.

It was the best.

What caused the 8.8 magnitude quake that sent tsunamis to Hawaii and California Here's what we know about what caused the earthquake off Russia's Far East and why the tsunami it generated weren't as big as anticipated.

NEW: A magnitude 8.8 megaquake blasted tsunami waves across the Pacific today. Here's everything you need to know about it, including:

-Why it happened
-Why it generated a widespread tsunami
-Why the timing of this megaquake is a bit weird

Me, for NatGeo www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...

NEW: You may wonder why Japan’s 2011 mag-9.1 quake created a colossal tsunami that killed 18,000 people, while today’s mag-8.8 quake made a big, but not catastrophic, tsunami.

For @sciam.bsky.social, I explore why. (Hint: it’s because the 2011 quake was SO much stronger.)

Why the Russia Earthquake Didn't Cause a Huge Tsunami Russia's magnitude-8.8 earthquake spawned serious tsunami warnings, but waves have been moderate so far. Here's the geological reason why

Another earthquake story from @sciam.bsky.social by the always-excellent @squigglyvolcano.bsky.social explaining why the tsunami from the Russia quake wasn't as huge as the one from the 2011 Japan quake, for example. 🧪

What caused the 8.8 magnitude quake that sent tsunamis to Hawaii and California Here's what we know about what caused the earthquake off Russia's Far East and why the tsunami it generated weren't as big as anticipated.

NEW: A magnitude 8.8 megaquake blasted tsunami waves across the Pacific today. Here's everything you need to know about it, including:

-Why it happened
-Why it generated a widespread tsunami
-Why the timing of this megaquake is a bit weird

Me, for NatGeo www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...

Hey volcano-seismo peeps—a question. I've been writing about the Kamchatka quake and tsunami, but it's not escaped my notice that Klyuchevskoy volcano in Russia starts erupting right afterward. Is this a coincidence, or could the changing stress field in the region have set this volcano off? LMK!

Earthquake/tsunami experts: it’s a very tricky time of day but if anyone’s able to answer some quick questions about what’s happening in the Pacific, that would be hugely helpful. Let me know!

Magnitude 8.7 #earthquake in Kamchatka, following a M7.4 last week - may be largest earthquake since 2011, 8th largest on record globally, #tsunami warning in place for US west coast and Canada - the historic 1952 M9 closely caused a destructive tsunami across the Pacific

praise be

Are interstellar objects proof of alien life? This could finally settle the debate. The Vera Rubin telescope is poised to kick off an explosive era of discovery. "It's like old-fashioned astronomy: Find the thing, point telescopes at it, argue about it. It's going to be fun."

I wrote about Rubin again, this time about the telescope's capacity to find potentially dozens of interstellar objects.

It's going to be wild, as one astronomer put it, "like old-fashioned astronomy: Find the thing, point telescopes at it, argue about it."
www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...

When Betelgeuse Explodes, It’s Going to Take Out Another Star

NEW: Betelgeuse, a big red star, will eventually explode. But despite its self-destructive proclivities, the irritable giant has managed to make, and keep, a friend: a companion star that Betelgeuse will, eventually and rudely, eat up.

Me @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2025/07/21/s...

When Betelgeuse Explodes, It’s Going to Take Out Another Star

NEW: Betelgeuse, a big red star, will eventually explode. But despite its self-destructive proclivities, the irritable giant has managed to make, and keep, a friend: a companion star that Betelgeuse will, eventually and rudely, eat up.

Me @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2025/07/21/s...

Hubble Space Telescope images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS are out! These were taken 5 hours ago. Plenty of cosmic rays peppering the images, but the comet's coma looks very nice and puffy. Best of luck to the researchers trying to write up papers for this... archive.stsci.edu/proposal_sea... 🔭

Very cool update on 3I/ATLAS: the Vera Rubin Observatory (which hasn’t even got its survey going yet) has found images of the interstellar object going back to June 21, clearly showing a coma (that’s also expanding over time).

There’s no doubt about it: it’s a comet. arxiv.org/pdf/2507.13409

The Rubin Observatory Advances Interstellar Archeology Much has been written about Rubin’s omniscience. But there is another aspect to the observatory that, for now, is underappreciated: it will turn astronomers into archaeologists.

NEW: We’re all excited about 3I/ATLAS, the third-ever interstellar object to be discovered. But just you wait: Rubin’s probably going to find so many more—and in doing so, it’ll turn astronomers into archaeologists of long-lost worlds.

Me @supercluster.com supercluster.com/editorial/th...

Inside the most dangerous asteroid hunt ever As space rock 2024 YR4 became more likely to hit Earth than anything of its size had ever been before, scientists all over the world mobilized to protect the planet.

NEW: This is the inside story of how astronomers tracked down 2024 YR4, the most dangerous asteroid ever found, in the hope of working out whether it would strike Earth in a few short years. It’s Don’t Look Up, but everyone lives.

Me @technologyreview.com www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/08/1...

Won’t someone please think of the moons?

I was wondering that too.

Also, are they implying that if it is a hostile alien craft, it wants to attack Jupiter for some reason?

“AND POSSIBLY HOSTILE” lol oh man

If I ever want to just start talking absolute madness I’m going to start my monologue with “Just as a pedagogical exercise…”

The Rubin Observatory Advances Interstellar Archeology Much has been written about Rubin’s omniscience. But there is another aspect to the observatory that, for now, is underappreciated: it will turn astronomers into archaeologists.

NEW: We’re all excited about 3I/ATLAS, the third-ever interstellar object to be discovered. But just you wait: Rubin’s probably going to find so many more—and in doing so, it’ll turn astronomers into archaeologists of long-lost worlds.

Me @supercluster.com supercluster.com/editorial/th...

Inside the most dangerous asteroid hunt ever As space rock 2024 YR4 became more likely to hit Earth than anything of its size had ever been before, scientists all over the world mobilized to protect the planet.

This is the inside story of how, over a span of just two months, a sprawling network of global astronomers found, followed, mapped, planned for, and finally dismissed the most dangerous asteroid ever found—all under the tightest of timelines and, for just a moment, with the highest of stakes.

Thanks so much!

@longreads.com #longreads

Our solar system has a new mysterious visitor—what is it? Just the third-ever confirmed interstellar object has been detected in our solar system. Here's what we know. (Spoiler: It's not aliens.)

NEW: Come on, you didn’t think I’d write nothing on that new interstellar comet, even while on holiday, did you? Pfft.

Here’s everything we know so far about the solar system’s new gatecrasher, from its size, shape, origins and voyage. ☄️

www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...

Thanks to @absw.bsky.social for this tremendous honour! Sorry I couldn’t be there in person, but I’m thrilled my wife could attend to cheer me on in person and meet all the other wonderful nominees. :)

Well, isn’t that lovely? :)

Thoroughly enjoyed working on this one (and a pretty epic first team-up with @asilverman.bsky.social)

Everything about this story is *fantastic* but I particularly enjoyed the bonus fun sidebar: astronomers absolutely hate the moon