Dr. Elena Ortiz
Senior Correspondent, Deep Frontiers
Dr. Ortiz earned her PhD in Marine Biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, specializing in deep-sea extremophiles. She has participated in over a dozen expeditions, from the Antarctic ice sheets to the hydrothermal vents of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Her reporting for 'National Geographic' earned her a citation from the Overseas Press Club for its visceral, on-the-ground perspective. Elena's 'Field Notes' column for 'Science and Exploration' is a reader favorite, blending personal reflection with hard-hitting environmental science. She believes that to understand the science, you must first understand the place and the people conducting the research.
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Latest Articles
58th Girl Scouts Unite Event Ignites Tomorrow's Leaders
Despite a city-wide transit strike threatening early arrivals, over 15,000 Girl Scouts and volunteers converged on Chicago's McCormick Place for their 58th annual 'Unite' event, October 27-29, 2026.
Jun 24, 2026 · 4 min read
This Week In Space podcast episode 215 discusses UAP Disclosure Day
Just last week, a former intelligence official testified under oath that the U.
Jun 21, 2026 · 3 min read
NASA taps Relativity Space for 2028 Mars orbiter launch
Relativity Space’s only previous rocket launch, Terran 1, failed after stage separation.
Jun 20, 2026 · 3 min read
Scientists Map Galaxy's Spin; Gravitational Waves to Deepen View
Our galaxy's rotation curve now extends to an unprecedented 200 kiloparsecs, mapping its intricate dynamics far beyond the solar system.
Jun 15, 2026 · 2 min read
Webb Telescope Spots Little Red Dots That Appear to Be Black Holes
Peering back 1.8 billion years after the Big Bang, the James Webb Space Telescope has revealed a seemingly innocuous 'little red dot' as a candidate for a 'black hole star', according to Universe Toda
Jun 15, 2026 · 2 min read
Astrophotographer Captures 30-Day Venus Jupiter Conjunction Collage
Over 30 days, astrophotographer Soumyadeep Mukherjee captured Venus and Jupiter appearing to dance closer in the night sky.
Jun 14, 2026 · 2 min read
Total solar eclipse August 2026 brings rare sunset phenomenon
On August 12, 2026, millions across Europe and Northwest Africa will witness the sun, up to 83% obscured, dip below the horizon in a rare partially eclipsed sunset, a spectacle distinct from the full
Jun 14, 2026 · 3 min read
Guadalajara's World Cup hosting marred by empty seats, high prices
Despite FIFA's official report of 44,985 attendees for a recent World Cup match in Guadalajara, sections with tickets soaring to $5,000 stood visibly empty, a stark observation from Sports Business Jo
Jun 12, 2026 · 3 min read
NASA astronaut Bob Hines joins Artemis III backup crew
Frank Rubio, one of four astronauts named for NASA's Artemis III mission, holds the record for the longest spaceflight by a U.
Jun 10, 2026 · 3 min read
NASA Names Bresnik, Parmitano, Rubio, Douglas for Artemis III
NASA has named Commander Randy Bresnik, Pilot Luca Parmitano, Mission specialist Frank Rubio, and Mission specialist Andre Douglas as the all-male crew for the Artemis III test flight in late 2027.
Jun 10, 2026 · 3 min read
NASA Names Artemis III Crew for 2027 Moon Mission
Frank Rubio, one of four astronauts named to the Artemis III crew , holds a U.
Jun 10, 2026 · 4 min read
Whale Carcasses Fuel Pacific Seabed Life for 15+ Years, Study Shows
For 15 years, scientists have watched a whale carcass off Vancouver Island slowly shrink, its bones becoming a vibrant, enduring city for thousands of deep-sea organisms at a depth of 1,288 meters.
Jun 10, 2026 · 4 min read
NASA Science Explores 2026 FIFA World Cup Connections
In 2019, researchers used the International Space Station's microgravity environment to precisely study how a soccer ball's internal mass affects its motion, directly influencing the high-tech balls u
Jun 9, 2026 · 2 min read
What is the koala population decline genomic study's finding?
The koala population in Victoria once dwindled to a mere 102 individuals, a genetic bottleneck so severe it echoes through their modern DNA, according to Science .
Jun 9, 2026 · 3 min read
Andaman Sea Gas & Mining Fuel Resource Debate
Beneath the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea, where endangered dugongs graze, Myanmar projects over $1 billion in annual revenue from newly tapped natural gas fields, even as the specter of deep-se
Jun 7, 2026 · 4 min read
How Can We Predict Coral Bleaching Events for Conservation?
From January 1, 2023, to March 30, 2025, bleaching-level heat stress impacted 84% of the world's reefs, according to icriforum .
Jun 7, 2026 · 6 min read
MIT Engineers Develop Green Dual-Mode Engine for CubeSats
At MIT, engineers have developed a CubeSat engine that achieved a specific impulse of 600 seconds with electrospray thrusters, all while running both chemical and electric modes from a single tank of
Jun 7, 2026 · 3 min read
How Scientific Methods in Underwater Archaeology Work
Deep beneath the waves, the Naval History and Heritage Command's Underwater Archaeology (UA) branch meticulously applies scientific research and excavation to uncover secrets of the past.
Jun 6, 2026 · 4 min read
NASA reviews advanced composite manufacturing findings for future aircraft
At NASA's Langley Research Center, 150 experts recently convened, selecting technologies poised to dramatically accelerate next-generation airplane manufacturing.
Jun 5, 2026 · 2 min read
Ancient DNA: Unraveling interspecies breeding
Today, 4,303 specific Neanderthal DNA differences actively influence 47 distinct genetic traits in modern humans, from immune responses to skin pigmentation.
Jun 4, 2026 · 4 min read