Rahul Rao

Rahul Rao is a graduate of New York University's SHERP and a freelance science writer, regularly covering physics, space, and infrastructure. His work has appeared in Gizmodo, Popular Science, Inverse, IEEE Spectrum, and Continuum. He enjoys riding trains for fun and has seen every surviving episode of Doctor Who. He holds a master's degree in science writing from New York University's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program (SHERP) and earned a bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University, where he studied English and physics.

Biography:  https://www.space.com/author/rahul-rao

83%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermines the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
Analysis.OverallConflictOfInterestScore * 0.3F + Analysis.OverallBiasScore * 0.3F + Analysis.DeceptivenessScore * 0.3F + Analysis.ReadabilityScore * 0.1F

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

The Daily's Verdict

This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.

Bias

86%

Examples:

  • The author occasionally uses sensational language to describe scientific discoveries (e.g., describing Io as an 'infamously infernal moon' and a 'hotbed of volcanic activity').

Conflicts of Interest

62%

Examples:

  • The author has a potential conflict of interest in that they cover topics related to their alma mater (e.g., New York University's SHERP) and may be more likely to favorably report on research or news related to the institution.

Contradictions

83%

Examples:

  • The author mentioned that Perseverance encountered unexpected boulders and had to reroute across a dune field and through the river channel to reach Bright Angel in one article, but in another article described Juno's consistent observation of Io's volcanic activity.

Deceptions

100%

Examples:

  • In one article, the author presents two competing theories for why Io has intense volcanism but does not indicate which theory is favored by scientists or provide a clear explanation of how these theories have been tested.

Recent Articles

Newly Discovered Anorthosite Boulder, Atoko Point, on Mars: A Potential Piece of Martian History

Newly Discovered Anorthosite Boulder, Atoko Point, on Mars: A Potential Piece of Martian History

Broke On: Saturday, 15 June 2024 NASA's Perseverance rover discovered a unique boulder named Atoko Point during its exploration of Mars' Jezero Crater. The light-toned, 18-inch wide and 14-inch tall boulder, located in Neretva Vallis, is primarily composed of pyroxene and feldspar. Scientists believe it may be an anorthosite, a rock type never seen on Mars before. Its discovery could provide insights into Mars' geology and potential similarities to Earth.
Juno Spacecraft Captures Real-Time Image of Volcanic Activity on Io During Close Encounter

Juno Spacecraft Captures Real-Time Image of Volcanic Activity on Io During Close Encounter

Broke On: Wednesday, 07 February 2024 Juno spacecraft captures real-time image of volcanic activity erupting from Io's surface during a close flyby. This encounter is part of a set designed to provide new insight into the fiery phenomena beneath Io's surface.