EVSN: Escape Velocity Space News
Science & Ideas
About
Get your weekly dose of all that's new in space and astronomy with Escape Velocity Space News. The sky is not the limit, as we bring you the latest scientific discoveries and rocket launches. EVSN is brought to you by the team behind CosmoQuest at the Planetary Science Institute and features hosts Dr. Pamela L. Gay and Erik Madaus, with audio engineering by Ally Pelphrey. EVSN is supported through Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/CosmoQuestX.
Episodes
- Uncommon Stars
In today's episode where we look at the Voyager mission's exploration beyond our solar system, the organics Mars Curiosity Rover has discovered, the distribution of planets uncovered by the TESS mission, and how JWST measured the surface o…
- The One With the Dark Matter
This episode of EVSN: Escape Velocity Space News reviews the potential influence of Dark Matter on Supermassive Blackhole formation. It also covers newly catalogued hydrogen remnants, the discovery of an ancient star via a class project, a…
- After Hours: Launching the small(er) things with Exolaunch CEO Robert Sproles
This episode features a conversation with Robert Sproles, CEO of Exolaunch. They discuss the company's work in providing launch services for small satellites and addressing the growing need for rideshare options in the commercial space sec…
- To Artemis, With Love
EVSN: Escape Velocity Space News presents an episode dedicated to the Artemis II mission, framed as a "love letter" to the endeavor.
- Supervolcanoes: Erupt, Refill, Repeat
This episode of EVSN: Escape Velocity Space News discusses the connections between super volcanoes, plate tectonics, geology, climate, and life, including their effect on humans. It mentions Naples being located on a supervolcano and the t…
- Science in Pairs & Moon Plans Redux
This episode of EVSN: Escape Velocity Space News covers NASA updates and features stories about scientific pairs, such as two planets forming in a disk, two stars merging, two asteroids orbiting the sun faster together, and two planets col…
- On Background - Comets, the basics
This episode of EVSN: Escape Velocity Space News focuses on the origin and basic anatomy of comets. It is funded by the National Science Foundation.
- Pretty Pictures & Ugly Artemis News
The EVSN podcast discusses the Artemis mission, noting delays and cancellations amidst breaking news. The episode also explores space imagery, highlighting the universe's beauty.
- Glaciers: Going, Going…Gone
This episode of EVSN: Escape Velocity Space News covers the topics of melting glaciers, erupting volcanoes, and earthquakes.
- The sky is falling! Space Junk 411
This EVSN episode covers the growing issue of space junk resulting from increased rocket and satellite launches. It also includes updates on the Maven mission, Paranal Observatory, and discusses phenomena like dramatic weather and stars dy…
- JWST Makes Sense of the Early Universe
This episode discusses findings from the latest American Astronomical Society Meeting, highlighting how new telescopes and instruments are improving our understanding of the universe. Topics include research on rapidly rotating asteroids a…
- Astronomy Answers: What's that light?
EVSN: Escape Velocity Space News discusses astronomical topics including hot Jupiters, a tear-drop shaped object of Jupiter mass, and instances of celestial bodies being destroyed and coalescing.
- When Science Results Rhyme: Exoplanets, Supernovae, and Relativity
This episode of EVSN: Escape Velocity Space News covers news on young exoplanets, scientific confirmation of relativity, and the observation of first-generation stars with the JWST. It also reports on the completion of the Nancy Grace Roma…
- Never trust a volcano & other geology tales
This EVSN episode discusses Earth's geological evolution, covering its formation, acquisition of a Moon, internal structure development, and surface processes such as mountain building. It also includes recent space launch news.
- Climate Change Follows the Water
This EVSN: Escape Velocity Space News episode examines climate change by tracking water, discussing historical glacial melt impacts on sea levels, the contribution of pond and sea life to greenhouse gases, and a notable instance of rapid g…
- JWST's picture album of Baby stars, planets, moons and more
This episode of EVSN covers recent James Webb Space Telescope discoveries concerning star system formation, including planets and moons, and the growth of black holes. It also discusses observable celestial events and news from recent rock…
- Giant Black Holes Cosplay as Little Red Dots
Researchers have identified that the "Little Red Dots" observed in the early universe might be massive black holes enveloped in glowing red gas. The episode also covers the Hyabusa2 mission
- The Black Hole eating star with supernova sized regrets
This EVSN episode covers a giant blue star being eaten by a black hole. It also discusses news on planet formation, asteroids, and potential life on Mars.
- Rockets make bad neighbors
This episode discusses the effects of SpaceX launches on the Space Coast and competitors. It also covers new scientific findings regarding the origins of Ryugu and Bennu, solar system phenomena, a unique supernova, and updates on several s…
- It came from the outer solar system
This episode of EVSN covers recent news from the outer solar system, focusing on newly discovered objects, the interstellar comet I3/Atlas, and the Peried meteor shower. The discussion centers on icy celestial bodies.
- Volunteer Stargazers
This episode of EVSN: Escape Velocity Space News focuses on the historical role of volunteers in scientific exploration and outlines opportunities for listeners to get involved in community science projects.
- 2 Tales of 2 decades: Rubin Observatory and SpaceX Starship
This EVSN episode reviews the parallel 20-year development of the Vera Rubin Observatory and SpaceX's Starship rocket. Both projects experienced delays, were expected to launch in 2019, and reached milestones in June, showcasing their diff…
- When the Universe Attacks
This episode of EVSN explores the Fermi Paradox on its 75th anniversary, examining scientific capabilities that could threaten civilizations. It also reviews recent efforts in lunar landings and Mars rocket development.
- Happy Space News! Aurorae, Planet 9, and weird things that make us say "it's not aliens"
This episode of EVSN: Escape Velocity Space News covers the ongoing search for Planet 9, discusses aurorae observed on Earth, Jupiter, and Neptune, and examines peculiar space discoveries.
- A failing look at Earth, a first look at other worlds, and more
This episode discusses Earth-facing space missions that will soon be retired due to atmospheric drag and a lack of replacements. It also covers recent exoplanet discoveries, a star's death, and launch pad events.
- Federal Budget Cuts: An extinction-level event
This episode of EVSN discusses the potential extinction-level impact of federal budget cuts on US space sciences, examining the elimination of programs, projects, datasets, and funding.
- From the beginning of the universe to the beginning of spring, it's all science
This episode covers current events in space and astronomy, touching on topics like dark energy, the potential end of supersymmetry, remote sensing for Earth science, and experiences from the launch pad.
- Space is hard: IM2 Failure, Starship 8 explosion, Mars Sample Return delays, and more
This episode of EVSN: Escape Velocity Space News covers recent developments in space and astronomy, touching on mission failures like IM-2 and Starship, delays in Mars Sample Return, and contrasting successes such as Firefly Aerospace's Bl…
- The Book of Mars, Star Formation, and More
This episode of EVSN discusses recent developments in space and astronomy, featuring DESI's black hole census, star formation in clusters, Europa Clipper updates, Mars science, and launch pad experiences.
- Temperatures That Kill
This episode of EVSN: Escape Velocity Space News discusses a potentially killer asteroid, the history of Earth's water, a mini-quasi-moon, climate change, and events from the launch pad.
- Space stories of joy
This EVSN episode focuses on sharing joyful space stories and rocket news.
- Science Here & Far: The Moon, Asteroids, Dark Comets... & Dark Energy
This episode covers recent advancements in planetary science and cosmology, discussing topics such as Dark Comets, Io's mantle, bacterial colonization of a Ryugu sample, and unexpectedly rapid galaxy formation. It also includes updates fro…
- Searching for Dark Energy in Black Holes
The episode covers recent space news, including a newly discovered planet orbiting a young star, evidence of solar activity in tree rings, a catalog of white dwarfs, and the theory that black holes may generate dark energy. It also include…
- By fire and ice: mass extinctions gone wild
This episode discusses past planetary destruction, covering topics like snowball Earth, melting permafrost, and various types of volcanoes. It also includes updates from the launch pad.
- Aerospace vs Climate Change
This episode of EVSN covers new developments in space, including telescope missions like Euclid, Roman, and Rubin, and examines the atmospheric impact of rockets and satellites.
- Hera and Clipper plan on getting up close with other worlds, and Black Hole News
This episode of EVSN: Escape Velocity Space News covers recent developments in space and astronomy. Topics include microscopic black holes as potential dark matter, massive black holes emitting jets, and details on the Hera and Clipper mis…
- SpaceX vs FAA and EPA and Cards Against Humanity
This EVSN episode focuses on SpaceX's consistent failure to adhere to the rules, regulations, and norms of international spaceflight, referencing FAA and EPA compliance.
- Planning for Asteroid Attacks, Dino Prints Cross Ocean, Viper Updates, & more
This episode of EVSN covers recent developments in space and astronomy, including volcanic glass beads, dinosaur footprints found across oceans, asteroid exploration, and news from the launch pad.
- Mars is the future, the day the Dinos Died, a Star's Death in 3 Acts, and more
Escape Velocity Space News covers recent developments in space and astronomy, including details on the dinosaur-killing asteroid, a star being consumed by another, and Mars exploration.
- NASA Budget Woes May Murder Missions
The EVSN podcast covers space and astronomy news, including potential NASA budget cuts impacting the Hubble, Chandra, and VIPER missions. The Roman Space Telescope will receive a new instrument.
- Found: 1 Intermediate Mass Black Hole
The episode discusses current events in space and astronomy, such as Jupiter's Great Red Spot, Io's Lava Lake, and Titan's coastal erosion. It highlights the discovery of an intermediate-mass black hole in the Omega Centauri globular clust…
- JWST Reveals Star Formation Details
This episode covers recent developments in space and astronomy, such as the Mars Perseverance Rover, black hole formation, and launch pad updates. It also examines how JWST images provide unprecedented detail on star formation.
- Planning to go back to the moon
EVSN covers recent space news including Hubble, EUCLID, Io, and Pluto. The episode details plans for human lunar missions using SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's Blue Moon.
- Climate in Crisis (and stars in formation)
This episode of EVSN covers the discovery of a distant black hole merger by JWST, the increasing difficulty in the search for life on other planets, and a discussion on human activities related to climate change.
- Carrington 2024
This episode of EVSN focuses on Sunspot complex 3664's activity and explores related topics in planetary science, including observing extraterrestrial weather, the climate history of Mars, and the impact of solar storms on the Red Planet.
- Io and Juno Begin to Part Ways
After a close approach in February, NASA's Juno spacecraft's orbit has changed, bringing it nearer to Jupiter and away from the moon Io as it settles into tighter orbits.
- Catch the (Alien) Rainbow
A new paper discusses the atmosphere of exoplanet WASP-76b, detailing the discovery of a circular rainbow not caused by refracted starlight.
- Following the Water Toward Climate Change
This EVSN episode explores climate change, referencing recent severe weather as a catalyst. It touches upon current scientific research and the stark realities of environmental shifts.
- Planet Formation is (Still) Not Well Understood
A trio of new papers indicates that planet formation is still not well understood, as the universe produces more diverse solar systems than previously imagined.
- SPECIAL SHORT: How NASA Budget Cuts Will Hurt Space Science
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