EVSN: Escape Velocity Space News

Dr. Pamela Gay, Erik Madaus, Ally Pelphrey•evsn.tv

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.

Last refreshed: July 9th, 2025 at 8:53 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Electrons Swirl Like Water Under Specific Conditions

Using etched tungsten ditelluride at nearly absolute zero, scientists have observed electrons swirling around like whirlpools, behaving as a fluid. The methods could be used to design low-energy devices. Plus, eavesdropping on aliens, machine learning on solar data, and some new observatories are in the works.

Jul 07, 2022•20 min

Infrared Telescope Balloon Mission Gets Mini-JWST Mirror

While waiting for the launch and commissioning of JWST, engineers designed an infrared telescope with a 2.5-meter mirror that will fly onboard a large research balloon to nearly 40 kilometers in altitude. Plus, fast radio bursts, robotic ammonites, and this week in rocket history we look back at Telstar-1.

Jul 06, 2022•20 min

Cosmic Manatee with a Particle Accelerator on its Head

Scientists observing the Manatee Nebula find that the supernova remnant contains a stellar-mass black hole that is emitting powerful, high-energy jets, creating the strange, double-lobed shape. Plus, rocket launches, mission updates from Mars and the Moon, and a spinning galaxy from the early universe.

Jul 05, 2022•21 min

Comet Storm Due in One Million Years

A star cataloged as Gliese 781 is approaching our solar system and in slightly more than a million years from now, will reach the Oort Cloud, likely disrupting the orbits of icy bodies that could head toward Earth. Plus, an Indian launch, Asteroid Day, understanding our ice giants, and a review of “Kaiju Preservation Society” by John Scalzi.

Jul 01, 2022•20 min

Looking for Life in All the Strange Places

A trio of stories examines the possibilities for finding life in strange, new places, including deep underground here on Earth, in the subsurface oceans of Europa, and fossilized within sedimentary rocks on Mars. Plus, a SpaceX launch, gamma-ray bursts, and this week’s What’s Up.

Jul 01, 2022•21 min

Climate Change: African Lakes Sequestering Carbon Dioxide

Today we look at a trio of climate change stories, which are mostly bad news, although one study has discovered that African lakes are doing more sequestering of greenhouse gases than emissions. Plus, the CAPSTONE launch, meteorite crystals, and this week in rocket history, a mission that launched… but failed.

Jun 29, 2022•23 min

Black Hole Caught Eating Faster Than Normal

With a little bit of luck and a lot of time on different telescopes, researchers managed to capture the black hole in the center of the Milky Way, SgrA*, consuming matter at a faster rate than usual. Plus, Australia launches a rocket, a couple of Mars stories, and strange glaciers on Earth.

Jun 28, 2022•21 min

Jupiter’s Atmosphere Contains Metals From Planetesimals

A recent paper examined data from NASA’s Juno mission and found that Jupiter’s atmosphere not only contains metals but also is not a homogenous mix. The likely culprits are the remains of planetesimals from the early solar system. Plus, a Voyager update, a new Mercury image, sulfur residue on Europa, and a review of “For All Mankind”.

Jun 24, 2022•19 min

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