Trappist-1, ESCAPADE, and Axions

Trappist-1, ESCAPADE, and Axions

Author: Joshua Colwell, Adrienne Dove, and James Cooney August 20, 2025 Duration: 41:38

There is so much going on in the universe it's hard to keep track. That's why we have not one but two top astroquarks on this episode to cover the latest discoveries and news from the solar system to the deepest recesses of space. A search for a habitable atmosphere comes up empty, while a mission to study the loss of Mars' atmosphere nears launch. And a clever new technique may be able to detect the hypothesized axion, a candidate particle for dark matter. Check it out, with space news, trivia, and more.


Ever wondered what it would be like to grab a coffee with a few planetary scientists who can’t help but find the humor in the cosmos? That’s the feeling you get with Walkabout the Galaxy. Hosted by Joshua Colwell, Adrienne Dove, and James Cooney, this isn’t a dry lecture from a distant lecture hall. Instead, it’s a lively, often funny conversation that feels like you’re right there with them, unpacking the universe’s latest headlines. Each episode digs into the newest and most fascinating discoveries in astronomy and space science, but the approach is grounded and genuinely curious. You’ll hear the hosts’ real excitement and occasional friendly debates as they translate complex ideas from recent papers or major missions into stories anyone can connect with. The tone is naturally irreverent, which makes the science stick, and their camaraderie turns each discussion into an engaging journey. Tuning into this podcast means getting a front-row seat to a casual yet deeply informative chat about everything from quirky asteroids to the profound mysteries of distant galaxies, all delivered with a warmth that reminds you why looking up at the stars is so compelling in the first place. It’s a perfect blend of solid science and natural comedy, making the vastness of space feel a little more like home.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Walkabout the Galaxy
Podcast Episodes
Water in the Solar System - Dragoncon 2023 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:15
The astroquarks report from Dragoncon 2023 on the surprisingly diverse distribution of water in the solar system, where it came from, and the prospects for life on other worlds. We are joined by planetary geologist R. Sc…
Diamonds, Granite, and Hubble Tension [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:44
When we think of all the wonderfully unique things about the Earth as a planet (liquid water on the surface, life, plate tectonics), the existence of lovely granite kitchen countertops doesn't usually make the list. But…
The Sun Bounces Gamma Rays and a Muon Surprise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:21
The Sun is showering us with far more gamma rays than anticipated according to new measurements from a Cerenkov radiation detector in Mexico. The way those gamma rays are produced is very cool. Also cool: data continue t…
Rogue Planets Galore and the Age of the Universe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:03
We take a look at two extraordinary astronomical news items in this episode. A deep dive into an astronomical survey has discovered an Earth-sized rogue planet and a Neptune-sized rogue planet. Extrapolating from those d…
Dark Stars and Water in Hot Places [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:55
The JWST has spotted water vapor in the hot inner region of a protoplanetary disk, the same region where rocky planets like are own are expected to form. This suggests water can be incorporated into terrestrial planets d…
X-Rays from Mercury and a Different Kind of Gravitational Hole [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:29
We think of aurora as an atmospheric phenomenon, but what happens when high energy particles from the Sun directly impact a planetary surface? Mercury reveals another cool planetary twist with auroral-like emission from…
The Rumble in the Universe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:43
Nature has provided us with exquisitely accurate clocks in the form of pulsars, those rapidly rotating neutron stars whose beams of radiation act like high-powered lighthouses across the galaxy. We discuss the amazing di…
All Things Dark: Matter, Energy, and More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:14
Top quark has a field day in this episode with a model for fuzzy dark matter, new data that could shed light on dark energy, and a cool x-ray echo from the supermassive black hole at the heart of our galaxy. Closer to ho…
Earth's Pebble Accretion and the Boring Billion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:30
New analysis of radioisotopes of meteorites and the Earth suggest the Earth formed in only a few million years via a process called pebble accretion. This may mean the Earth's water was incorporated early and gradually r…

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