Science Cafe: Uncovering the Mysteries of the Universe… by throwing telescopes into space!
Date and Time
Sep 25, 2025 6:00 pm
Location
14th & V
2021 14th St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20009
Sep 25, 2025 6:00 pm
14th & V
Have you ever wondered what happened at the beginning of the Universe? How did it go from an empty void of space to galaxies like our very own? When did the first supermassive black holes form? Or, perhaps looking closer to home, what secrets have we missed in planets both inside and outside our own Solar System? Join us to hear Dr Taylor Hutchison from NASA talk about many exciting new discoveries fresh from NASA's recently-launched space telescope, JWST! They will take us on a journey through the myriad of fresh science and culture from the astronomical community -- from the rat race of finding the most distant galaxy to shocking discoveries of super massive black holes in the very early Universe to hunting for planets that could host life. Thanks to the amazing abilities of JWST, we are peering at the edge of what we know -- ready to dive in... but with the current attacks on federally funded research, we might be resigned to never move past that edge.
Speaker: Dr Taylor Hutchison (she/they) NASA Postdoctoral Fellow
Bio: Dr Taylor Hutchison is a queer astrophysicist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Their work focuses on how distant galaxies form stars, emit radiation, and create heavy elements like iron. Hailing from Texas, they believe that hot sauce should be its own food group and can unironically be found flying back from Texas to DC with at least two bottles of hot sauce and packs of HEB tortillas in their checked luggage. Dr Hutchison believes in a free Palestine and a world where all oppressed peoples are free.
