Episode 612: Small Cracks, Big Problems

This week was a little lighter on the host count, as Devon was trapped in the endless gravitational pull of legal work, but Ben and Steven still managed to cover everything from adopted kittens to the future of humanity in space. Real Life Ben started things off with an apology for being a little checked out during the last episode. He was physically present, but mentally running on fumes. Fortunately, life is looking up. The foster kittens are beginning to find homes, which is both exciting and bittersweet. He also took a moment to congratulate all the recent graduates out there before diving into family TV time. The household continues its journey through Star City, and after episode two, Nicole is already predicting where the story is headed. While the series has proven compelling, some mature content, light torture, and strong language have made it a slightly awkward fit for younger viewers. Devon wasn't able to join us this week thanks to an overwhelming amount of lawyering. We assume he is somewhere buried beneath paperwork and legal precedent, emerging only occasionally for coffee. Steven reminisced about a Disney trip he took with Ben years ago before jumping into a discussion of the For All Mankind season finale and what season six might bring. We unpack the strengths and weaknesses of the latest season, revisit the complicated Baldwin and Stevens family connections, and discuss why the Stevens kid is definitely not the mysterious Mars Peacekeeper. The conversation also explores the implications of the show's latest time jump and what it could mean for the future of the series. Steven also finished Gravity Falls with his kids, watching the final five episodes of season two in a single marathon session. Even when the show edged close to becoming a little too intense for younger audiences, it always managed to pull back and deliver an emotional, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful conclusion. Years after it first aired, it remains one of the best family animated series ever produced. Future or Now Ben kicked off the science segment with an ongoing issue aboard the International Space Station. Astronauts were temporarily instructed to shelter while engineers continued monitoring a long-running air leak in the Russian section of the station. The culprit is a small connecting tunnel that has developed microscopic structural cracks over time. Despite years of repairs and investigation, the leak remains one of the ISS's most persistent engineering headaches. The story naturally led into a broader discussion about the future of orbital habitats, including new commercial space stations currently under development and what might eventually replace the aging ISS. Steven brought a much more optimistic story to the table. Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new perovskite-based catalyst that dramatically lowers the temperature required to produce hydrogen from water. The breakthrough could allow industrial facilities to use waste heat that would otherwise be discarded, turning it into a valuable source of clean hydrogen fuel. If the technology scales successfully, it could reduce production costs, improve efficiency, and help make hydrogen a more practical energy source for industries ranging from steel manufacturing to renewable power generation. It's the kind of breakthrough that could quietly reshape entire sectors without most people realizing it until years later. From leaky space stations to cleaner energy, adopted kittens to animated mysteries, this week's episode covers a surprisingly wide range of topics—even with one host missing in action.