PODCAST · tv
Fact and Science Fiction
by Fact & Science Fiction
A podcast about the real science behind your favorite science fiction themes and tropes. Each episode, I choose a recurring topic or two in science fiction, and then dive into how it works in reality. If you ever wanted to learn more about genetics, virtual reality, or space travel - this podcast is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
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Lady Astronaut Series with author Mary Robinette Kowal
In this special episode, I got to ask a really smart person lots of questions. Specifically, the author, voice actor, puppeteer, and science communicator Mary Robinette Kowal, author of the Lady Astronaut series— starting with The Calculating Stars, The Fated Sky, and the new novel coming out…
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Special announcement: Afrofuturism and diverse science fiction
I was going to create a podcast episode on afrofuturism but I found that this genre/aesthetic/artform can speak for itself so instead I'm going to link all my research sources and then make a pledge to ensure all @FactandScifi eps from now on include black and non-black POC media rep.…
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Cyborgs and Cybernetics
In this episode I discuss real examples of cyborgs, cybernetic organisms living today, human or otherwise, and these examples may surprise you. I’ll define what exactly cybernetic means, and why exactly cybernetics is an exciting industry to watch. New Segment! Recommendations: -Sleeping Giants…
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Earthquakes & Landslides: Science of Disaster Movies
Disaster movies can be fun. They can be scary or thought-provoking. And they can be really, really bad. But how close are they to the science of real disasters? I talk about recent landslides and earthquakes, my own experience with natural disasters, and a model for risk communication. Follow the...
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The Many Worlds Interpretation and Parallel Universes in Sci-Fi
In this episode of Fact and Science Fiction, I'm discussing the science and science fiction of parallel universes. I review the famous Many Worlds Interpretation, the theory of bubble universes and more. I use examples from The Dark Tower, Golden Compass and Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse to...
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Animal Mimicry in Nature and Carpenter's The Thing
In this episode I'm sharing types of animal mimicry. From owl butterflies to cuckoo birds, to the "thing" from space. I discuss defensive mimicry, aggressive mimicry and even mimicry humans have contributed to. It turns out there's no greater inspiration for horror than the natural world.…
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Super Suits, Mechsuits, and Iron Man
We are obsessed with super suits. It is the peak of imagined technology. It’s like we have recognized the limits of the human body - and we have decided that all we need to become super strong, fast and flying is robotics. From Iron Man, RoboCop to the Gundam franchise, they are known as…
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The Flu in Stephen King's The Stand
There have been several pandemics in human history and few are as misunderstood as the flu. In Stephen King's The Stand, a flu epidemic wipes out most of the human population. How is it different from the actual flu? What are some misconceptions about the flu? How can you protect yourself? This...
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Science of Superheroes: Planet Comicon Live
This special live episode was recorded March 30 in Kansas City MO. I did a round-up of the science of superheroes and superpowers, including Captain Marvel, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America, and Ant-Man. I discuss photon blasts, radiation, growing big and super-shrinking. Then I talked about...
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Going for Orbit with Kerbal Space Program
I play a video game! Join me as I launch a rocket to space, complete an orbit path, and return back to the planet on Kerbal Space Program. Kerbal Space Program is a popular physics simulator that teaches players science and engineering. It's for people who love space and taking notes! Subscribe,...
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Interview with Author David Siegel Bernstein
David Bernstein's Blockbuster Science has been a life-saver for my research for the podcast and I was so happy he agreed to be on the show! We talk about how he got the idea for the book, his favorite topics in science (hint: space!), and his job as a forensic data scientist! Follow David on...
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Climate Change and Eco Sci Fi
Climate change is an environmental phenomena that has huge implications for life on Earth in the next few decades. I researched climate change adaptation: what we're going to do when the worst effects of climate change happen. I saw a lot of similarities between what is really happening and a sub...
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Time Travel in Fiction... and Reality?
I am back from my hiatus to talk about time travel! Time travel as a theme has been BIG in stories since before the written word. I talk about legends, popular science fiction movies and TV, and then break down what Albert Einstein allowed for in his relativity theories. Buckle up! This episode...
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Bigfoot, Mothman and More: Cryptids in History and Today
For Halloween and the podcast’s first anniversary I dedicate this special episode to cryptids! Bigfoot, Mothman, Wendigos and Loch Ness Monsters. Where do these stories come from? How can cryptozoologists prove they are real? Using research from folklore researchers, historians and animal...
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Data Science and Predicting Crime
Science fiction and reality blurs when it comes to data science and crime. This episode I discuss predictive policing using examples from Minority Report, Person of Interest and Psycho-Pass to shed light on what actual data analytics programs are in place today. Research from Michelle Chan…
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Atlantis and Ocean Exploration
What can we learn from early science fiction about the ocean? What technology was inspired from this ocean speculation? This episode I want to take you on a journey through centuries of science fiction about the ocean. A journey, you may say 20,000 leagues under the sea, from mythic sunken cities...
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Cretaceous and Jurassic: Dinosaurs
The Jurassic Park franchise has renewed interest in dinosaurs and speculation about bringing them back to life. But speculative and scifi authors have fantasized about present day humans surviving prehistoric animals since the 1800s. I debunk myths about dinosaurs, talk about current research in...
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Space Colonization Part II: Space Stations
This episode I dive deep into space. I watched 2001: A Space Odyssey and Solaris (2002) for the first time! I specifically talk about the different kind of space stations, how we might live in space, and how well 2001: A Space Odyssey predicted current technology. I used research from WIRED,...
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Space Colonization Part I
This episode I break down colonizing another planet or moon. Will we find an exoplanet that can support life? What kind of challenges await Mars and Moon colonies? From figuring out how to breathe to growing food, colonizing space will be the most difficult thing humans may have to do. I use...
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Across the Stars: Space Travel
This episode I invite my friend Paul to help me tackle the gigantic topic of traveling across space. Using examples from Interstellar, Stargate, Star Wars and more, we talk about how it works, how it may work in the future, and the interesting theoretical concepts that science fiction uses today…
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Planets and Space with Harriet Brettle
This week I have planetary scientist Harriet Brettle on the show. We talk about those beautiful pictures of Jupiter, how Harriet got her start in a STEM field, what she thinks about Elon Musk and, of course, science fiction! Follow Harriet on Twitter @harriet_brettle Follow the pod on Twitter,...
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Are We Alone? Finding Extraterrestrial Life
This episode I discuss extraterrestrial life: how will we find them? What will they look like? What will we say to them? I discuss technology from NASA, spectroscopy, the study of insects, the messages we've sent so far, and a certain video released from the Pentagon. The truth is out there....
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Interview with Altered Carbon's Marlene Forte
Over the weekend at ClexaCon, I got to talk to Marlene Forte. You may know her as Alazne in Altered Carbon, Celia in Fear the Walking Dead, or Graciela in The Runaways. We talk about her science fiction roles, what it's like to be Latina in Hollywood, and how women should get together to create...
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Gender and Sexuality: Live at ClexaCon
This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at ClexaCon, the largest multifandom convention for LGBTQ women and allies. My guest host Michelle and I discuss the importance of women and LGBTQ representation in media; I break down an academic paper about the effects of media…
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Bonus Episode: Interview with NASA Engineer Holly Griffith
Holly Griffith is a sci-fi geek and engineer who worked in mission control for space shuttle missions and the International Space Station. She talks about the real hard work and challenges of getting astronauts into space. We then discuss the importance of Princess Leia, the realism in The…
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Military Science Fiction and The Cold War
This episode I discuss military science fiction as subgenre of sci-fi and how it may have influenced the discourse around the military from the Cold War to today. I talk about Cold War themes in Starship Troopers and Ender's Game, and discuss the Citizens Advisory Council, a group of science...
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Bonus Episode: Philip K. Dick 2049
For a special bonus episode, I discuss the themes of Philip K. Dick and how they were inspired by his real life. I use examples from adaptations I've watched recently, including Blade Runner 2049, Total Recall, and Amazon's new series Electric Dreams. Lost Frontier by Kevin MacLeod is licensed...
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Health and Medicine in Science Fiction
This week Jes, registered nurse and pre-med student, returns to discuss how healthcare stacks up to the speculation of science fiction. We talk about prosthetic limbs, mobile diagnostic tools, organ transplants, and diseases using examples from Star Trek, The Last of Us, Handmaid's Tale and more....
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Virtual Reality and Dreams
This episode I discuss what virtual reality really is, what it's not, how VR may fool humans, and which science fiction encapsulates it best. I use examples from Jaron Lanier's book 'Dawn of New Everything', The Matrix, Black Mirror's San Junipero and more! Music by The 126ers and The…
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What is Artificial Intelligence?
This episode I discuss the history, theory, and philosophy behind artificial intelligence. How does our human consciousness differ? And what artificial intelligence looks like in science fiction, such as The Matrix, Person of Interest, Westworld, and more.Research from 'Blockbuster Science' by...
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Gender and Sexuality in Science Fiction
This week I discuss the representation and assumptions of gender in science fiction and the real world with special guest, sci-fi nerd and girlfriend of the pod, Jes! We discuss gender in pulp scifi and representation of women and LGBT in sci-fi TV today, including the Bury Your Gays trope and...
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Corporations and The Endless Frontier
This episode I talk about the balance between public funded research and private funded research. In reality, private industry has to step up a lot when public funding diminishes. But sci-fi tells us that science is soon twisted by corporate greed. I talk about alternative energy, genetic...
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Interview with Scientist Laura Richmond
The pod's first bonus episode is an interview with Laura Richmond, a PhD candidate and host of 'Superhero Science' in Glasgow, Scotland. We talk more about epigenetics, the importance of science education, and what we can learn about superheroes from nature. Follow Laura @slayb0b on Twitter and...
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Epigenetics, Cloning, and Orphan Black
This episode I discuss the controversy of cloning, how external stimuli can affect you at your genetic level without changing your DNA (aka epigenetics!), and how this is all connected to evolution and how we humans are here today. Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Pocket Casts. Follow me on...
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Fact & Science Fiction Preview
Who am I? Why am I creating this podcast? This episode gives a quick background on the host and previews future topics on the show. Learn more about the real story behind sci-fi TV, books, and movies.Music: 'Heart Strings' by Coyote HearingTranscriptionWelcome to Fact and Science fiction. My name...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A podcast about the real science behind your favorite science fiction themes and tropes. Each episode, I choose a recurring topic or two in science fiction, and then dive into how it works in reality. If you ever wanted to learn more about genetics, virtual reality, or space travel - this podcast is for you.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
HOSTED BY
Fact & Science Fiction
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Fact and Science Fiction have?
Fact and Science Fiction currently has 35 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Fact and Science Fiction about?
A podcast about the real science behind your favorite science fiction themes and tropes. Each episode, I choose a recurring topic or two in science fiction, and then dive into how it works in reality. If you ever wanted to learn more about genetics, virtual reality, or space travel - this podcast...
How often does Fact and Science Fiction release new episodes?
Fact and Science Fiction has 35 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Fact and Science Fiction?
You can listen to Fact and Science Fiction on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Fact and Science Fiction?
Fact and Science Fiction is created and hosted by Fact & Science Fiction.
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