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 July 14th - The Relentless Moon. We talk about why her books are set in the past, how she researches her novels and more. Karly’s Recommendations The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal (novel) Monst...
Jul 06, 2020•34 min
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. Afrofuturism, broadly defined, imagines a future, past or present of the African diaspora freed from colonialism (and from white people.) It's not just black characters in science fiction, it centers the black expe...
Jun 15, 2020•3 min
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 by Sylvain Neuvel (book, 2016) -Color out of Space dir. Richard Stanley (movie, 2019) -She-Ra and the Princesses of Power cr. Noelle Stevenson (TV, 2018-2020) -Prophet cr. Rob Liefeld (comic) -ArchAndroid...
May 29, 2020•26 min•Ep. 33
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 podcast on Twitter @factandscifi and find the transcript to this episode on factandsciencefiction.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 15, 2020•23 min
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 understand why parallel universes are just so fascinating to science fiction fans. I used research from the Khan Academy course video on Quantum Wavefunction , The Case for Parallel Universes in Scientifi...
May 01, 2020•22 min
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. Research from this episode is from my ol' pal Wikipedia and C. Blut, J. Wilibrandt, D. Fels, E.I. Girgel & K. Linau's 'The 'sparkle' in fake eyes - the protective effect of mimic eyespots in lepidoptera' in...
Aug 30, 2019•26 min
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 mechsuits, exosuits, and mobile suits. I wanted to know what exactly these suits do, how can we break them down into different parts of technology. What real world tech is out there that would be familar to scie...
Jul 11, 2019•25 min
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 episode goes into those questions and more. Support the show! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave a review or tell a friend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 07, 2019•19 min
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 the outliers: real life people with interesting abilities. Check out the transcript on the blog factandsciencefiction.com and share the episode with a nerd you know! Twitter: @FactandSciFi Facebook: face...
Apr 04, 2019•44 min
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, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find Fact and Science Fiction Read bonus content on the pod blog FactandScienceFiction.com Follow the podcast on Facebook , Twitter , or Insta...
Mar 02, 2019•25 min
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 Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . Support the podcast on Patreon.com/FactandSciFi or get in touch on the Blog ! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 30, 2019•34 min
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 genre of science fiction called Eco Sci Fi including work from Jeff VanderMeer, Lesley Nneka Arima and Kim Stanley Robinson. Research includes Interviews from America Adapts: The Climate Change Podcast ...
Jan 16, 2019•28 min•Ep. 24
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 included research from Time Travel: A History by James Gleick *I may have called him David in the episode and I am so sorry. Download this audiobook today or another of your choosing by clicking here or c...
Dec 28, 2018•23 min
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 researchers, I take a closer look into the world of hidden animals. Research from this episode: Going to the Source: Volume 1 to 1877 by Victoria Bissell Brown and Timothy J. Shannon Cryptozoology in the Mediev...
Oct 08, 2018•17 min
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 Chinese Startup Makes Facial Recognition Glasses for Police Augmented reality glasses for police in China Andrew Ferguson Policing Predictive Policing Christina Larson Who needs democracy when you have data? A...
Sep 05, 2018•21 min
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 like Atlantis to real companies mining resources from the seabed. Research from this episode came from Mark Adams' Meet Me in Atlantis , World Ocean Radio.org, Robert Ballard’s ‘ Why We Must Explore the...
Aug 07, 2018•21 min
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 paleontology and dinosaur behavior! This episode was brought to you by Audible. Download your free audiobook on me by going to audibletrial.com/factandscifi Help the show grow by leaving a review on Appl...
Jul 08, 2018•15 min
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, Popular Mechanics, Astronaut.com, and NASA itself to explain what space stations might look like in the future. Ringworlds, cylinders, spheres, oh my! Fluidscape by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative...
Jun 28, 2018•20 min
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 examples from Star Wars, The Martian, and more. Stay tuned for Part II when I discuss generation ships and space stations. Research from NASA.gov, Science of Star Wars, and MIT Download my current read Medus...
Jun 08, 2018•19 min
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 to make interstellar travel possible and to tell the best stories. Research from this episode includes: The Science of Interstellar by Kip Thorne Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli How to Bu...
May 27, 2018•27 min
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 , Facebook and Instagram @factandscifi Support the podcast by telling a friend, submitting a review on Apple Podcasts, or download a free audiobook or two at http://audibletrial.com/factandscifi Music by th...
May 11, 2018•26 min
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. Research from today's episode: NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Gizmodo's scientist roundtable What Will Aliens Look Like? New York Times Glowing Auras and 'Black Money' David Siegel Bernstein's Blockbuster Scie...
Apr 29, 2018•24 min
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 their own stories. This episode was brought to you by Audible.com, download your free audiobook today at audibletrial.com/factandscifi (may I suggest Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan?) Follow the podcast ...
Apr 17, 2018•14 min
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 representation in the TV show The Fosters on queer and straight youth, and media theories that may explain it all! Then we top it off with an audience Q&A and tangents about Carmilla and The 100 . Follow the podc...
Apr 12, 2018•47 min
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 Martian, women in STEM, and more. This episode was brought to you by Audible . Get your free audiobook today (may I suggest The Martian by Andy Weir or Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer) here . Follow the podcas...
Feb 28, 2018•39 min
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 fiction authors who undermined the U.S.'s policy of mutually assured destruction. This episode was brought to you by Audible, with over 180,000 audiobooks and you can try two with a free monthly trial. Downl...
Feb 11, 2018•21 min
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 under a Creative Commons Attribution license . Source . Theme music: Malmo Sunrise by the 126ers. Follow the pod on Twitter and Instagram . Check out the transcript for this episode . Hosted on Acast. See ...
Jan 28, 2018•14 min
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. Theme music: Malmo Sunrise by the 126ers End music: Sunburned Salvation by the 129ers Follow the pod on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @factandscifi and check out more content at http://factandscifi....
Jan 14, 2018•29 min
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 129ersFollow the pod @factandscifi on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and check out new content on factandscifi.blogspot.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 31, 2017•31 min
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 David Siegel Bernstein and 'Love + Sex with Robots' by David LevyTheme music by The 126ers, additional music by The 129ers. I didn't mean to do that.Audio clips from 'Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy' radi...
Dec 14, 2017•36 min
