Short Wave

Could Dune Really Exist? What Scientists Think of Our Favorite Sci-Fi Worlds


Listen Later

The sci-fi film Dune: Part Two is out in theaters now. The movie takes place on the harsh desert planet, Arrakis, where water is scarce and giant, killer sandworms lurk just beneath the surface. But what do planetary scientists and biologists think about the science of these worms, Arrakis and our other favorite sci-fi planets?

Today on the show, Regina G. Barber talks to biologist (and Star Trek consultant!) Mohamed Noor and planetary scientist Michael Wong about Dune, habitable planets and how to make fantasy seem more realistic.

Want more of the science behind your favorite fictional worlds? Email us at [email protected].

Listen to Short Wave on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Short WaveBy NPR

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

6,381 ratings


More shows like Short Wave

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

91,032 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,988 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,726 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,506 Listeners

The NPR Politics Podcast by NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast

25,914 Listeners

Science Vs by Spotify Studios

Science Vs

12,172 Listeners

Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

6,461 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,936 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

56,849 Listeners

The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

9,557 Listeners

Today, Explained by Vox

Today, Explained

10,331 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

16,488 Listeners

Life Kit by NPR

Life Kit

4,844 Listeners

Consider This from NPR by NPR

Consider This from NPR

6,437 Listeners

Unexplainable by Vox

Unexplainable

2,317 Listeners