Popcorn Science Podcast

By John E. Moores & Catherine Neish

Popcorn Science is a podcast that takes a critical look at the science portrayed in our favourite movies and television shows.... more

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FAQs about Popcorn Science Podcast:

How many episodes does Popcorn Science Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 12 episodes available.

Popcorn Science Podcast episodes:

October 04, 20252001: A Space Odyssey
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," discuss the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Topics
Science Gripes (7:00)
Tapir do not live in Africa
Arid environment, but humans likely evolved in arboreal environment
Little evidence for humans living in caves
Humans are not the only tool users, monolith didn't grant unique advantage
Artistic placement of the moon
Random equations / diagrams on screen: Sci-Fi jibberish
Space craft: No thrusters
Moonwalking: Too much gravity, too little falling down
EVA without tether or thruster packs, gardening gloves
Discovery:
Moving too fast: 3 weeks to Mars? 18 weeks to Jupiter?
Habitation ring too slow (or too much gravity)
For every action, these wasn't an equal reaction
Jupiter:
Too many (major) moons
Science Shine (31:00)
Centripetal gravity, close enough
Decent job showing zero-gravity life
Clavius station under ground, close enough to Tycho for a shuttle
Infectious disease concerns in space
Predicted Magnetic anomalies on the Moon!: Lunar Swirls
Earth phases
13 seconds in vacuum, plausible!
HAL wins at chess
Smooth space turns: Reaction wheels
Commercial travel looks modern
Of it's time (46:33)
Ratings (59:03)
References
2001: A Space Odyssey (film, 1968)
2001: A Space Odyssey (novel, 1968)
Stargate Effect
Arthur C. Clarke
Stanley Kubrick
Also sprake Zarathustra - Richard Strauss
Sapians
Homo Habilus (tool users)
Stanford Torus
Andromeda Strain: Book (1969), Film (1971)
Lunar Swirls
Vacuum Suit Accident
Reaction Wheel
Computer sings "Daisy Bell" (1961)
Douglas Rain
Universe (1960) - National Film Board of Canada
...more
1h 4min
September 20, 2025Deep Impact
Cities fall, but they are rebuilt. And heroes die, but they are remembered. We honor them with every podcast we record. Our planet, our home.
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," discuss the 1998 film Deep Impact.
Topics
Science Gripes (4:30)
Nobody notices the comet
Sublimation / thermal inertia
Gravity on a comet
Sun visor, facial boils
Travel time
Communication failure
Impact effects (earthquake, airburst)
Temperature increase due to many small impactors (>10 degrees)
Science Shine (28:05)
Comet naming
Comet stats: Reasonable size, mass, density and rotation
More likely scenario than Armageddon (comet from Ort cloud, off the plane of solar system)
Visuals: Cometary Jets, dark colouration
2 years of darkness (maybe)
Nuclear propulsion
Of it's time (45:45)
Ratings (56:29)
References
Deep Impact (1998)
Carolyn Shoemaker
Gene Shoemaker
Meteor Crater
DART
Orion
Deep Impact (NASA Mission)
...more
1h 2min
September 07, 2025Blade Runner
A new life awaits you in the Popcorn Science Podcast. The chance to begin again in a golden land of opportunity and adventure!
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," discuss the 1982 cult classic Blade Runner. Catherine and John have seen things you people wouldn't believe. If you don't listen to this episode, all those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
References
Blade Runner (1982)
...more
1h 5min
August 24, 2025Battlestar Galactica
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine hear nothing but the rain while discussing the 2003 Battlestar Galactica miniseries. So grab your gun and bring the cat in.
References
Battlestar Galactica (2003)
...more
1h
August 10, 2025Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Many Bothans died to bring us this episode.
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the movie Rogue One.
References
Star Wars: Rogue One
...more
1h 3min
July 26, 2025Thor
References
Thor
Misc
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the movie Thor!
...more
58min
July 12, 2025Clara
References
Clara (film)
Clara on YouTube
Misc
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the 2018 movie "Clara." Clara tells the sotry of a down-on-his-luck
astronomer who succeeds in making a momentous discovery with the help of a mysterious artist. Featured in the Toronto International Film Festival, this
movie has a familiar science advisor - Dr. John Moores!
...more
58min
June 28, 2025The Core
References
The Core
Stevenson (2003)
Misc
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the movie everyone loves to hate: "The Core"! First released
in 2003, this movie explores what would happen if the Earth's outer core stopped spinning, and sends a courageous group of "terranauts" down to
start it up again.
...more
1h
June 14, 2025Tribbles
References
The Trouble with the Tribbles
Trials and Tribble-ations
Misc
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind two Star Trek episodes: "The Trouble with Tribbles" (1967) from
The Original Series and "Trials and Tribble-ations" (1996) from Deep Space Nine. In both episodes, the crews try to grapple with an outbreak of a
number of fuzzy spheroids known as Tribbles, with the DS9 crew coming from the future to help out Kirk and Spock!
...more
1h 1min
May 31, 2025Contact
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the
science behind the 1997 movie "Contact".
Based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Carl Sagan, Contact
explores what would happen if humanity were to receive a message from
an extraterrestrial civilization.
Topics
Science Gripes (4:37)
Headphones? (6:01)
Opening Sequence (9:40)
Hitler, Messenger of Earth (11:20)
Arecibo Message (12:28)
Arecibo Geography (16:00)
Ellie the Astronaut (17:28)
Funding (20:08)
Arecibo v. VLA (21:15)
Timeline Issue (48:35)
The Good Things (24:59)
On Location (25:05)
Science Culture (27:40)
Signal from Vega (30:32)
Is Space Exploration Worth it? (34:48)
Crewed Spaceflight (38:50)
Transit Network / Wormholes (#42:25)
Of Their Time (44:35)
Computer Technology (44:53)
Bill Clinton (47:00)
Space Industrialists (49:56)
Science v. Faith (52:52)
Fragile Institutions (54:59)
Accuracy and Significance (56:39)
References
Contact (film)
Contact (book)
Kent Cullers
Frank Drake
Arecibo Message
Arecibo Telescope (RIP)
Project Phoenix
Jill Tarter
Rendezvous with Rama
Robert Zemeckis
Carl Sagan
The Demon Haunted World
Cosmos
...more
1h 2min

FAQs about Popcorn Science Podcast:

How many episodes does Popcorn Science Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 12 episodes available.