Popcorn Science Podcast

Popcorn Science Podcast

By John E. Moores & Catherine NeishTV & FilmScienceTV ReviewsFilm ReviewsAstronomy
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Popcorn Science Podcast episodes

  • The Fifth Element

    In this episode of "Popcorn Science," discuss the 1997 film The Fifth Element.

    Topics
    • Science Gripes (5:10)
      • Technobabble
        • "Memo-groups", the perfect being, genetic memory
        • Generate skin by exposure to UV
        • Gravity will mess you up (10:05)
        • 3D grid lock? Fog layer in NYC?
        • How big is the death sphere anyway?
        • New Moon? What about tides, tho?
        • How do shadows work? (18:41)
        • -5000 degrees? (22:57)
        • Parable of the Broken Window (22:37)
        • Science Shine (24:23)
          • Aziz! Light!
          • The fifth element is... Boron... err... Ether (25:40)
          • Languages (29:40)
          • Planetary Protection (32:12)
          • Diva Dance (33:40)
          • We bring the evil with us where we go (36:32)
            • Single-use beds
            • Garbage strike
            • 65 trillion served, plausible?
            • Hallway disguise
            • Of it's time (41:05)
              • 23rd century look an awful lot like the 90s. Phonebooks? CDs?
              • Bruce Willis is in every 90's action film. Space Die Hard!
              • Misogyny. Luc Besson is a creep as are most of the male characters.
              • Ruby Rod is ahead of his time.
              • Zorg is a techbro, but what's his motivation.
              • Ratings (56:52)
                • References
                • The Fifth Element (1997)
                • Luc Besson - director
                • New York 2140 - Kim Stanley Robinson
                • Kármán line
                • Parable of the Broken Window
                • Divine Language
                • Toki Pona
                • Laura sings the "Diva Dance" from the Fifth Element
                  • 1 hr 2 min
                • For All Mankind

                  In this episode of "Popcorn Science," we discuss the 2019 series For All Mankind.

                  Topics
                  • Science Gripes (6:05)
                    • Dumbest way to move an Asteroid
                      • No reaction control thrusters
                      • Do not need a tower to push
                      • Spike in a rubble-pile asteroid
                      • Sending out crew to asteroid while under thrust?
                      • Living on Mars (14:50)
                        • Radiation on the Surface, aristocracy live above ground?
                        • Happy Valley Base near the equator, but ice is near the poles
                        • Korolev Crater harboring life? No Methane or lava tubes.
                        • Untethered EVA? Risky.
                        • Science Shine (27:08)
                          • Asteroid depiction
                            • A dark rubble pile
                            • Initial contact, asteroid more like a wall than a planet.
                            • Space is quiet!
                            • Phoenix station has 0.2g gravity
                            • Sol is a Mars day
                            • Johnson / Molly Cobb Spacecenter Details
                            • Astrobiology
                              • Methane as a biomarker
                              • Lavatubes are a reasonable place to look for life
                              • Asteroid Mining
                                • Worth the effort?
                                • Flooding the market with rare earths
                                • 122g of asteroid for $1B (OSIRIS-REx)
                                • Of it's time (52:47)
                                • Ratings (1:04:35)
                                  • References
                                  • For All Mankind (Wikipedia)
                                  • Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission (ARRM)
                                  • A City on Mars
                                  • Mars Phoenix
                                  • Korolev Crater
                                  • Mars Odyssey
                                  • Bruce McCandless II
                                  • Mars Watch
                                  • Methanogenesis
                                  • OSIRIS-REx
                                    • 1 hr 11 min
                                  • 2001: 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
                                                • 1 hr 4 min
                                              • Deep 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)
                                                        • 1 hr 2 min
                                                      • Blade 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)
                                                          • 1 hr 5 min
                                                        • Battlestar 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)
                                                            • 1 hr
                                                          • Rogue 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
                                                              • 1 hr 3 min
                                                            • Thor
                                                              References
                                                              • Thor
                                                                • Misc

                                                                In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the movie Thor!

                                                                58 min
                                                              • Clara
                                                                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!

                                                                  58 min
                                                                • The 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.

                                                                    1 hr

                                                                  About Popcorn Science Podcast

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