Science Faction Podcast

This episode contains: Ben declares himself the President of being present. We caught ourselves a wild Devon this episode. Ben went to a float spa: think sensory deprivation tank. It was AWESOME.

Trouble in a Bubble: Eight People Attempted To Live In A Biosphere For Two Years – Then It All Went Wrong. We're not talking about the Simpsons Movie dome this week. Turns out Biosphere 2 was not a 1996 movie with Pauly Shore (That's Bio-Dome). Biosphere 2 is the sequel to the Earth, which is Biosphere 1. Biosphere 2 was a $200M USD failure in so many ways. Food in Biosphere 2 didn't grow quickly enough to support the inhabitants, oxygen fell to 15%, and there were cockroaches. Fun. Science is failure and trying again. Biosphere 2 is a good example of this.

https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/eight-people-attempted-to-live-in-a-biosphere-for-two-years-then-it-all-went-wrong/

DN-WHAT? Biohybrid fish made from human cardiac cells swims like the heart beats. Scientists are adapting cardiac cells to replace malformed hearts in children. Researchers made a swimming artificial Stingray from rat heart muscle cells. Yo, this biohybrid fish made from human cardiac cells is getting jacked!

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220210154212.htm

Science Fiction: Steven is excited for Jurassic Park 6, whatever the subtitle is. Next Star Trek movie reunites the Kelvin crew. RIP Anton Yelchin. Perhaps the next JJ Star Trek movie will have scientifically accurate stuff? Steven wonders if a young Picard will be in the next Star Trek movie. No way. Devon wonders if there'll be a new Star Trek movie without a bad guy. No way. Steven takes a plot from Darkwing Duck and pitches a Star Trek movie. "Snoopy in Space" has a Rotten Tomatoes rating at 100% for season 1. Devon says the holiday Peanuts specials don't hold up. John Dimaggio tells us why he's not gonna be Bender in next season of Futurama. Star Trek: Discovery S4 is still a great Star Trek season. "Rubicon" was rad. Let's talk the trailer for Multiverse of Madness. Patrick Stewart?!??! What kind of Doctor is Dr Strange? Turns out he has an MD and a PhD. We're finally getting Starfleet in Star Trek: Picard season 3.

This episode contains: We learn about Devon's middle name, Ben's adventures in coloring book design and Steven has been playing some Pokemon. Ben and Steven both played Vampire Survivors, while Devon plays single dad.

Breathe In, Breathe Out: Researchers confirm newly developed inhaled vaccine delivers broad protection against SARS-CoV-2. We talk about how inhaled vaccines differ from traditional injected vaccines, and how this method is not only less invasive, but takes less 'vaccine' per dose to administer. Cool stuff that we're waiting for the negative spin on. We also talk about the California mask mandate and when we will know if the pandemic ends.

https://brighterworld.mcmaster.ca/articles/researchers-confirm-newly-developed-inhaled-vaccine-delivers-broad-protection-against-sars-cov-2-variants-of-concern/

Science Fiction: Futurama is back, again! But maybe without Bender's voice. Steven makes Devon and Ben watch the Jurassic World Dominion trailer and they make fun. Ben talks about the return of Star Trek Discovery and the secrets of Species 10-C. Devon mostly finished Prodigy and has some stuff to say about Janeway's ship. Devon also catches us up on Resident Alien, and Ben chats a bit about Raised By Wolves season 2. And finally, at the zero hour, Steven uses his final breaths to make one last stand with The Book of Boba Fett.

links: 
https://youtu.be/fb5ELWi-ekk  JWD trailer 
https://youtu.be/V9txyZ-kRgM  JWD prologue 

This episode contains: Steven, Ben and Devon are all back on this episode. We discuss Devon’s Covid and disappointment in the lack of snow in Texas. Ben talks about playing new board games. Steven is fine...

This Week in Space: Moons may yield clues to what makes planets habitable. Because the moon is so important to life on Earth, scientists conjecture that a moon may be a potentially beneficial feature in harboring life on other planets. Most planets have moons, but Earth's moon is distinct in that it is large compared to the size of Earth; the moon's radius is larger than a quarter of Earth's radius, a much larger ratio than most moons to their planets. New research finds that distinction significant.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220201144027.htm

You’ve Been Thunder Struck: WMO certifies two megaflash lightning records. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has established two new world records for megaflashes of lightning in notorious hotspots in North and South America. The longest single flash that covered a horizontal distance of 768 ± 8 km (477.2 ± 5 miles) across parts of the southern United States on 29 April 2020.

https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/wmo-certifies-two-megaflash-lightning-records

Science Fiction: We of course talk about Star Trek: Prodigy and The Book of Boba Fett, major spoilers. Ben also tells how he is looking forward to more Discovery and Picard, and the start of Strange New Worlds.

This episode contains: Where's Devon this week? Is there some Texan holiday we're not aware of? Should Spotify be responsible for COVID misinformation on their podcasts? Is Spotify a music platform or a podcast platform? Ben yells at the cloud, and is switching to Apple Music. Ben kicks Steven out of his Spotify family plan, on air!

See the real new music releases each week: 
https://everynoise.co/new_releases_by_genre.cgi?genre=global®ion=US&albumsonly=true

There's a music genre to calm your pets: 
https://everynoise.com/new_releases_by_genre.cgi?genre=pet%20calming®ion=US&albumsonly=true&hidedupes=on&style=list

Hippity Hop: Scientists regrow frog's lost leg
If you wanted zombies, this is how you get zombies. Scientists use a series of drugs on frogs for 24 hours, and 18-months later a functional leg grows. Viva Los Biodome! Salamanders, starfish, crabs, and lizards can regrow limbs: can mammals?

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220126144001.htm

Flipping the Bird: The Magpie Machine
Ben describes a YouTube video, which may be the most inane thing possible. A father and son duo in Sweden made a machine to reward magpies for throwing away trash. Ben is now the daimyo of Science Faction. All he asks is for your neutrality when Devon returns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyxMJc8OdQY

Science Fiction: Return of the Man-dalorian: Book of Boba Fett ep. 5 discussion. There was no book and no Boba Fett in this week's episode. Mando tries to plead the fifth when asked if he removed his helmet. Ben gives this episode three dank ferriks. Steven finally kinda likes it. In Star Wars, vehicles get normal names, characters are just gibberish. At the 59th minute mark, we start talking Star Trek: Prodigy, and "A Moral Star, Part 1" is SO GOOD! Kate Mulgrew goes all goth as Corrupted Hologram Janeway. The new uniforms on Star Trek: Prodigy are awesome. Star Trek Picard: No Man's Land is an audio drama with Jeri Ryan and Michelle Hurd, up for pre-order. The Expanse Season 6 stuck the landing, with a satisfying momentum. 

This episode contains: Ben and Steven this week are not joined by Devon, because the 'Vid got him. Ben is excited to see No Way Home with him family and Steven has been attempting to get into shape with biking. Also, watch out for those Phantom Menace quotes.

This Time You've Gone Too Far: Turkish farmer tests out VR goggles on Cows to get more milk. The virtual sun-filled pasture appeared to help cows produce more (and better quality) milk. Steven is okay with the Cow Matrix, Ben not so much.

https://interestingengineering.com/a-turkish-farmer-tests-out-vr-goggles-on-cows-to-get-more-milk

Clean Up That Mess: Study challenges evolutionary theory that DNA mutations are random. Turns out, the most biologically important areas of the DNA are being 'protected' from mutation. 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220112121512.htm

Science Fiction: Ben listened to our Patron and read that Doctor Who / Star Trek crossover comic. He really liked it. Steven had a massive change of heart withthe 4th episode of The Book of Boba Fett, The Gathering Storm. Steven and Ben talk about the 'flashbacks' that were prevalent in the first 4 episodes and how they were clunky and really didn't need to be flashbacks. Ben informs us all that there will be more Star Trek tv in our future, 51 new episodes this year! Ben then knuckles down and talks Star Trek Prodigy, and how it was a very Trek episode. We round out the episode by Steven talking a tiny bit about Kenshi and Ben explaining why Babylon 5 is so good.

This episode contains: Ben is super awake this episode, Devon is kinda here. We never know what Shrodinger Steven is gonna say to introduce the other hosts. Devon reviews a Peppa Pig playground. Steven got a LEGO Fender Guitar and Amp. Ben's got into sudoku. Steven's riding bikes. Devon's tired. All in the end of the world.

If I Fits, I Sits: Starlink's Self-Heating Internet Satellite Dishes Are Attracting Cats. SpaceX deployed 1,800 satellites for Starlink. They'll launch 40,000 eventually. Cat's love Starlink dishes on a cold day, because it's warm. Now SpaceX knows that Starlink satellite dishes can double as a cat home. Turns out cats want to become the center of your attention. Unless they don't.

https://gizmodo.com/if-i-fits-i-sits-starlinks-self-heating-internet-sate-1848327155

Now doesn't it make you feel better?: Pig heart transplanted to human for the first time. And the human's still alive! Xenotransplantation is important because there are more people on organ waiting lists than there are donors. Scientists have been genetically modifying pigs to make them better organ donors. The pig heart transplant was FDA authorized by it's compassionate use program. "If it oinks... it boinks?" We really should workshop these jokes.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/01/pig-heart-transplanted-to-human-for-the-first-time/

It's a plague!: The ‘surprisingly simple’ arithmetic of smell
When you want to learn about smell, consider the humble locust. Locusts can be trained to recognize specific odors. Locusts have palps. It's not short for "Palpatines" despite Steven's argument. You can't drown out a smell like you can drown out sound.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220110145300.htm

Science Fiction: Ben hasn't yet read the Star Trek TNG/Doctor Who: Assimilation graphic novel, but is going to (thanks to listener feedback from Joe Kohr). Episode 824 of Star Trek this week. It's the Prodigy episode "First Con-tact": Not to be confused with the eighth Star Trek movie, "First Contact", or the fifteenth episode of season 4 of The Next Generation, "First Contact". Nor even the season two finale of Lower Decks "First First Contact". Steven on episode 3 of The Book of Boba Fett: "the juice isn't worth the squeeze." Ben thinks the show is funny, but where's it all going?

This episode contains: We’re all back and recording on a Sunday night. Devon is taking his son to a Peppa Pig park and Rainforest Café. Ben finished Spiderman for the PS 5. Ben talks about a fan edit of the second Amazing Spider-Man film. Devon then complains about movie soundtracks where the songs are not in the movie.

Zoo Cares: Zoo air contains enough DNA to identify the animals inside. The air in a zoo is full of smells, from the fish used for feed to the manure from the grazing herbivores, but now we know it is also full of DNA from the animals living there. Two research groups have each published an independent proof-of-concept study showing that by sampling air from a local zoo, they can collect enough DNA to identify the animals nearby. This may prove to be a valuable, non-invasive tool to track biodiversity.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220106111549.htm

Admiral, There be Whales Here: Ben talks about an article form a good friend of his. Why 'Star Trek' made San Francisco the center of the universe.

https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/Star-Trek-and-San-Francisco-16751985.php

Science Fiction: We discuss The Book of Boba Fett, Star Trek: Prodigy, Station Eleven, Fallout TV show, Alien TV show, Matrix: Resurrections, Star Trek comic The Q Gambit, and more!

This episode contains: Good riddance 2021, welcome to hell 2022. Steven vacationed in Hawaii. Ben went to Disneyland. Devon is absent and tired. 

That's an Old Tree: Ancient DNA reveals the world’s oldest family tree. Analysing DNA extracted from 35 entombed individuals, we found 27 of them were close biological relatives. Most of those buried in the tomb were descended from four women who had all had children with the same man.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211222153113.htm

taH pagh, taH be?: To learn Klingon or Esperanto: What invented languages can teach us. Christine Schreyer, a language creator, has invented Kryptonian, Eltarian, Beama, and Atlantean. We also talk about Toki Pona.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/01/to-learn-klingon-or-esperanto-what-invented-languages-can-teach-us/

Science Fiction: Steven watched "Don't Look Up" and gives his review. Ben talks about the  mid-season finale of Star Trek Discovery and it's connection to Star Trek Insurrection. Ben also gives us the run down on all the Star Trek media that's coming in 2022. We talk about the first episode of The Book of Boba Fett, and try not to get too detailed with our analysis. We need more episodes.

This episode contains: No Steven this week, but Devon and Ben make do. Devon got his son a Lego Hogwarts castle. Ben thought we'd be without Lego talk with Steven not on the show. He was wrong. Devon practiced an hour to pitch in a VR baseball game, and still sucks.

Oooh girl, shock me like an eletric eel: Here’s how to give an electric eel an MRI. Ben talks about how to give an electric eel an MRI. Devon asks "Why?" but still thinks eel skeletons are pretty metal. An anesthesized eel can still drown... How do vets keep them breathing? Ever wanted to know how to reconstruct a blown knee on a bullfrog?

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/12/how-to-give-an-electric-eel-an-mri/

Here comes the sun!: A spacecraft has 'touched' the sun for the first time. NASA's Parker Solar Probe spent five hours in the sun's corona. WOW! Devon talks about Alfvén critical waves, theorized in 1942 and proven in 2019. Turns out the corona is far hotter than the surface of the sun. NASA's Parker Solar Probe is the fastest known object built by humans.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211214134947.htm

Science Fiction: Doom Patrol season 3 was crazy! Devon and Ben really liked it. Devon is caught up on season 4 of Star Trek: Discovery, but skipped season 3. We talk future airdates for Star Trek: Discovery, Prodigy and Picard in early 2022. Ben and Devon wrap it up with a low-spoiler chat about The Matrix Resurrections.

For this very special episode we are all together in the same room! We all just watched Spider-Man No Way Home and have a very, very spoilery discussion. Ben had some science but we told him there was no room for that BS. This also may be our last episode for a few weeks, unless Devon and Ben can figure how to record without Steven. Ben does get in some Star Trek Discovery at the end and Steven watched the first two episodes of HBO’s Station Eleven. So enjoy this almost all Spider-Man episode! Come back for our next ep in a few weeks, or less…