Science Faction Podcast

This episode contains: Happy belated birthday Steven! Sorry about Christmastime. Devon built a garage for his son's Lego MacLaren. Devon talks Let It Be, The Beatles documentary. You're a fly on the wall in the studio. Ben and Devon talk about the digital restoration of both the video and audio. In other news, Ben is Batman, Devon is Superman, and Steven is Catwoman. Mmmrowl!

X Gon' Give It To Ya: Let's talk about XRays and how scientists may have discovered the first exoplanet found in the M51 galaxy. Turns out finding exoplanets in other galaxies is really difficult, you guys. This exoplanet may be Saturn-sized and orbit a black hole and neutron star. Devon and Steven think maybe we should focus on the problems in our galaxy.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027094914.htm

Engage: DARPA-funded researches accidentally discover the world's first warp bubble. The "Alcubierre/White Warp Drive" is a fascinating almost-viable propulsion theory, which was first theorized in 1994. If you accidentally discover warp drive while working on a death ray, finish the death ray. Ever wondered what DARPA stands for? Devon looked it up for you.

https://thedebrief.org/darpa-funded-researchers-accidentally-create-the-worlds-first-warp-bubble/

Science Fiction: Steven needs a new soundboard, as it's crapping out on him. Help us out: patreon.com/sciencefactionpodcast. Netflix has canceled the live action Cowboy Bebop. Some people rejoiced. We mourn. Devon is sick of the drama on Netflix's Lost In Space. "Just tell me what happens!" he screams into the void. Steven and Ben played Walkabout Mini Golf in VR together and it's a blast. Can they convince Devon to get a VR headset? Ben says Star Trek: Discovery is firing on all cylinders in season 4. Devon calls a time of death on the podcast.

This episode contains: Steven and Ben talk about our Spotify year end things, Devon has become obsessed with sorting LEGO, and Ben has an endoscopy scheduled! Fun!

This Week in Space: Startup SpinLaunch completes first test flight with wild rocket-flinging launch system. Reducing fuel costs is a key barrier to affordable spaceflight. They don't even have to worry about the delta-v.

https://www.space.com/spinlaunch-first-test-flight-success
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAczd3mt3X0&ab_channel=ScottManley

Welcome to Earf: SpaceX launches NASA’s mission to collide with an asteroid. The DART mission seeks to demonstrate the capability to change an asteroid's orbit. 

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/11/with-tonights-launch-nasa-starts-getting-serious-about-planetary-defense/

Science Fiction: We play a little game called Two Truths and a Lie that Devon stole from the SGU (Skeptic's Guide to the Universe, not to be confused with Stargate Universe). Ben talks about the latest episode of Star Trek Discovery called 'Choose to Live' and he's really been enjoying the season thus far. Devon finally gets a chance to talk about Freeguy, a movie he watched months ago. There was more plot and AI sentience than he bargained for. Steven reviews the latest episode of Hawkeye called 'Echoes', and specifically talks about that phone call. Heartbreaking. Oh, and Devon has been watching the second season of The Great, and highly recommends it.

This episode contains: Devon is absent due to fear. Ben has lived with Devon but Steven has helped him move more often and has bought him two gaming consoles. We then move on to our thoughts on Black Friday, Ben’s book designing and vaccines for kids.

It Glows! Photoluminescent substances could be applied to sidewalks, streets, and buildings. A new generation of luminescent materials has the potential to cool cities by re-emitting light that would otherwise be converted into heat. They might also cut down on energy use, since luminescent sidewalks, glowing road markers, or even glowing buildings could replace some street lighting. Already, some cities in Europe have installed glowing bicycle lanes, and some researchers have studied using glowing paint for road markings.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/11/will-glow-in-the-dark-materials-someday-light-our-cities/

Monkey Wrench: Using mechanical tools improves our language skills, study finds. Research has revealed a correlation between being particularly proficient in tool use and having good syntactic ability. A new study has now shown that both skills rely on the same neurological resources, which are located in the same brain region. Furthermore, motor training using a tool improves our ability to understand the syntax of complex sentences and -- vice-versa -- syntactic training improves our proficiency in using tools.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211111154244.htm

Science Fiction: Amazon purchased MGM and so now own Stargate and Farscape. Hopefully they’ll do something with them. Steven then tells us about Hawkeye. We also discuss Hailee Steinfeld and her roles in Dickinson and Arcane. Steven has been watching the live action Cowboy Bebop. Ben then tells us about the new Netflix show: Dogs in Space. Ben squeezes in some Star Trek at the end.

This episode contains: Kids these days get the whole week off for Thanksgiving? Ben had time off and he spent it on himself. Nobody went to the hospital or died. What do you do when no kids are around? Steven plays Caves of Qud and watches Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Special guest Devon Craft tonight for the back half.

A grab bag: What next? 22 emerging technologies to watch in 2022. We have a bunch of short subjects that are really close to science fiction for science this week. Scientists are considering putting dust and ash in the atmosphere on purpose to cool the Earth. Heat pumps can efficiently heat and cool homes because they move existing air around. Sails can reduce container ship's fuel consumption by 20%. 40 ships will use this tech by end of 2022. Flying electric taxis are possibly coming in 2022, but Steven is skeptical. Artificial meat and fish will revolutionize the industry: produce food for less money and ecological impact. Steven's chicken died from an impacted crop. Poor thing. Nothing should be killed to feed people, if it can be helped.

https://www.economist.com/the-world-ahead/2021/11/08/what-next-22-emerging-technologies-to-watch-in-2022

Take another picture with your click click click click camera: Hubble update, One camera back, more to come. Hubble is back to doing science, despite issues with the timing signals. Hubble's scientific instruments had been in safe mode, and are now being cautiously restarted. Ben gets salty about the myth of planned obsolescence.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/11/hubble-update-one-camera-back-more-to-come/

Science Fiction: Devon's voice is broken but we forced him to record anyway for the second half. A spoilery discussion of Ghostbusters: Afterlife this week. Devon isn't a big fan but he liked the new Ghostbusters. He also doesn't care. Historical discussion on when there have been two new episodes of Star Trek out the same day. Star Trek: Discovery season 4 premier was good! Hopefully the rest of the season pans out. We talk about why – 16 years later – the Star Trek Enterprise theme still sucks. Steven rewrites Star Trek: Discovery season 3. Steven saw Eternals: the 26th episode of the MCU and the first rotten film? It's weird but ok says Steven. Evidently even non-nerds want to see DUNE again. Ben calls Steven a grown-up man-child thing.

This episode contains: Steven wants us all to be Nice Boys again. Ben received his 3rd Covid shot. Devon has had some time to himself.

Take the Midnight Train Down to Anywhere: Can we use big batteries to power our trains? In a California-based study, researchers look at the possibility of electrifying rail-based freight.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/11/can-we-run-our-trains-using-big-batteries/

Walking on Sunshine: We chat about making aircraft fuel from sunlight and air. Synthetic jet fuel releases same CO2 during combustion as was extracted from the air for production. Carbon-neutral liquid fuels from sunlight and air, sounds like a pipe-dream. But it isn't. 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211104115245.htm

Science Fiction: We talk about that Book of Boba Fett trailer. Steven breaks down some plot points and everyone talks about what they think will be in the show and what we want to see in the show. Steven and Devon both watched the Apple TV+ film Finch and give their thoughts. Devon didn't think there was much plot in the movie and Steven enjoyed just about everything. Finally, Ben gives us the rundown on the latest episode of Star Trek Prodigy, and we all chat about M class planets, and how in most sci-fi, breathable air means the entire planet is safe. Devon also pitches a Q show.

This episode contains: Devon now lives in the woods, cleaning up limbs — you know, to celebrate Halloween. Devon ate all the kid's candy and bemoans adult refreshments that don't have alcohol. "Do they even make drinks for adults anymore?" Devon sleeps instead of podcasting. Vaccines are now ready for kids aged 5-11. Ben has his first appointment with a therapist, and he talks about why. Right now, your mental health is super important. It's always super important, but the last two years we've been running to extremes. Steven says: even if you're the most well-adjusted individual, it couldn't hurt to talk to someone. Steven's chickens dropped three eggs! Misremembering Simpsons quotes is now a national past time.

Devon's Pet Peeves: Hand washing and sanitizing not enough: Close that toilet lid after flushing! Leaving toilet lids open after flushing can disperse particles over a meter. Yuck. How can we reinvent the toilet? Steven and Devon consider it. "This podcast is one of the worst we ever recorded." - Steven

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211103115427.htm

So Olllllld: Scientists used publicly available lidar data to find 478 ancient Mesoamerican monuments. Not quite citizen science, but super cool. How will future civilizations view us? If you love Mesoamerican culture, Ben recommends Netflix's "Maya and the Three"

https://www.science.org/content/article/nearly-500-mesoamerican-monuments-revealed-laser-mapping-many-first-time

Not Talking About Frunks No More: Ford's F-100 Eluminator concept car looks like a 1970s truck. Finally, an electric truck that Steven appreciates. You can buy an Eluminator electric crate motor from Ford to "electrify" your ride, like Doc Brown's hover conversion.

https://mashable.com/article/ford-electric-truck-pickup-vintage

Science Fiction: Listener feedback from Renee about DUNE: a great movie for the average person, and something that will encourage people to pick up the book. Star Trek Prodigy looks beautiful but the story isn't enough to hook Steven and Devon yet. Ben still loves Star Trek Prodigy no matter what the haters say. Ben talks at length about last year's Star Trek Discovery episode "Forget Me Not". Not a great episode, but reframing it through trauma helps him to understand it. Devon and the rest of the world have finished watching Squid Game. Steven loves the new Netflix show Inside Job. Not for kids, but made by Gravity Falls showrunner. Ben loves Doom Patrol Season 3. Devon falls over on air... probably needs to sleep instead of podcast more.

****This Episode is Explicit****

This episode contains: Ben is still figuring out what is wrong with him, but he ruled out his liver. Steven has some sick kids, but also a LEGO Batmobile, so it evens out.

No science talk this week!

Science Fiction:  Steven and Ben talk about the newest Star Trek show, Star Trek: Prodigy. Ben has watched it many times, and Steven only a few minutes, but that doesn't stop them. It's an action adventure show that barely resembles Star Trek, but it's a fun ride anyway.

DUNE: Here's what you've all been waiting for: DUNE chat with Miles Greb! The notorious lover of Dune, we talk with Miles about what this movies adaptation got right and (mostly) what it got wrong. Ben and Steven also give their opinions on the movie.

Click below for more Miles:

https://www.afterthegoldrush.space/#/dunecomic/

http://www.twitter.com/Goldrushcomic 

https://www.patreon.com/milesgreb

This episode contains: Rain! It's been raining in California which is a nice change from all the fires. Ben has had some tummy trouble. Devon updates us on the mysterious hiking deaths from this summer.

I've Been Waiting For This Moment...: VR treatment for lazy eye in children gets FDA approval. 88% treatment plan success rate, up from 50% with regular drops and eye patches.

https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/20/22736894/fda-vr-tv-movies-treatment-lazy-eye-amblyopia

Biological Imperative: We finally know why we grow wisdom teeth as adults. We're not the only primates to have wisdom teeth, ours just come later in life. 

https://www.popsci.com/science/why-we-get-wisdom-teeth/

Yum?: Wake up and smell the 'sustainable' coffee produced in Finnish lab. Produced by floating cell cultures in bio-reactors filled with a nutrient medium, this novel product mostly resembles coffee.

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/wake-up-smell-sustainable-coffee-produced-finnish-lab-2021-10-13/

Science Fiction: We do a small spoiler-free chat about DUNE in preparation of Miles Greb joining us next week. Both Devon and Ben have been keeping up with Foundation. We talk a bit about Star Trek Prodigy and if it'll be too kiddie for us. Ben has some ideas about plot holes in Star Trek III: The Search For Spock and we all talk about it at length. We also get a bit into timelines and the sizes of ships in the Kelvin Timeline.

This episode contains: Ben likes being a positive force in people's lives. Steven believes people can 'level-up'. We chat about beautiful 2D video games.

Here Comes the Sun: To watch a comet form, a spacecraft could tag along for a journey toward the sun. 'Centaurs' near Jupiter could provide unique opportunity to learn about solar system. 

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/oct/11/lego-to-remove-gender-bias-after-survey-shows-impact-on-children-stereotypes

Snap it All Together: Lego to remove gender bias from its toys after findings of child survey. 71% of boys feared they would be made fun of if they played with what they described as "girls' toys". LEGO is now promoting nurturing, caring as well as spatial awareness, creative reasoning and problem solving.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/oct/11/lego-to-remove-gender-bias-after-survey-shows-impact-on-children-stereotypes

Science Fiction: Lower Decks season 2 finale time! We talk all about the episode, the cool bits that Steven missed and what we look forward to in season 3. The Expanse season 6 trailer is out and we talk about the series, what Steven is missing, and how are they going to fit the biggest book into the smallest season? Finally, we talk about the What If...? season finale. Steven does the whole recap thing and we talk about what season 2 could have, besides that cut season 1 episode.

This Episode Contains: We join Ben in saying goodbye to the best good dog, Apollo. Devon has been sick working, we talk about why. Steven went to a pumpkin patch, and bought a pumpkin for his chickens.

I saw it it written and I saw it say, pink moon is on it's way: Lunar samples returned by Chang’e-5 tell of recent volcanism. Oceanus Procellarum was likely to be deposited about two billion years ago, according to Chinese samples. Because of a basaltic magma eruption, the Moon had a more active volcanism than we might otherwise expect. 

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/10/lunar-samples-returned-by-change-5-tell-of-recent-volcanism/

Ohh-Eee-Ohh-Ahh-Ahh: Great apes' consonant and vowel-like sounds travel over distance without losing meaning. A range of orangutan sounds were played across the rain forest at set distances of 25, 50, 75 and 100 meters. The content of the orangutan sounds were uncompromised until the signal became inaudible. 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210928193837.htm

Science Fiction: We chat a bit about Squid Game, even though only Devon has watched some of it. Steven talks about the Scholomance books he read in a week. Ben watched the Editor's Cut of Spider-Man 3 and tells us all about the pros and cons. Devon watched some Star Wars Visions and we all talk about lightsaber colors. Ben gets into it with Lower Decks this week, with the episode 'wej Duj'. We talk a little about the trailer for the next season of Discovery and a little about Foundation.