Science Faction Podcast

This episode contains: Devon isn't here, he's in Las Vegas. Ben got kicked out of chess club for talking. Steven was gifted a jacket by Devon like 20 years ago and they are probably dating.

A Double Kick Drum by the River in the Summer: Minuscule drums push the limits of quantum weirdness. Vibrating membranes provide the first evidence of quantum entanglement in macroscopic objects. They used quantum mechanics to hack quantum mechanics and we're done here.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01223-4

The Wind Beneath my Wings: Dozens of baby hawks jumped to their deaths amid heatwave. It was so hot, the baby hawks chose to jump to the ground for a chance at survival. Steven rants about climate change yet again, and is frustrated that there isn't much we can do.

https://www.guardianmag.press/2021/07/dozens-of-baby-hawks-jumped-to-their.html

Science Fiction: Ben has watched A Quiet Place Part II and gives us all the run-down. He really enjoyed it and says it is a true 'part 2'. We've watched the newest Star Trek Prodigy trailer and chat about it a bit. Ben takes a bit of time to talk about Trollhunters. Well, it's more than a bit of time; plus he goes through Trollhunters, 3Below, Wizards, and Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans. Steven started reading Rabbits and goes down the rabbit hole. RUplaying?

This episode contains: We had a massive BBQ! All of your favorite hosts were together and Ben and Steven are here to tell you all about it. Steven panic bought a LEGO set and Ben  has the best DropMix collection.

Brain Matters: 'Neuroprosthesis' restores words to man with paralysis. Scientists are translating signals from brains, to the vocal tract, directly into words. It is astounding.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210714174148.htm

Take A Picture, It'll Last Longer: JPEG XL is the new image format that nobody wanted or needed. Ben tells us all about a new image format, and I promise, it's better than it sounds. Ben also seems to be recording from a kitchen, so there's that.

https://cloudinary.com/blog/how_jpeg_xl_compares_to_other_image_codecs 
https://blobfolio.com/2021/jpeg-xl/

Science Fiction: We spend most of our science fiction time this week talking about the finale to LOKI, 'For All Time. Always.' We talk about the amazing Jonathan Majors as He Who Remains *cough* Kang *cough* and what the MCU is going to do now that variants can run wild and there appears to be an uncontrolled multiverse. We also discuss the differences between TV and Movies and what those differences should be in the future. Ben really wanted to talk about Space Jam 2, but that'll have to wait until next week (mostly).

This episode contains: We've got a full house and Devon is preparing his piano to move. Ben visits his office for the first time in 482 days and it's unsettling.

Get outta my dreams...: Why do electric cars look the way they do? Because they can. We talk about the design constraints with electric vehicles, and how they don't really have any. Then we talk about the Mustang Mach-E and frunks.

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a36877554/electric-vehicles-design-future/

AAWWOO!!: Wolf packs don't actually have alpha males and alpha females, the idea is based on a misunderstanding. We talk about an old study that people misinterpreted and won't go away. We also talk about true wolf pack dynamics and mixed family dynamics. It's wild.

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-wolf-dont-alpha-males-females.html

Science Fiction: We have a chat about Black Widow. We talk about seeing it in a theater compared to home viewing. We also talk about why it took Marvel so long to make it, and if it's even worth watching. We've all seen episode 5 of LOKI, "Journey Into Mystery" and we talk about the various easter eggs, Steven has to explain the Thanoscopter to Devon, and Ben once again doesn't believe the multiverse is coming. Devon and Ben both watched The Tomorrow War on Amazon Prime and gives a synopsis, and a mini review. There are some spoilers, but it doesn't seem worth watching anyway. Devon has watched the first season of Resident Alien, and gives a synopsis and recommends the show. It sounds great!

This episode contains: We recorded early because of the 4th of July! We talk birthdays, board games and BBQs.

Homo what?!: 'Dragon man' fossil may replace Neanderthals as our closest relative. Homo longi may have been adapted for harsh environments, allowing them to disperse throughout Asia. Somehow a comic book taught Steven about Neanderthals, but not really.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210625120419.htm

What's cooler and being cool?: Physicists bring human-scale object to near standstill, reaching a quantum state. How still is still? On the quantum level, nothing is still. We talk about how this experiment even worked, and question it's dubious math. Still cool though.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210617143625.htm

Science Fiction: LOKI. LOKI. LOKI. We talk about episodes 2-4, The Variant, Lamentis, and The Nexus Event. We discuss, in a non-violent way, whether or not there is a multiverse in the MCU. We question the intent of the TVA, and what happens when Loki stops being a Loki. We also talk about the first two episodes of the 5th season of Rick and Morty! Super awesome episodes, but we are still bummed that there's not an easy streaming way to watch it. We talk about and look forward to the unholy union of Dan Harmon and Nathan Pyle. Ben watched Infinite and gives an amazing synopsis that is punctuated with his not-so-amazing review.

This episode contains: We're back and we're all together. We talk about Father's Day, the SF Giants, and the LEGO Ecto-1.

Sharkpocalypse: There's a shark mystery millions of years in the making. New study turns up data on massive shark die-off roughly 19 million years ago. 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210603171119.htm

Out of Left Field, Some Good News: Edible Cholera vaccine made of powdered rice proves safe in phase 1 human trials. The MucoRice-CTB vaccine is stable at room temperature from start to finish. Steven has some issues with the naming convention, but beyond that, this is great news!

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/uot-ecv062221.php

Galaxy's Edge: Steven gives a detailed account of his first visit to Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland in Anaheim. He talks about the food at Docking Bay 7, building a lightsaber at Savi's Workshop with his daughter, the Smuggler's Run ride, and finally the new Rise of the Resistance ride. He had an amazing time. Next week we'll get back to our normal sci-fi talk.

This episode contains: Devon is back this week, but he'll soon be moving. Ben attended a birthday party. And so did Steven.

Brain Matters: Memory details fade over time, with only the main gist preserved. Our memories become more 'gistified' the more frequently we recall them. Ben talks about his alien abduction memory.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/05/210526085058.htm

Daylight Decides There Will Be War With Sleeping In: Waking just one hour earlier cuts depression risk by double digits, study finds. Don't worry, we quickly discuss what our common sleep schedules are, I know you wanted to know.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/05/210528114107.htm

Science Fiction: Steven has been watching Sweet Tooth and so has Devon, we give our thoughts. Ben finished The Wilds and gives his final thoughts. Devon is reading The Oppenheimer Alternative by Robert J. Sawyer and give us the run-down. Steven and Ben are enjoying The Bad Batch, and we talk about the latest episode. We do a deep dive into the first episode of LOKI. You guys, it's so good.

This episode contains: The timelines have converged, at least for Ben and Steven. We chit-chat about too much sushi, fixing computers and LAN parties of the past.

Insane in the Permeable Membrane: Mammals can use their intestines to breathe. Rodents and pigs share with certain aquatic organisms the ability to use their intestines for respiration. We chat about the study that lead to this conclusion, but wait! We have a new new challenger! Nicole, Ben's wife and science nerd, comes on the podcast to talk about her experiences in the veterinary field with intestinal drug use. It's pretty cool.

https://phys.org/news/2021-05-mammals-anus-emergencies.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/05/210514134205.htm

Junk in the Trunk: We now know how an elephant's trunk manipulates air to eat and drink. Elephants dilate their nostrils in order to create more space in their trunks. We quickly chat about this since *someone* has a wife who just had to talk about animal butt stuff.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210601194151.htm

Science Fiction: Steven's been re-watching Kill Bill. We talk about The Bad Batch episode 'Decommissioned' and guess who that hidden figure might be. Steven has been watching sci-fi adjacent show The Wilds, and heavily recommends it. We do a spoiler heavy talk about The Nevers and THAT episode. We run out of time, but Ben manages to squeak in a little bit about Infinity Train.

This episode contains: This is a weird episode. We didn't record at the same time and Devon only speaks in music. Ben (and son) saw the lunar eclipse. Steven went on a puzzle and LEGO fueled staycation.

Hello Darkness My Old Friend: Researchers force two mice to hang out and induce FOMO in a third. Researchers generated synchronized interbrain activity using optogenetic hardware and modulating neuronal activity. Is that even english?

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/05/researchers-force-two-mice-to-hang-out-and-induce-fomo-in-a-third/

Robot Overlords: The age of killer robots may have already begun. Autonomous weapons have been used to fight and kill human beings based on artificial intelligence. What a weird and dangerous timeline.

https://www.axios.com/age-killer-robots-begun-8e8813d9-0fa1-4529-baf9-3358c1703bee.html

Science Fiction: Ben found out about Sulu's missing scene in Wrath of Khan and talks about it. Steven covers the latest episode of The Bad Batch. Ben talks to us about the Unity Edit of Wrath of Khan, and why it had so much recycled footage in it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rrjzF9yAr0

This episode contains: We celebrate wedding anniversaries and build chicken coops. Chit chat is Ben's favorite part.

All We Are Is Dust In The Wind, Dude: Better than holograms: 3D-animated starships can be viewed from any angle. We talk about optical trap displays and the Princess Leia Project.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/05/scientists-created-tiny-animated-starships-light-sabers-with-lasers/

Life Hacks: New research optimizes body's own immune system to fight cancer. Engineered T cells, in new cancer therapies, can overcome physical barriers to fight tumors. Steven goes on a rant about the terrible awesomeness that is cancer.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/05/210514134222.htm

Skepticism: Steven continues to rant, this time about "boosting your immune system" and the dummies that think their covid vaccines are magnetic. This leads him to tell Ben all about James Randi and the Million Dollar Challenge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTVWMY8EZCA

Science Fiction: Steven finished The Nevers and does his best to not spoil it. Steven is reading Junkyard Pirate by Jamie McFarlane and is really enjoying it. Ben reviews Bill and Ted Face the Music. Steven review Army of the Dead (not a sequel to Dawn of the Dead). We discuss the latest episode of The Bad Batch and Ben praises Kipo and the Age of the Wonderbeasts.

This episode contains: Only Steven and Devon this week, and we recorded a full length podcast. Steven is building a chicken coop and Devon had a fun night out.

Silly in Silicon: The chip shortage keeps getting worse. Why can't we just make more? It's not rocket science, it's much more difficult. We talk about just how difficult it is to build and run a semiconductor factory.

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2021-chip-production-why-hard-to-make-semiconductors/

Shark Week!: Sharks use Earth's magnetic fields to guide them like a map. They rely on magnetic fields for their long-distance forays across the sea. We ask dumb questions, like if we can shield ourselves from the earth's magnetic field, or if we can use that magnetic field instead of GPS. And by we, I mean Steven.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/05/210506142036.htm

Science Fiction: Steven recaps the latest episode of The Bad Batch. Both Steven and Devon have been watching The Nevers. We don't get into spoilers, but discuss the show at length. Steven recommends Jupiter's Legacy to everyone, even if you're done with superhero shows. Devon talks about the latest season of The Handmaiden's Tale and gives a review on Project Hail Mary. Steven has been playing The 7th Continent and loves it.