Science Faction Podcast

This episode contains: Devon finally tells us what makes him happy, and it turns out it's a Mel Gibson movie. Merry Christmas.

Time Keeps on Ticking: New type of atomic clock keeps time even more precisely. A new atomic clock uses entangled atoms to keep time more precisely than its state-of-the-art counterparts. We try, and fail, to understand quantum entanglement. Also, how did we set our clocks before the internet?

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201216113301.htm

Whoopsie Daisy: Gut-wrenching footage documents Arecibo telescope’s collapse. We talk about what movies used the Arecibo telescope as a setting. Turns out the cable that snapped was an original one from 1963. IS that good or bad?

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03421-y

This Week in Space: Astronomers detect possible radio emission from exoplanet emanating from the constellation Boötes. The scientists used radio emissions from Jupiter as a template for what to look for out in the cosmos.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201216134701.htm

Science Fiction: Devon says the new Animaniacs is surprisingly good and then we talk too much about advent calendars. We cover Chapter 15, The Believer of The Mandalorian. We also talk about the first half of Terra Firma, the Star Trek Discovery episode. Steven is not a fan. Devon didn't watch it. Ben seems to be on board. We quickly talk a bit more about the Bobiverse, and The Expanse. Ben finally watched Joker and we have a spoiler talk about it.

This episode contains: Devon had a spaghetti incident, so he'll be joining us in the second half. Ben has been sizzling, and Steven finally has a kitchen again.

Gotta Go Fast: Researchers have discovered a new superhighway network to travel through the Solar System. The difference of speed is orders of magnitude: decades versus millions of years. We also talk about centaurs.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201209094216.htm

Science Fiction: Ben finally has his say and is able to talk about stuff he wants to talk about. We cover SpaceX, Lovecraft Country, Infinity Train, and The Gardens Between. Devon joins us and we find out what the spaghetti incident was.

Disney Investors Day: SO MUCH NEWS. We cover Marvel and Star Wars news, including: WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, Hawkeye, What If, Iron Heart, Armor Wars, Secret Invasion, Moon Knight, She Hulk, Ms. Marvel and more. We also cover Rangers of the New Republic, The Bad Batch, Ahsoka, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Lando and finally: Star Wars Rogue Squadron.

This episode contains: This is a very special birthday episode. It's Steven's birthday and he asked his co-hosts Ben and Devon to do an oops all sci-fi episode. They obliged. Before the sci-fi Ben talks about the monoliths that have appeared, one in his vicinity.

https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article247628785.html

Science Fiction: Lots was covered:

The Mandalorian, Chapters 13 and 14, The Jedi and The Tragedy respectively are talked about in detail. The all agree this show is bomb.

Steven is reading the first Bob-i-verse book, We Are Legion (We Are Bob). He talks about it, and how Devon was correct in recommending it three years ago. Ben proceeds to purchase the book.

Next: Star Trek Discovery, Episodes 7 and 8, Unification III and The Sanctuary are all debated upon. Survey says that Devon is out, but Steven and Ben are still in. 

Steven and Ben finished reading Ready Player Two. SPOILER WARNING. Devon hasn't read it, but tells about what some reviews said. Ben and Steven break down the plot and what to expect when reading. Devon thinks he'll read it.

Thanks for going on this long journey with us. Next episode should be back to normal.

This episode contains: Steven didn't do the math and he and Ben had to record on Thanksgiving. The two talk turkey about their respective dinners.

R-R-R-R-Random: A biochemical random number has been generated. DNA synthesis was used to generate a random number. We talk about the process, and what random numbers are used for. Don't forget your A T C and G.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201120113854.htm

This Week in Space: Water may be naturally occurring on all rocky planets. The presence of water may be a byproduct of the planet formation process. We talk about the meteorite sample used in the study called 'Black Beauty' and its extreme expense.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201109110228.htm

A Doggy Dog World: Bonus Science! We talk about the aging of dogs and how a new, more accurate calculation can be done to see how old your dog is in 'human years'.

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/11/here-s-better-way-convert-dog-years-human-years-scientists-say

Science Fiction: Another week, more mando. We talk about the latest episode of The Mandalorian, The Siege. We talk about seeing Greef and Cara again and what exactly an M-count is. Star Trek Discovery delivered another stunning episode and we talk about the Discovery's refit, relations between Orions and Andorians, and how cool Georgiou can be when unleashed. We also speculate about next week's episode and Ben has to explain to Steven what Unification I and II are all about. We tease a bit about Ready Player Two since we are both reading it, tune in next week for a full review.

This episode contains: We talk about our Thanksgiving traditions regarding gravy. Ben is ditching his iPhone for an Android, which some would consider heresy.

...It's Windy: Climate change causes landfalling hurricanes to stay stronger for longer. Warm ocean hurricanes have more moisture and stay longer and stronger after landfall. Because the hurricanes are lasting longer and traveling father, people who are unprepared will have to be. Climate change is still real.

https://www.oist.jp/news-center/press-releases/climate-change-causes-landfalling-hurricanes-stay-stronger-longer 

Biological Imperative: Human ageing process biologically reversed in world first. What can oxygen therapy in a pressurized chamber do for you? We talk about telomeres and senescent cells and what they have to do with aging. 

https://news.yahoo.com/human-ageing-process-biologically-reversed-153921785.html

Science Fiction: We talk about BOTH of the Star Wars Holiday Specials, the live action one and the LEGO one. Both have their ups and downs. We then talk about The Mandalorian episode The Heiress. Bo-Katan! What?! We then talk Star Trek Discovery and different future star ship names. Finally, Ben talks about FUSER the new music mixing game from Harmonix.

This episode contains: We start off talking about how long we've been quarantining and how we're not crazy, you're crazy.

Light at the End of the Tunnel: Pfizer has a covid-19 vaccine. We talk about an article written by Dr. Steven Novella (of Skeptics Guide to the Universe fame) about the vaccine and how much we should trust it. Turns out, there's a lot to be excited about.

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/pfizers-covid-vaccine/

Darkness at the Beginning of the Tunnel: We talk about the impact of covid-19 related school shutdown on sleep in adolescents. Steven reads (most of) a study regarding sleep and teens and then everyone reminisces about their high school morning and lack of sleep.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389945720304184

Science Fiction: Hope you like Star Trek Discovery, because we talk about season 2 and 3. A lot. Like, almost too much. If that's not your thing, we cover the latest (as of recording) episode of The Mandalorian, The Passenger. We have quite a discussion on whether or not The Child is going to regurgitate the eggs he ate. Also, Dr. Mandible is Ben's favorite character.

This episode contains: We talk about the current US presidential election. Ben deals with standardized testing. Steven makes dreams come true.

Brain Matters: Brain study pinpoints why music can literally give you the chills. Music's effect on the brain hints at an ancient 'ancestral' function. We talk about music, getting the chills and how certain tests require more test subjects.

https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/why-music-gives-you-chills

The RGB Cases of the Animal Kingdom: As if the Platypus couldn’t get any weirder: they can also glow in the dark. We talk about the newest discovery about one of the strangest animals.

https://gizmodo.com/as-if-the-platypus-couldn-t-get-any-weirder-1845529134

Science Fiction: Hey Mando! we talk about the second season premier of The Mandalorian. We go deep, expect spoilers. Ben has been watching Earth to Ned and likens parts of it to Farscape. Steven finished The Lost World and has to talk about it. Steven has also been watching Star Trek Discovery Season 2 and he and Ben have a nice long chat about 'If Memory Serves'. Ben then goes into the future and talks about Discovery season 3.

This episode contains: With Ben absent, Devon fills the podcast with talk of Star Wars Squadrons and using the Force maybe.

Halloween Spooktacular: Shifts In Pet Cemetery Practices Reflect Our Changing Relationship With Animals. Devon talks about human relationships with animals with regards to pet cemeteries. He also has no idea what booping the snoot is. For shame.

https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/shifts-in-pet-cemetery-practices-reflect-our-changing-relationship-with-animals/

Halloween Spooktacular 2: We talk about The Thoughts of a Spiderweb. Spiders appear to offload cognitive tasks to their webs. Orb spiders were able to change their web strategy to mimic ancient spiders. We talk about extended cognition and embodied cognition a little bit. 

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-thoughts-of-a-spiderweb?utm_source=pocket-newtab

Science Fiction: Devon talks about Children of Time and Children of Ruin a bit. We discuss the passing of James Randi, renowned skeptic. Steven finished Jurassic Park and started reading The Lost World and talks about their main themes, which are not dinosaurs. Steven has also been making his way through Star Trek Discovery Season 2. Devon is reading/listening to the newest Bobiverse story: Heaven's River. We talk about 'Brave' New Worlds (which is not the title) the new Star Trek show that is coming. (Strange New Worlds is the real title; I'm sure Ben had a stroke when he heard us.)

This episode contains: Ben is on medication and Steven upgraded his tech, strap in for this one folks, it's a dozy.

Keep Your Eyeballs Peeled: Online images are not always what they seem, especially on social media according to study. We talk about how images online can be whatever we want and the truth isn't necessarily represented. There are also poor forensic tools available for digital media literacy.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201021112337.htm

Hello Internet, This Is Your Dad Speaking: Ben does "research" on how to take out a splinter. He found a listicle that Steven is instantly skeptical of. Some of it might work maybe?

https://www.solvhealth.com/blog/5-creative-ways-to-remove-a-splinter

Emails: Field-Adjacent Correspondent Matt Dixon responds to our requests for data verification. He mails us about pigeons used in missiles, and why Microsoft Excel has a limit to the number of rows a file can hold. Thank you Matt! 

Science Fiction: We talk about the goof in last weeks episode and that leads to some spoilers for Quantum Leap. Ben talks more about the Oculus Quest 2 and the games he's playing: EchoVR, Half Life: Alyx and some stuff from SideQuest. Ben then talks at Steven about the first episode of the third season of Star Trek Discovery. Spoilers ahead.

This episode contains: We start this fine episode with a little talk about how the apocal- I mean, how life is going, especially for those of us with kids in school. Also, Devon is still writing music.

What's Up Bird Brain: Crows possess higher intelligence long thought a primarily human attribute. We talk about corvids and how we have discovered more about how their minds work. That somehow devolves into talk about pon farr.

https://www.statnews.com/2020/09/24/crows-possess-higher-intelligence-long-thought-primarily-human/

Brain Matters: Babies' random choices become their preferences. We talk about unconscious bias and how it clearly develops when you're a baby. That leads us to justifying arbitrary choices, and finally choice overload.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201002091027.htm

Science Fiction: We talked about a lot this week. Here's a list: We aren't watching Star Trek Discovery Season 3 yet, Steven is re-reading Jurassic Park (again), spoilers for Camp Cretaceous, Ben got an Oculus Quest 2, Steven picked up Fallout 4 again, Devon watched all of Utopia and gives us his review, Steven and Devon finished The Boys season 2 and chat about it a bit.