Science Faction Podcast

This episode contains: Devon is tired from having a trial. He explains how going to trial is kind of like a board game, but not. Devon also played more Sword & Sorcery. Devon then embarrasses himself by not knowing his friend’s ages. Steven also played some X-wing.

Attack of the Killer Rotten Tomatoes: Rotten Tomatoes scores to do not correlate to box office success. The data shows this but we still take the Rotten Tomatoes scores into account when we choose what movies to watch. We compare the critic reviews to the user reviews of some movies. Also, Steven has finally started watching Bojack Horseman!

https://www.polygon.com/2017/9/11/16291038/rotten-tomatoes-scores-movies

Robot Overlords: Hackers have weaponized AI. They are using AI to make phishing attacks. A competition was done comparing the success of tweets written by a human and by AI. Most tweets are already so stupid, it’s not hard to teach AI how to write convincing tweets. We also talk about how bots can be used to write other content.

https://gizmodo.com/hackers-have-already-started-to-weaponize-artificial-in-1797688425

Sci-Fi: Steven is loving Destiny 2. We then talk about The Orville and our mixed feelings about it. We not quite sure what it’s trying to be. We’re still willing to give it a chance. We then talk about the crazy Rick and Morty episode The Ricklantis Mixup. We talk about all the different storylines going on in this ep. Also JJ is back to direct Episode IX.

This episode contains: Devon is already drinking at the start of this ep while Steven drinking a Rockstar just for the Destiny II code under the cap. We then read an email from an old friend about super volcanoes. He tells us why we shouldn’t worry too much about Yellow Stone blowing up anytime soon.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/04/23/scientists-find-missing-link-in-yellowstone-plumbing-this-giant-volcano-is-very-much-alive/?utm_term=.cb3fb3621e0e

There Be Whales Here!: Sperm whales have been stranding themselves on beaches a lot and it may be due to solar storms. This is separate from a rash of humpback whale strandings we discussed a few episodes ago. These new incidents occurred in northern Europe. These were all a part of an all-male “bachelor pod.” We also learn that sperm whales use sonar (but probably don’t stun giant squid with sonar pulses.)

http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/huge-solar-storm-may-have-caused-last-years-mass-sperm-whale-stranding/

Brain Matters: Scientists studied facial recognition in macaques. They prevented one group from seeing face during a time when the part of the brain that is responsible for facial recognition develops. These macaques would then focus more on hands and feet.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170904120420.htm

Sci-Fi: Devon final saw Spiderman: Homecoming and liked it. We also both have seen the full first season of The Good Place, which not necessarily sci-fi, but still  good show that we recommend watching. We then talk about the movie Bad Moms and how dads are portrayed in movies and TV (also not a sci-fi topic). We then talk about recent Star Wars news. We’ve learned more about Captain Phasma’s background. We also discuss how Disney is firing lots of people from Star Wars projects. We briefly discuss the new Blade Runner movie. Devon didn’t like the movie Jackie.

This episode contains: We went down a river together, so we talk about it! Steven enjoyed it even though he had to drive a lot. Devon recounts the story of a drunkin’ rope swingin’ gone wrong. We also give an update on our LEGO, including what we’ve bought and new info on the LEGO Falcon. Also, we played some Star Wars: Armada.

Wow, Trees: What’s the annual value of trees in a city? It’s been calculated so we discuss what that means and how it was formulated. Trees help with pollution, wind, water runoff, temperature, and more. We also discuss the Giving Tree.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170822104849.htm

Social Media Migraine: Live tweeting a presidential debate helped retain information about the candidates’ positions. This was the opposite of what was expected. We theorize that live tweeting requires understanding and processing the information more so it sticks better.

http://www.iflscience.com/brain/to-retain-more-information-live-tweet-an-event/

Sci-Fi: We break down the season finale of Game of Thrones. We learn that Devon isn’t disturbed by insist. More accurately, he isn’t shocked by it anymore. We then compare this entire season to the other seasons and how the story telling has changed. For example, how they story of Lord Baelish was presented. And of course, all the convenient time jumps in this season. And we want more main characters to die! We then move on to Star Wars and Force Friday. Some possible spoilers for The Last Jedi. We look at the titles of cards that may or may not give us the plot of The Last Jedi. Devon is still sure the movie will be a lot like Empire Strikes Back. And we up our bet on whether the “Ski speeders” are actually going to battle the gorilla AT-ATs. We then talk about the new ships in The Last Jedi and ask where the Resistance capital ships are.

This episode contains: On this episode: Devon is unfaithful, we talk about the podcast Serial, more BoJack is coming out!

Geology Rocks: NASA has a plan to prevent the super volcano in Yellowstone from erupting, and harnessing the energy at the same time, this will cost $3.46 Billion, super volcanoes are BIG, how much destruction would a super volcano cause?, how much energy could we get out of this plan, the benefits of volcanoes

https://futurism.com/nasa-has-a-3-46-billion-plan-to-ensure-the-yellowstone-supervolcano-doesnt-erupt/

Sci-Fi: Lego is hinting at a new Star Wars LEGO set that will be the biggest ever, it’s very likely a new Millennium Falcon, how are we going to buy one?, a picture of the new Falcon leaked from China, there are knock-off LEGO sets, what is the resale value of LEGO?, Devon has “other life things” going on, Devon missed out on the LEGO Saturn V (or did he?), Devon learned why not to buy cheap clothes online from China, we the talk about two new vehicles from The Last Jedi, strange new walker and a very flat boring Star Destroyer, Hoth Battle 2.0, “The Finalizer” is a stupid name, are there any Resistance capital sips?, Devon played Swords and Sorcery.

This episode contains: Devon watched the latest episode of Rick and Morty right before recording. Adult Swim only allowed people to watch the first couple episodes for free, now you need a cable subscription. Devon was in Portland for the weekend and still found a way to watch Game of Thrones. Also, Game of Thrones is flying by now.

That’s a Spicy Meatball!: Behind the hype of lab grown meat. Lab grown meat may help ease your conscience but could still have a big impact on the environment. We discuss whether lab grown meat scales up, what resources are used to grow meat, and current uncertainties. Also, Devon discusses his feeling about killing animals for food and how he wishes he had the will power to be vegetarian or even vegan. Then we talk about animal testing. And no science from Devon, so it’s on to Sci-Fi!

http://gizmodo.com/behind-the-hype-of-lab-grown-meat-1797383294

Sci-Fi: More Rick and Morty. We break down episode 4 of this season, Vindicators 3: The Return of Worldender. Devon then gives us his review of The Chronoliths by Robert Charles Wilson, the writer of the awesome Spin trilogy. It’s okay, about a 3 out of 5. Some fun ideas, but not great execution. The episodes of The Earth Collective written by Steven are now out!

This episode contains: Our duo open this episode with way too much talk about Wayne's World (or perhaps too little, depending on your thoughts about the naked Indian), and dig into what happened to Mike Meyers.

This Week in Space: Before the space talk, Steven brings up an article that he isn't going to talk about, right before he proceeds to talk about it. At length. Think of it as bonus knowledge. When he finally gets into it, he talks about nanocraft from Breakthough Starshot, which are tiny satellites that will one day be sent to Alpha Centauri.

http://gizmodo.com/researchers-just-launched-a-prototype-of-humanitys-firs-1797307497

Step back, bro: After some Seinfield shenanigans, Devon gets into dopamine and fruit flies. Turns out that dopamine has a lot to do with the proximity that fruit flies want to be around each other. Kinda like body odor. Or so they tell me.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170809161740.htm

The Problem with Digital Media: Oh boy. Steven really got on his soapbox about this one. It started out as a chat about Disney and Netflix parting ways and ends with Steven screaming about paying for advertising or something. At any rate, he thinks he's figured out how to solve digital media distribution, so it if turns out he's right, the proof is right here future-lawyers.

Rick and Morty: We talk about the first 3 episodes of the 3rd season! Oooo-eeeee Rick and Morty are back!

Game of Thrones: We talk GoT and time. Like, how can so many characters move so quickly around Westeros? Steven breaks it down to all the travel time being "off-screen" and it all makes sense. To him at least. Devon agrees that the Dragon stuff made for awesome TV, but wasn't "logistically pleasing". *eye roll*

This episode contains: Steven thinks Devon won't watch the Emoji movie, but wait for the Wing-Dings movie instead. We chat about the terrible reviews of the Emoji movie and the terrible ad campaign that preceded it. While talking about The Handmaids Tale, we segue into a Henry Rollins review of our new presidency.

Robot Overlords: AI is inventing its own language and we keep shutting it down. Steven recaps neural networks (again) and how they affect AI. The Facebook AI decided that English wasn't an efficient was to communicate and adjusted it to work "better".  We also talk about Google AI that wrote it own language to help in translating two separate languages. Neat! With machines creating their own languages, it's becoming harder to translate what they're doing. We parlay all of this into a conversation about AI and what a true sentient AI would be like, or want. Devon admits that he doesn't rewatch Marvel movies.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/tech-and-science/technology/a-step-closer-to-skynet-ai-invents-a-language-humans-can-t-read/article/498142

Biological Imperative: Scientists successfully used CRISPR to fix a mutation that causes disease in a human embryo. Scientists were able to delete a gene for a heart disorder. We talk about how CRISPR works, what it can do now, and what it might be able to do in the future. We also dip into the debate about whether we should be editing our genes.

https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/8/2/16083300/crispr-heart-disease

Sci-fi TV: We’ve both watched two scif-fi TV shows. Devon first talks about Orphan Black. He is watching the fourth season on Amazon Prime. Devon explains the premise and finds that the fourth season is better than the last. Steven’s first show is Humans. The show starts of episodic and then becomes an awesome story arc. Devon then talks about the Handmaid’s Tale. It’s really well done show but also pretty dark so be prepared. Devon then mentions a recent study showing that the sperm count for the men of the world has dropped by 50%. We’re not sure about the validity of the study so we’re don’t go into details. We then discuss the show that the Game of Thrones show runners are going to do: Confederate. We discuss the backlash and how we (at least Devon) doesn’t really understand it. Steven then tells us about the show Colony. Also a pretty good show.

This episode contains: Devon finally moved into his new place, and had to get rid of his couch in the process. He also broke his iPhone. We also talk about Dunkirk and Steven doesn’t know who Harry Styles is.

Soup’s on Bitches: Scientists have (sort of) made food from electricity and it could (eventually) be the solution to world hunger. Scientists have used electricity and a bioreactor to make single-cell protein. This produces a very small amount of food and so needs further study to be more effective.

https://futurism.com/a-team-of-scientists-just-made-food-from-electricity-and-it-could-be-the-solution-to-world-hunger/

A Story The Jedi Will Not Tell You: Some “scientific” journals published an article about midichlorians. This was to show that some journals do not actually care/pay attention to what they publish as long as they get paid. Make sure to check the source of studies you read online. We then go on a tangent about doctors Devon has to work with at his job and objectively measuring pain.

http://gizmodo.com/scientific-journals-publish-bogus-paper-about-midichlor-1797186738

Sci-Fi: Steven is watching the show Humans on Hulu. Steven saw Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets and was let down. He gives us his non-spoiler review. Adam Savage said that Star Trek is not our future, rather, Star Wars, with its dystopian, authoritarian government, is where we’re headed. We get a little side tracked with some Trump bashing at the end of this ep. We then top it off with some Star Wars talk.

http://io9.gizmodo.com/adam-savage-turned-a-star-wars-vs-star-trek-debate-int-1797107746

This episode contains: Devon is moving into a new place and spent all weekend painting. But he had to find a new home for his beloved dog Zoe.

Robot Overlords: A security robot “committed suicide” by driving into a fountain. An autonomous robot accidentally ran into a fountain and everyone thinks it’s hilarious. These robots have had similar problems in the past. We then discuss what we would do with our lives without the internet (a question taken from the Cracked podcast).

http://www.iflscience.com/technology/security-robot-commits-suicide-in-fountain-because-the-world-is-terrible/

Must go Faster: T-rex couldn’t sprint, but it’s still faster than you. A brisk walk for a T-rex was 12 mph, so still fast, but they couldn’t sprint. This is based on modeling how much pressure their bones could take before breaking. This was also true for other large dinosaurs.

 http://gizmodo.com/t-rex-couldnt-sprint-but-it-could-still-move-faster-th-1797016224

Sci-Fi: War for the Planet of the Apes SPOILER filled review. We were disappointed but Devon still enjoyed it. The movie told us why the first two movies were called “Rise” and “Dawn.” The movie needed more war. We talk about few missed opportunities and missteps in the movie.

This episode contains: Devon spent many hours at the DMV because he didn't make a reservation. We answer romantic questions from a listener and contest winner. Turns out, two nerds with a science podcast probably aren't the best to ask romantic advice.

Science Grab Bag: Steven has an article about how people will be trolling self driving cars in the future. It has to do with salt and lines. Then Steven covers the one trillion ton iceburg that recently broke away from the Antarctic ice shelf. Finally, Steven tags up on an older story about encoding DNA. Turns out, we can encode DNA in live cells with movies. What?! Devon then tells us all about the encephalophone, like what it even is and why it exists. The two close out the Science portion of the podcast by talking about Baby Driver, because of course they do. Steven even calls it a "deconstructionist musical." Fancy.

SciFi: Steven and Devon discuss the Marvel TV and Cinematic universes and why Marvel won't say if they exist in the same world or not. Then Steven gives a lengthy review of Spider-Man: Homecoming, which is mostly spoiler free (except for the first 10 minutes of the movie). Devon asks you guys for recommendations on a new Sci-Fi novel series to read. We recap some of the books we've read and what we like / don't like. Finally, Steven tells us all about his recent Diablo 3 addiction. Because everyone needs a healthy mix of Sci-Fi and Fantasy in their lives.