Big Picture Science

Science Fiction


Listen Later

No one knows what the future will bring, but science fiction authors are willing to take a stab at imagining it. We take our own stab at imagining them imagining it. Find out why the genre of science fiction is more than a trippy ride through a bizarre, hi-tech world, but a way to assess and vote on our possible shared future. 

Also, an astronomer learns how many rejection slips it takes before becoming a published science fiction author …. what author Bruce Sterling wants to get off his chest … and what the joke about the neutron walking into a bar to ask the price of beer has in common with H.G. Wells, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Ridley Scott.

Oh, and the price of beer? Bartender: “For you, no charge.”

Guests:

  • Ed Finn - Director of the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University
  • Andrew Fraknoi – Chair of the astronomy department at Foothill College. His story, "The Cave in Arsia Mons", is in "Building Red", here. His list of astronomically correct science fiction is here.
  • Bruce Sterling - Science fiction author, journalist, and editor
  • Brian Malow - Science comedian, science communication officer, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Big Picture ScienceBy Big Picture Science

    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5

    4.5

    912 ratings


    More shows like Big Picture Science

    View all
    Radiolab by WNYC Studios

    Radiolab

    43,992 Listeners

    Dan Carlin's Hardcore History by Dan Carlin

    Dan Carlin's Hardcore History

    64,208 Listeners

    Common Sense with Dan Carlin by Dan Carlin

    Common Sense with Dan Carlin

    11,423 Listeners

    Scott Sigler Slices: MIX TAPE VOL. 1 by Scott Sigler

    Scott Sigler Slices: MIX TAPE VOL. 1

    1,078 Listeners

    The Deadpod by J.Henrikson

    The Deadpod

    1,223 Listeners

    Nature Podcast by Springer Nature Limited

    Nature Podcast

    767 Listeners

    Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science by The Planetary Society

    Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

    1,351 Listeners

    SpaceTime with Stuart Gary by Stuart Gary

    SpaceTime with Stuart Gary

    324 Listeners

    Meditation Oasis by Mary and Richard Maddux

    Meditation Oasis

    3,869 Listeners

    Astronomy Cast by Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay

    Astronomy Cast

    2,872 Listeners

    The Quanta Podcast by Quanta Magazine

    The Quanta Podcast

    540 Listeners

    Science Magazine Podcast by Science Magazine

    Science Magazine Podcast

    827 Listeners

    Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

    Science Friday

    6,421 Listeners

    Philosophy Bites by Edmonds and Warburton

    Philosophy Bites

    1,544 Listeners

    Science In Action by BBC World Service

    Science In Action

    333 Listeners

    Unexpected Elements by BBC World Service

    Unexpected Elements

    359 Listeners

    Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: Addendum by Dan Carlin

    Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: Addendum

    8,350 Listeners

    Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe by iHeartPodcasts

    Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

    2,355 Listeners

    Radio Detective Story Hour by Dennis Humphrey

    Radio Detective Story Hour

    407 Listeners

    Short Wave by NPR

    Short Wave

    6,563 Listeners

    Why This Universe? by Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman

    Why This Universe?

    390 Listeners

    Unexplainable by Vox

    Unexplainable

    2,306 Listeners

    The Joy of Why by Steven Strogatz, Janna Levin and Quanta Magazine

    The Joy of Why

    490 Listeners