The Shape of Outer Space

In an especially frightening installment, host Paul Cuminale is joined by Justin Pallini, Tom Chew, and resident “bad boy” Dan Perry to confront one of the most terrifying phenomena ever discussed on the program: Demented Vortexes. The panel chronicles the bizarre story of Ebeneezius Longsworth and his disastrous discovery, attempt to understand the eleven-dimensional rotation, investigate the mysterious disappearance of the dark-web's Null Archive, and ask whether some knowledge is simply too dangerous to pursue. They cap it all off with a rousing game of “Guess the Star.”

Host Paul Cuminale is joined by Justin Pallini, Tom Chew, and resident “bad boy” Dan Perry to journey beyond Neptune and explore the vast, frozen frontier known as the Kuiper Belt. The panel chronicles the history of its discovery, examines the icy worlds that inhabit it, and delves into the dubious Legend of Kuiper written by Gerard Kuiper himself.

Host Paul Cuminale is joined by returning panel members Justin Pallini, Otis Bradshaw, and resident “bad boy” Dan Perry to investigate the mysterious world of OOPARTS or “out-of-place artifacts.” From the Antikythera Mechanism and Baghdad Battery to the Saqqara Bird, Dropa Stones, and mysterious crystal skulls, the panel examines artifacts that have inspired theories of lost civilizations, ancient technology, extraterrestrial intervention, and even time travel. Along the way, they question why we’re so desperate for the past to be stranger than we think, share mysteries from their own lives that might be better left unsolved, and confront the possibility that history itself may be incomplete.

In a special LIVE presentation of The Shape of Outer Space, host Paul Cuminale is joined for the first time ever by the entire panel: Justin Pallini, Tom Chew, Otis Bradshaw, and resident “bad boy” Dan Perry. Together, they open the cosmic mailbag and field queries from listeners on everything from Tycho Brahe and alien probing to Cosmic Brownies, Laika, Professor Dillard Gibson, and the qualifications of the panel itself. Along the way, they deliver breaking news on “The Orbital Report,” debut Tom Chew’s highly anticipated “Chew’s Reviews,” revisit some of the program’s most pressing unanswered questions, and invite listeners to join the discussion live. They cap it all off with a rousing game of “Guess the Star.”

Breaktime - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Host Paul Cuminale is joined by Justin Pallini and resident “bad boy” Dan Perry to examine the strange and controversial life of Professor Dillard Gibson. The panel chronicles Gibson’s rise to prominence among fringe researchers, explores his many eccentricities and unconventional theorems, and attempts to make sense of the long list of malfeasances that ultimately overshadowed his academic career. Along the way, they speculate on what could drive such a brilliant mind toward a life of crime and consider the thin line between genius and complete self-destruction. They cap it all off with a rousing game of “Guess the Star: Astronomer Edition.”

Host Paul Cuminale is joined by Justin Pallini, Thomas Chew, and resident "bad boy" Dan Perry to discuss and dissect the 1984 science fiction cult classic The Last Starfighter. The episode begins with Dan Perry's monthly book report on "Space" by James A. Michener before the panel blasts off into the history, production, and science behind the film. Along the way, they examine the workings of the interstellar government, consider the surprising importance of the trailer park, explore the film's early ideas about artificial intelligence, and question the unsettling prospect of being replaced by an identical replica.

Host Paul Cuminale is joined by Justin Pallini and resident "bad boy" Dan Perry to examine the mysterious Allagash UFO Incident. Together, they chronicle the history of the alleged abductions, dissect the science behind extraterrestrial probings, imagine mysterious camping scenarios that are best avoided, and explore the unsettling phenomenon of missing time. Along the way, Dan Perry debuts his new monthly book report segment, the panel checks in with breaking news on "The Orbital Report," and they conclude the episode with a rousing game of "Guess the Star."

Host Paul Cuminale is joined by returning panel members Justin Pallini, Thomas Chew, and resident "bad boy" Dan Perry for another departure episode, this time celebrating the legendary Cosmic Brownie. The panel explores the history behind the iconic snack cake, marvels at its uncanny succulence, defines the concept of shelf stability, and debates whether children should be scarfing down preservatives in the first place. They wrap things up with a rousing round of "Guess the Star: Discontinued Snack Edition."

Funky Junky by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Host Paul Cuminale is joined by Justin Pallini and Thomas Chew to explore the fascinating phenomenon of time crystals. The panel discusses the pioneering work of Frank Wilczek and how the Nobel Prize-winning physicist helped bring the concept into existence, ventures deep into the strange world of quantum mechanics, and reflects on the lasting impact of Scante. They also revisit the obscure 1981 made-for-television film The Time Crystal, while Paul moderates a spirited debate over what, if anything, should be done about time crystals. They close out the show with a rousing game of "Guess the Star."

Host Paul Cuminale is joined by returning panel members Justin Pallini and Dan Perry for a new departure episode focusing on the mysterious world of Ancient Chinese Dark Magic. Together, they explore tales of talismans, spells, and sorcery, while examining the centuries-long quest for eternal life. In a new installment of "Terminology Breakdown," the panel unpacks the Eight Immortals and the magical artifacts associated with each. They conclude their journey into the supernatural with a special round of "Guess the Star: Chinese Folklore Edition."