In this special episode, I got to ask a really smart person lots of questions. Specifically, the author, voice actor, puppeteer, and science communicator Mary Robinette Kowal, author of the Lady Astronaut series— starting with The Calculating Stars, The Fated Sky, and the new novel coming out July 14th - The Relentless Moon. We talk about why her books are set in the past, how she researches her novels and more.Karly’s RecommendationsThe Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal (novel)Monstress by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda (graphic novel)The Vast of Night dir. Andrew Patterson (film)Mary Robinette’s RecommendationsAvenue 5 (TV) available on HBO and Amazon PrimeThe War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (audiobook)The Light from Other Stars by Erika Swyler (book)Shop this list of recommendations through my affiliate link at Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/shop/fasf and support the show!The Relentless Moon hits shelves on July 14, celebrate the book launch at this Zoom event and get a paperback copy with your ticket.See the process for recording The Relentless Moon audiobook here for a limited time! [This message will self-destruct on July 14]Subscribe, rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and PodcastAddict. Follow the podcast on Twitter @FactandScifi and find other content on the blog factandsciencefiction.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I was going to create a podcast episode on afrofuturism but I found that this genre/aesthetic/artform can speak for itself so instead I'm going to link all my research sources and then make a pledge to ensure all @FactandScifi eps from now on include black and non-black POC media rep. Afrofuturism, broadly defined, imagines a future, past or present of the African diaspora freed from colonialism (and from white people.) It's not just black characters in science fiction, it centers the black experience. It challenges western, white-centric ideas of sci-fiFilms and educational podcasts about afrofuturismSpace is the Place by Sun Ra (available on Youtube) - part funk and experimental jazz music performance part scifi imagines a home for black people away from whites (note Sun Ra liberates black people in Oakland very much like Wakandans want to do in the Black Panther movie)Learn the history of Afrofuturism in music and its connections to modern day hip-hop including Missy Elliot, Kendrick Lamar and OutKast in the pod Bottom of the Map: Culture in the Cosmos: AfroFuturism, Hip-Hop, and Black JoyHow did Black Panther (2019) open up Afrofuturism to the world? Listen to this interview with Shawn Taylor from Nerds of Color as he explains Afrofuturism in academia, music, film and seminal books of the genreWatch this short film called Robots of Brixton about a riot of underclass robots against their oppressors. This is the first time I can remember seeing robots that don't look like white peopleHow is Afrofuturism different from African science fiction? I can't speak to the quality of this podcast overall but this interview with Dr. Moradewun Adejunmobi about Afrofuturism and what it signals about future expectations was fantastic.Watch this short film called Afronauts, an alternate history about the first African astronauts during the space raceAfrofuturism novels and anthologiesKindred by Octavia ButlerMothership: Tales from Afrofuturism and Beyond ed. by Bill Campbell and Edward Austin HallShuri: The Search for Black PantherWar Girls by Tochi Onyebuch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I discuss real examples of cyborgs, cybernetic organisms living today, human or otherwise, and these examples may surprise you. I’ll define what exactly cybernetic means, and why exactly cybernetics is an exciting industry to watch. New Segment! Recommendations:-Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel (book, 2016)-Color out of Space dir. Richard Stanley (movie, 2019)-She-Ra and the Princesses of Power cr. Noelle Stevenson (TV, 2018-2020)-Prophet cr. Rob Liefeld (comic)-ArchAndroid by Janelle Monae (music, 2010)Research from MIT News, Forbes, CyborgAnthropology, and Where are the Cyborgs in Cybernetics?Follow the podcast on Twitter @FactandScifi, the transcript for this episode is live on factandsciencefiction.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Disaster movies can be fun. They can be scary or thought-provoking. And they can be really, really bad. But how close are they to the science of real disasters? I talk about recent landslides and earthquakes, my own experience with natural disasters, and a model for risk communication. Follow the podcast on Twitter @factandscifi and find the transcript to this episode on factandsciencefiction.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fact and Science Fiction, I'm discussing the science and science fiction of parallel universes. I review the famous Many Worlds Interpretation, the theory of bubble universes and more. I use examples from The Dark Tower, Golden Compass and Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse to understand why parallel universes are just so fascinating to science fiction fans.I used research from the Khan Academy course video on Quantum Wavefunction, The Case for Parallel Universes in Scientific American and PhilosophyNow.orgSubscribe to the podcast in your podcast app or leave a review! Transcript for this episode is live on factandsciencefiction.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I'm sharing types of animal mimicry. From owl butterflies to cuckoo birds, to the "thing" from space. I discuss defensive mimicry, aggressive mimicry and even mimicry humans have contributed to. It turns out there's no greater inspiration for horror than the natural world.Research from this episode is from my ol' pal Wikipedia andC. Blut, J. Wilibrandt, D. Fels, E.I. Girgel & K. Linau's 'The 'sparkle' in fake eyes - the protective effect of mimic eyespots in lepidoptera' in the journal Entomologia Experimentalis et ApplicataDream/Flashback effect from Zany MadcapFollow the podcast on Twitter @FactandSciFiRead the blog factandsciencefiction.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are obsessed with super suits. It is the peak of imagined technology. It’s like we have recognized the limits of the human body - and we have decided that all we need to become super strong, fast and flying is robotics. From Iron Man, RoboCop to the Gundam franchise, they are known as mechsuits, exosuits, and mobile suits. I wanted to know what exactly these suits do, how can we break them down into different parts of technology. What real world tech is out there that would be familar to science fiction fans. And how far away are we from the ideal super suit. SourcesThe Science of RoboCop http://collider.com/robocop-science/Friedl, Karl & J. Buller, Mark & Tharion, William & Potter, Adam & L. Manglapus, Glen & W. Hoyt, Reed. (2016). Real Time Physiological Status Monitoring (RT-PSM): Accomplishments, Requirements, and Research Roadmap.Give the podcast a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or StitcherFollow the podcast on Twitter @FactandSciFi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There have been several pandemics in human history and few are as misunderstood as the flu. In Stephen King's The Stand, a flu epidemic wipes out most of the human population. How is it different from the actual flu? What are some misconceptions about the flu? How can you protect yourself? This episode goes into those questions and more.Support the show! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave a review or tell a friend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This special live episode was recorded March 30 in Kansas City MO. I did a round-up of the science of superheroes and superpowers, including Captain Marvel, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America, and Ant-Man. I discuss photon blasts, radiation, growing big and super-shrinking. Then I talked about the outliers: real life people with interesting abilities. Check out the transcript on the blog factandsciencefiction.com and share the episode with a nerd you know!Twitter: @FactandSciFiFacebook: facebook.com/factandscifiInstagram: @factandscifiResearch from this episode came from:O'Doherty Jim; Rojas-Fisher, Bruno; O’Doherty, Sophie. Real-Life Radioactive Men. Superhero Science and Technology, [S.l.], v. 1, n. 1, nov. 2018.ExplainThatStuff.com How do lasers work?Stanford biologist explains science of origin stories of Captain America and the Incredible HulkCBR.com Captain Marvel: All Of Her Powers Officially RankedThe Science of Superheroes by Lois Gresh and Robert WeinbergSize and Warmth Noticing.co Biohacker CRISPRs himself in attempt to get bigger musclesIceMan by Smithsonian Magazine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I play a video game! Join me as I launch a rocket to space, complete an orbit path, and return back to the planet on Kerbal Space Program. Kerbal Space Program is a popular physics simulator that teaches players science and engineering. It's for people who love space and taking notes! Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find Fact and Science FictionRead bonus content on the pod blog FactandScienceFiction.comFollow the podcast on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram @FactandSciFiThis episode was brought to you by Audible. Download a free audiobook today with a trial subscription at https://audibletrial.com/factandscifiCheck out KerbalEdu and quill18's Kerbal Space Program's tutorials on YouTube to learn more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Bernstein's Blockbuster Science has been a life-saver for my research for the podcast and I was so happy he agreed to be on the show! We talk about how he got the idea for the book, his favorite topics in science (hint: space!), and his job as a forensic data scientist! Follow David on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.Support the podcast on Patreon.com/FactandSciFi or get in touch on the Blog! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Climate change is an environmental phenomena that has huge implications for life on Earth in the next few decades. I researched climate change adaptation: what we're going to do when the worst effects of climate change happen. I saw a lot of similarities between what is really happening and a sub genre of science fiction called Eco Sci Fi including work from Jeff VanderMeer, Lesley Nneka Arima and Kim Stanley Robinson.Research includesInterviews from America Adapts: The Climate Change PodcastMigration in the context of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change: insights from analogues by Robert A. McLeman and Lori M. HunterCrisis or adaptation? Migration and climate change in a context of high mobility by Cecila TacoliThe Collapse of Western Civilization by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway - get this awesome book for free at Audibletrial.com/factandscifiSupport the podcast on Patreon.com/factandscifi or get in touch on FB, Twitter and Instagram @factandscifi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am back from my hiatus to talk about time travel! Time travel as a theme has been BIG in stories since before the written word. I talk about legends, popular science fiction movies and TV, and then break down what Albert Einstein allowed for in his relativity theories. Buckle up!This episode included research from Time Travel: A History by James Gleick *I may have called him David in the episode and I am so sorry. Download this audiobook today or another of your choosing by clicking here or copy/past http://audibletrial.com/factandscifi into your browser.Music and sound effects from Kevin McLeod under Creative Common License, FreeSound.org and SoundImage.org.Follow the podcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @FactandSciFi. Subscribe, rate and review wherever you get your podcasts and read more content about time travel on the blog https://factandsciencefiction.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Halloween and the podcast’s first anniversary I dedicate this special episode to cryptids! Bigfoot, Mothman, Wendigos and Loch Ness Monsters. Where do these stories come from? How can cryptozoologists prove they are real? Using research from folklore researchers, historians and animal researchers, I take a closer look into the world of hidden animals.Research from this episode:Going to the Source: Volume 1 to 1877 by Victoria Bissell Brown and Timothy J. ShannonCryptozoology in the Medieval and Modern Worlds by Peter DendleThe Okapi Conservation ProjectLegendary Cryptids that Turned Out to be Real on iO9.If you liked this episode, please send me a message on Twitter or Facebook at factandscifi or leave a review and I’ll give you a shoutout on the show.This episode was edited by Billy Martin at BlurredLine MediaIf you want to create your own podcast, drop your email at the blog https://factandsciencefiction.com/contact-us and I'll send you a list of resources to record and edit your podcast using free tools! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Science fiction and reality blurs when it comes to data science and crime. This episode I discuss predictive policing using examples from Minority Report, Person of Interest and Psycho-Pass to shed light on what actual data analytics programs are in place today.Research from Michelle Chan Chinese Startup Makes Facial Recognition Glasses for Police Augmented reality glasses for police in China Andrew Ferguson Policing Predictive Policing Christina Larson Who needs democracy when you have data? Anna Johansson 5 Lessons Learned from the Predictive Police Failure in New Orleans Follow the podcast on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @factandscifiSubscribe, rate and review and I'll give you a shoutout on the air! Support the show and get merch from the show at Teepublic! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can we learn from early science fiction about the ocean? What technology was inspired from this ocean speculation? This episode I want to take you on a journey through centuries of science fiction about the ocean. A journey, you may say 20,000 leagues under the sea, from mythic sunken cities like Atlantis to real companies mining resources from the seabed. Research from this episode came from Mark Adams' Meet Me in Atlantis, World Ocean Radio.org, Robert Ballard’s ‘Why We Must Explore the Sea’ in Smithsonian magazine, and audio clips from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea copyright 1954. Fluidscape by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license. Further music by The 126ers and Bad SnacksLeave a review wherever you get this podcast and I’ll give you a shout-out on the next episode! Follow the pod on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at factandscifi and read the transcript for this episode on factandsciencefiction.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Jurassic Park franchise has renewed interest in dinosaurs and speculation about bringing them back to life. But speculative and scifi authors have fantasized about present day humans surviving prehistoric animals since the 1800s. I debunk myths about dinosaurs, talk about current research in paleontology and dinosaur behavior!This episode was brought to you by Audible. Download your free audiobook on me by going to audibletrial.com/factandscifiHelp the show grow by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com or by telling your friends on social using my tag @factandscifi. If you leave a review or @ me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram I'll give you a shout out on the show!Peep the script and other content on the website factandsciencefiction.comComfortable Mystery 2 - Film Noire by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode I dive deep into space. I watched 2001: A Space Odyssey and Solaris (2002) for the first time! I specifically talk about the different kind of space stations, how we might live in space, and how well 2001: A Space Odyssey predicted current technology. I used research from WIRED, Popular Mechanics, Astronaut.com, and NASA itself to explain what space stations might look like in the future. Ringworlds, cylinders, spheres, oh my!Fluidscape by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licenseSourceArtistFollow the podcast on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @factandscifi. Check out the script for this episode and source material at http://factandsciencefiction.com/space-colonization-part-2This episode was brought to you by Audible.com, with over 180,000 titles of audiobooks to choose from Audible is the number one place for audio. Download your free audiobook today by going to https://audibletrial.com/factandscifiSound effects from this episode are from SoundImage.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode I break down colonizing another planet or moon. Will we find an exoplanet that can support life? What kind of challenges await Mars and Moon colonies? From figuring out how to breathe to growing food, colonizing space will be the most difficult thing humans may have to do. I use examples from Star Wars, The Martian, and more. Stay tuned for Part II when I discuss generation ships and space stations.Research from NASA.gov, Science of Star Wars, and MITDownload my current read Medusa Uploaded by Emily Devenport or another audiobook for free by going to audibletrial.com/factandscifiFluidscape by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100393Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode I invite my friend Paul to help me tackle the gigantic topic of traveling across space. Using examples from Interstellar, Stargate, Star Wars and more, we talk about how it works, how it may work in the future, and the interesting theoretical concepts that science fiction uses today to make interstellar travel possible and to tell the best stories. Research from this episode includes:The Science of Interstellar by Kip ThorneSeven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo RovelliHow to Build Your Own Spaceship by Piers BizonyClips from Hidden Figures and InterstellarSound effects from SoundImage.orgFollow the pod on Twitter and Facebook @factandscifiCheck out the brand new website https://factandsciencefiction.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.