This week on the Science Faction Podcast, Ben is out sick, leaving Steven and Devon to hold down the fort. We’ve got some video game nostalgia, a mysterious road trip movie, and plenty of Star Wars to discuss. Then, in Future or Now, we’re celebrating the 2026 Nobel Prizes in science and discovering why mushrooms have been giving farmers such a hard time for over a century.

Real Life

With his wife and kids visiting Virginia, Devon has the house to himself. That means plenty of time to play guitar, catch up on television, and revisit some video games. We get into a discussion about Grand Theft Auto IV, V and VI, because sometimes the best way to spend a little time alone is causing virtual chaos.

Meanwhile, Steven’s household has been battling sickness, but that hasn’t stopped him from squeezing in some gaming. He talks about a recent Star Wars: Shatterpoint match with Greg and his ongoing preparations for the Dungeon Crawler Carl tabletop RPG. There’s also some excitement surrounding Star Wars: Galactic Racer, a just released racing game that promises to bring high-speed competition back to a galaxy far, far away.

Devon also brings us a movie review of It Ends, a mysterious film about a road trip that simply refuses to end. The characters find themselves traveling down an endless road where the normal rules of survival don’t seem to apply. Their vehicle never runs out of gas, they don’t get tired, and they don’t even need to eat. With no obvious escape and few answers, the real question becomes how people react when they’re trapped in a situation they can’t understand or control. Devon calls it “a really good movie,” and we dig into what makes its strange premise so compelling.

Future or Now: And the Winners Are…

It’s Nobel Prize season, and Devon takes us through some of the biggest scientific achievements recognized in 2026. From the elusive world of neutrinos to new ways of controlling brain cells and the strange behavior of mirror-image molecules, this year’s science prizes highlight just how much we’re still discovering about the universe and ourselves.

We discuss the research behind these discoveries, why they matter, and what they might mean for the future. Whether it’s unlocking mysteries of fundamental physics, advancing our understanding of biology, or revealing the surprising complexity of chemistry, there’s plenty of fascinating science to celebrate.

Read more: The 2026 Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, and Medicine — Science News

Future or Now: Nature Made

Steven brings us a story about mushrooms, bacteria, and a century-old agricultural mystery. For more than 100 years, mushroom growers have struggled with a persistent bacterial disease, and scientists may finally understand why it’s been so difficult to control.

It turns out the problem isn’t caused by just one bacterial species, as previously believed. Researchers have identified more than 17 different species of harmful bacteria associated with the disease, making it a much more complicated problem than anyone realized.

This discovery could explain why previous treatments have been inconsistent or ineffective. More importantly, understanding the full range of bacteria involved could help researchers develop better, more environmentally friendly ways to protect mushroom crops.

It’s another reminder that nature rarely makes things simple, especially when microscopic organisms are involved.

Read more: Scientists Uncover a Surprising Secret Behind Mushroom Disease — ScienceDaily

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From endless highways and galactic racing to award-winning science and troublesome fungi, this week’s episode covers plenty of strange territory. Join Steven and Devon for another round of science, science fiction, and everything in between.

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