This week on Science Faction, Devon is missing in action, leaving Steven and Ben to tackle the important questions facing humanity: How many holes does a straw have? Is water actually wet? And how angry can two grown men get arguing about definitions?

Before diving into these deeply scientific disputes, we’ve got Star Wars racing, Marvel’s VisionQuest, the return of Avatar, some wonderfully bizarre Adventure Time, and a few video games worth talking about.

Real Life: Podracing, Weird Cartoons, and Giant Robot Fights

Devon is out this week, but Ben and Steven have plenty to discuss. Ben is recovering from getting sick after his Florida vacation, and a dog-sitting adventure that lasted a little longer than expected when the dog’s owners returned late. Meanwhile, Steven has been spending more time with Star Wars: Galactic Racer, which continues to be an absolute blast. The game even inspired a family viewing of the podracing sequence from The Phantom Menace, introducing the kids to one of the most memorable racing scenes in science fiction.

That leads to a conversation about Star Wars, art, and the upcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which Ben is eager to visit. Steven also checks in on the first two episodes of Marvel’s VisionQuest, which are off to a strong start. Naturally, this provides an excellent opportunity for Steven to spend some time fangirling over James Spader.

Ben takes us back into the world of Avatar, offering a quick refresher on the franchise before discussing the first three episodes of Avatar: Seven Havens. There’s plenty of mythology and history to unpack, especially for anyone who hasn’t kept up with the adventures of the various Avatars.

Steven has also been revisiting Adventure Time with his 11-year-old, discovering that the show remains just as wonderfully strange as ever. Beneath the surreal humor and occasionally unsettling characters, there’s a surprising amount of heart. Episodes featuring Ricardio the Heart Guy and The Enchiridion are perfect examples of a cartoon that somehow manages to be ridiculous, creepy, and genuinely sweet.

Finally, the guys talk games. Driving Rogue continues to deliver a great time, particularly thanks to its built-in internet radio stations that make cruising around even more entertaining. Ben also received a copy of UNDERDOGS, a VR mech-fighting game that promises plenty of brutal robot combat. Thanks, Josh!

Future or Now: How Many Holes Does a Straw Have?

It’s time for some scientific pedantry, and we have Ben’s wife to thank for setting the whole thing in motion.

The question sounds simple: How many holes does a drinking straw have?

Two openings, one at either end, would seem to suggest two holes. But what if those openings are simply the opposite ends of a single continuous hole? Suddenly, an innocent drinking straw becomes an argument about mathematics, geometry, and the fundamental nature of holes.

Ben explores the topological explanation, where a hole is associated with a structure that prevents an object from being continuously shrunk to a single point. Under this mathematical interpretation, a drinking straw has one hole, regardless of how many openings you can see.

Of course, that doesn’t necessarily settle the argument. It just gives everyone more terminology to fight over. Does the everyday meaning of a hole matter more than the mathematical definition? Is an opening the same thing as a hole? And how long can two people argue about a straw before someone regrets bringing it up?

Future or Now: Is Water Wet?

Not to be outdone, Steven tackles another deceptively simple question, also courtesy of Ben’s wife: Is water wet, or does it only make other things wet?

The argument comes down to definitions. If wetness means being covered or saturated with liquid, can water itself qualify? Steven explores the science and semantics, including the idea that while a single H₂O molecule might not be wet, a collection of water molecules could be considered wet because they’re surrounded by one another.

It’s another perfectly ordinary question turned into an unnecessarily complicated scientific argument. Exactly the kind of thing we love around here.

So what do you think? Does a straw have one hole or two? Is water wet? Join us for another episode of Science Faction, where the science is real, the arguments are ridiculous, and the pedantry is entirely intentional.

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