The Science Faction Podcast

This episode contains: This week we kick off the episode with some computer problems. Ben’s PC failed him, and Steven attempts to diagnose it. World Beat: How Earth’s oddest mammal got to be so bizarre. Scientists have mapped the platypus genome and have found some very interesting things: 10 sex chromosomes, one of three egg…

This episode contains: This is a podcast about Science and Science Fiction, but when the world is on fire, we have to talk about it. We start this episode talking about the coup / insurrection attempt by Trump. You Spin Me Right ‘Round Baby, Right ‘Round: What happens when your brain can’t tell which way…

This episode contains: We talk about some items we received for Christmas, and then get right to business. Water Bear Don’t Care: Water bears (tardigrades) are stuck on the moon after crash landing (in  2019). Tardigrades are under a millimeter long and can survive extreme conditions, 150C to almost absolute zero. We talk about the…

This episode contains: We start out ready for 2021. Ben and kid have been reading Legend of Korra comics. Steven bought a 3D Printer. Art is in the Eye of the Microbiological Organism: Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings have unique microbiomes, study finds. Hairs can be a marker for where you are. We have a nice…

This episode contains: Devon finally tells us what makes him happy, and it turns out it’s a Mel Gibson movie. Merry Christmas. Time Keeps on Ticking: New type of atomic clock keeps time even more precisely. A new atomic clock uses entangled atoms to keep time more precisely than its state-of-the-art counterparts. We try, and…

This episode contains: Devon had a spaghetti incident, so he’ll be joining us in the second half. Ben has been sizzling, and Steven finally has a kitchen again. Gotta Go Fast: Researchers have discovered a new superhighway network to travel through the Solar System. The difference of speed is orders of magnitude: decades versus millions…

This episode contains: This is a very special birthday episode. It’s Steven’s birthday and he asked his co-hosts Ben and Devon to do an oops all sci-fi episode. They obliged. Before the sci-fi Ben talks about the monoliths that have appeared, one in his vicinity. https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article247628785.html Science Fiction: Lots was covered: The Mandalorian, Chapters 13…

This episode contains: Steven didn’t do the math and he and Ben had to record on Thanksgiving. The two talk turkey about their respective dinners. R-R-R-R-Random: A biochemical random number has been generated. DNA synthesis was used to generate a random number. We talk about the process, and what random numbers are used for. Don’t…

This episode contains: We talk about our Thanksgiving traditions regarding gravy. Ben is ditching his iPhone for an Android, which some would consider heresy. …It’s Windy: Climate change causes landfalling hurricanes to stay stronger for longer. Warm ocean hurricanes have more moisture and stay longer and stronger after landfall. Because the hurricanes are lasting longer…

This episode contains: We start off talking about how long we’ve been quarantining and how we’re not crazy, you’re crazy. Light at the End of the Tunnel: Pfizer has a covid-19 vaccine. We talk about an article written by Dr. Steven Novella (of Skeptics Guide to the Universe fame) about the vaccine and how much…