Fact and Science Fiction

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week I have planetary scientist Harriet Brettle on the show. We talk about those beautiful pictures of Jupiter, how Harriet got her start in a STEM field, what she thinks about Elon Musk and, of course, science fiction!Follow Harriet on Twitter @harriet_brettleFollow the pod on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @factandscifiSupport the podcast by telling a friend, submitting a review on Apple Podcasts, or download a free audiobook or two at http://audibletrial.com/factandscifiMusic by the 126ers and 129ers under Creative Common license See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode I discuss extraterrestrial life: how will we find them? What will they look like? What will we say to them? I discuss technology from NASA, spectroscopy, the study of insects, the messages we've sent so far, and a certain video released from the Pentagon. The truth is out there.Research from today's episode:NASA's Exoplanet ExplorationGizmodo's scientist roundtable What Will Aliens Look Like?New York Times Glowing Auras and 'Black Money' David Siegel Bernstein's Blockbuster ScienceRead the script from this episode on the blog factandscifi.blogspot.comSupport Fact and Science Fiction and get a free audiobook today by going to this link: http://audibletrial.com/factandscifiFollow the pod on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @factandscifi, tell me what you think about aliens factandscifi@gmail.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Over the weekend at ClexaCon, I got to talk to Marlene Forte. You may know her as Alazne in Altered Carbon, Celia in Fear the Walking Dead, or Graciela in The Runaways. We talk about her science fiction roles, what it's like to be Latina in Hollywood, and how women should get together to create their own stories.This episode was brought to you by Audible.com, download your free audiobook today at audibletrial.com/factandscifi (may I suggest Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan?)Follow the podcast @factandscifi on Twitter, Facebook, and InstagramRead the transcript for this episode on the Blog factandscifi.blogspot.comSubscribe, Rate, and Review on Apple Podcasts and/or Stitcher, that helps people find the show! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at ClexaCon, the largest multifandom convention for LGBTQ women and allies. My guest host Michelle and I discuss the importance of women and LGBTQ representation in media; I break down an academic paper about the effects of media representation in the TV show The Fosters on queer and straight youth, and media theories that may explain it all! Then we top it off with an audience Q&A and tangents about Carmilla and The 100.Follow the podcast on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @factandscifiCheck out more content on the Blog at factandscifi.blogspot.comThis episode was brought you by Audible. Download your free audiobook here at audibletrial.com/factandscifi (may I recommend Becky Chambers' A Closed and Common Orbit?) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Holly Griffith is a sci-fi geek and engineer who worked in mission control for space shuttle missions and the International Space Station. She talks about the real hard work and challenges of getting astronauts into space. We then discuss the importance of Princess Leia, the realism in The Martian, women in STEM, and more. This episode was brought to you by Audible. Get your free audiobook today (may I suggest The Martian by Andy Weir or Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer) here. Follow the podcast on Twitter and Instagram and check out other content at the pod blog. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode I discuss military science fiction as subgenre of sci-fi and how it may have influenced the discourse around the military from the Cold War to today. I talk about Cold War themes in Starship Troopers and Ender's Game, and discuss the Citizens Advisory Council, a group of science fiction authors who undermined the U.S.'s policy of mutually assured destruction. This episode was brought to you by Audible, with over 180,000 audiobooks and you can try two with a free monthly trial. Download your free audiobook today here. The podcast will have a live show at ClexaCon, a fandom convention for LGBTQ women and allies inspired by Lexa from The 100. Follow the pod on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @factandscifi. Review F&SF on Apple Podcasts and check out the transcript for this episode on the blog. Research for this episode came from Rachel Maddow’s Drift, Chad Andrew’s article “Technomilitary fantasy in the 1980s: military sf, David Drake, and the discourse of instrumentality”, Sean Kalic's 'U.S. Presidents and the Militarization of Space, between the years 1946-1967,' and Wondery’s American History Tellers, Comfortable Mystery 2 - Film Noire by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For a special bonus episode, I discuss the themes of Philip K. Dick and how they were inspired by his real life. I use examples from adaptations I've watched recently, including Blade Runner 2049, Total Recall, and Amazon's new series Electric Dreams. Lost Frontier by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license. Source. Theme music: Malmo Sunrise by the 126ers. Follow the pod on Twitter and Instagram. Check out the transcript for this episode. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Jes, registered nurse and pre-med student, returns to discuss how healthcare stacks up to the speculation of science fiction. We talk about prosthetic limbs, mobile diagnostic tools, organ transplants, and diseases using examples from Star Trek, The Last of Us, Handmaid's Tale and more. Theme music: Malmo Sunrise by the 126ers End music: Sunburned Salvation by the 129ers Follow the pod on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @factandscifi and check out more content at http://factandscifi.blogspot.com Jes says get your flu shot! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode I discuss what virtual reality really is, what it's not, how VR may fool humans, and which science fiction encapsulates it best. I use examples from Jaron Lanier's book 'Dawn of New Everything', The Matrix, Black Mirror's San Junipero and more! Music by The 126ers and The 129ersFollow the pod @factandscifi on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and check out new content on factandscifi.blogspot.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode I discuss the history, theory, and philosophy behind artificial intelligence. How does our human consciousness differ? And what artificial intelligence looks like in science fiction, such as The Matrix, Person of Interest, Westworld, and more.Research from 'Blockbuster Science' by David Siegel Bernstein and 'Love + Sex with Robots' by David LevyTheme music by The 126ers, additional music by The 129ers. I didn't mean to do that.Audio clips from 'Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy' radio play and an Interview with Sophia the robot, WGN-TV.Follow the pod on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @factandscifi, follow the pod blog at factandscifi.blogspot.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week I discuss the representation and assumptions of gender in science fiction and the real world with special guest, sci-fi nerd and girlfriend of the pod, Jes! We discuss gender in pulp scifi and representation of women and LGBT in sci-fi TV today, including the Bury Your Gays trope and more.Research from 'Decoding Gender in Science Fiction' by Brian Attebery, GLAAD.org and Autostraddle.com. Theme music by The 126ersFollow the pod on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @factandscifi, check out the outline of the episode at factandscifi.blogspot.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode I talk about the balance between public funded research and private funded research. In reality, private industry has to step up a lot when public funding diminishes. But sci-fi tells us that science is soon twisted by corporate greed. I talk about alternative energy, genetic engineering tech, the Terminator franchise, SyFy show The Expanse, and more!Rate and review wherever you get your podcasts, check out the transcript and links at factandscifi.blogspot.com and follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @FactandSciFi.Music: 'Malmo Sunrise' and 'Sunburned Salvation' by The 126ers See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The pod's first bonus episode is an interview with Laura Richmond, a PhD candidate and host of 'Superhero Science' in Glasgow, Scotland. We talk more about epigenetics, the importance of science education, and what we can learn about superheroes from nature.Follow Laura @slayb0b on Twitter and find Superhero Science at https://www.facebook.com/SuperheroScienceAoA/ Theme music: Malmo Sunrise by The 126ers Check out the links and content from the pod at factandsciencefiction.com, rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode I discuss the controversy of cloning, how external stimuli can affect you at your genetic level without changing your DNA (aka epigenetics!), and how this is all connected to evolution and how we humans are here today. Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Pocket Casts. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @factandscifi and check out the script for this episode and more at factandscifi.blogspot.comClip from Radiotheatre Presents FRANKENSTEINLost Frontier 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=USUAN1300039Artist: http://incompetech.com/BBC's Orphan Black and Endless Forms Most Beautiful by Sean B. Carroll available on Amazon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Who am I? Why am I creating this podcast? This episode gives a quick background on the host and previews future topics on the show. Learn more about the real story behind sci-fi TV, books, and movies.Music: 'Heart Strings' by Coyote HearingTranscriptionWelcome to Fact and Science fiction. My name is Karly and each episode I discuss a topic or two in the real scientific field, and then discuss how my favorite science fiction portrays it, accurately or not. I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about who I am and why I decided to make this podcast, instead of maybe just a podcast discussing scifi in general. So first of all, I’m not a scientist. I went to grad school for communication, with an emphasis in health communication. And one of my main research interests was how creators or communicators explain complicated, confusing, or maybe scary science or health topics to the general public... Communicating science is messy: either you communicate all the statistics and figures and you bore everyone except experts, or enthusiastic journalists latch onto the most controversial paragraph of a study, reduce it down to 8 words, and call it scientific evidence for a fad diet. And I think that’s what’s led to a large distrust of science: this kind of binary of either really complicated, hard to understand foreign language to packaged headlines that contradict each other one day to the next. One thing that frustrates the general public the most is the uncertainty in science. In fact, it’s one of the main lines that climate science deniers bring out. We haven’t been taught that just because scientists are reluctant to call something 100% certain, that doesn’t mean results are faulty. Also, there isn’t a lot of attention paid to the context of science. We read a headline or two, but we don’t really understand the history of the specific field or the years of dedication, passion, and work that goes into a discovery. Just like communicating science is messy, science itself is complicated, but it’s definitely a worthy endeavor, and the only way we can find the truth.How do we combat this frustration, distrust, and low interest in science? I studied how narratives and images could positively impact negative opinions about science. And there’s been strong evidence that watching science television and documentaries does at least have a statistically significant impact on interest in science and trust in science. I’ve also been a huge science fiction nerd my entire life. From when I was 12 years old reading comic books and watching television, I’ve been also been interested in science. Whether it’s genetic engineering, space travel, or alien life. So all together, I felt - what is the best way for me to combine my education and my hobbies? And I came up with this. This podcast is based on the idea that science fiction reflects our greatest ideas, our greatest desires, and our greatest fears. Science fiction is inspired by real life events, by dreams... and by nightmares. Not only can it impact our interest and trust in science, but our understanding of our world as it could be... But I want to use science fiction to understand how our world currently is. During regular episodes, I’ll be discussing topics such as genetic engineering, health and disease, gender and sexuality, virtual reality, and space travel. I’ll also have bonus episodes of interviews with scientists and sci-fi creators. So if I’ve captured your interest so far, subscribe, and tune in for my regular episodes coming soon. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.