Star Warsologies: A Podcast About Science and Star Wars

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we talk to historian and author Chris Kempshall about how Star Wars is rooted in politics and anti-facism, and has been since the beginning. Chris Kempshall joins us to talk about the definition of fascism and how to rebel against it. Star Wars may be fiction but there's plenty of timely lessons, especially in the recently completed show Andor. How can that help us understand what's happening in American politics? Can we practice resistance in an immersive environment like Galaxy's Edge and use it to talk about the ongoing ICE raids? Is there reason to hope? And of course we chat about Order 66. Show Links: Check out Chris's books "The History and Politics of Star Wars" and "The First World War In Computer Games." The books Chris recommended are "The Empire Triumphant" by Kevin J. Wetmore and "The World According to Star Wars" by Cass R. Sunstein. Listen to Chris's earlier appearance on the podcast in our Andor season 1 panel. Chris also joined James's panel at Star Wars Celebration 2025 "Droids, AI, and Sentience." You can order James's crossword puzzle book now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on BlueSky and Instagram or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we share the recording of Melissa's WonderCon 2025 panel "Science of Disneyland!" Panel description: Disneyland is just down the road, so let's take a virtual field trip to explore the parks from a different point of view. There's something to discover in every land - life on other planets in Galaxy's Edge, dinosaurs roaming the railroad, and majestic rock formations in Cars Land - just to name a few. There's also robotics everywhere, from the original audio-animatronics to the advanced Spider-Man that swings across Avengers Campus. Our panel of experts includes astrophysicist Lisa Will, geologist Garrett Vice, paleontologist Stuart Sumida (who worked on the Matterhorn animations), and biologist Elizabeth Rega (who consulted on the Hall of Presidents). All are huge Disney fans who can't wait to geek out and help you experience Disneyland from a whole new angle. Show Links: Listen to the episode Geology of Galaxy's Edge, where Garrett dives even deeper into the cool rocks around both Disneyland parks in California! You can order James's crossword puzzle book now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on BlueSky and Instagram or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we share the recording of our our Star Wars Celebration Japan panel "The Secret Miniatures of the Star Wars Prequels" with Fon Davis! Watch the YouTube version of this episode for all the amazing behind the scenes visuals shared during the panel! You should also watch the YouTube video we refer to in (and showed during) the panel, which includes many of the miniatures in the Star Wars prequels. Panel description: Episodes I, II, and III revolutionized the use of computer graphics in film but did you know that the ILM model shop was still in full swing during production? There are more miniatures in each of the prequels than the original trilogy combined! Fon Davis, an ILM model maker during the Special Edition and prequels era, takes us through his favorite behind the scenes photos and stories - many of which involve explosions. From the podracing arena on Tatooine to the lava flows of Mustafar, a surprising number of miniatures were created and used in tandem with other visual effects. Take a deep dive into the movie magic! Show Links: Watch season 2 of Light & Magic on Disney+ now for more from Fon and other ILM behind the scenes images and stories! For more ILM stories, check out the Episode II panel from SiliCon 2022 with Fon Davis, John Goodson, Kim Smith, Nelson Hall, and Don Bies! Fon has also joined us for convention panels about Galaxy Quest, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline, as well as at Star Wars Celebration in London in 2023! You can order James's crossword puzzle book now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on BlueSky and Instagram or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we share the recording of our our Star Wars Celebration Japan panel "Droids, Artificial Intelligence, and Sentience" Panel description: R2-D2 and C-3PO. BB-8. Battle droids. Star Wars isn't Star Wars without its lovable droids. We'll examine the science of robots, the programming of personality and the ethics of sentient mechanicals in society, plus go behind the scenes on designing droids for the movies. Why do droids in Star Wars look the way they do? Why do we all love R2-D2? How close are we to having droid intelligence and personality in our own world? Let's go inside the gears and processing units to explore all the possibilities. Our team of experts includes Yukie Nagai (Project Professor, International Research Center for Neurointelligence, University of Tokyo), Fon Davis (ILM Model Maker - Star Wars), Chris Kempshall (author, Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire and The History and Politics of Star Wars) and Joel Welch (PhD Law candidate at Western University, Emerging Technology Policies & SciFi). Moderated by James Floyd (Star Wars Insider; Star Warsologies, Star Wars Crossword Puzzles). Show Links: Check out Yukie Nagai's robotics website. Check out Chris Kempshall's website. You can order James's crossword puzzle book now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on BlueSky and Instagram or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we share the recording of our our Star Wars Celebration Japan panel "Science of Revenge of the Sith" Panel description: Revenge of the Sith is full of connections to real world science and technology - from droids and starfighters to the ecosystems of Mustafar and Utapau. How could we make a working lightsaber? Can you really battle over a river of lava? How would wildlife thrive on Coruscant? Are we close to making robots similar to C-3PO and R2-D2? We'll try to tackle these questions and more with our lineup of experts in all sorts of fields, including Dr. Yukie Nagai (robotics), Dr. Takafumi Maruishi (volcanology), Dr. Kazuo Tanaka (particle physics), Gabriel Santos (paleontology), and Melissa Miller (science communicator). Join host James Floyd (Star Wars author, Star Wars Insider regular contributor, Star Warsologies podcast co-host) in celebrating the 20th anniversary of Episode III with a look into its science and technology. Show Links: Check out Yukie Nagai's robotics website. Check out Kazuo Tanaka's at home particle detector Check out Takafumi Maruishi's volcanic research. You can order James's crossword puzzle book now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on BlueSky and Instagram or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we talk to Tom Hoeler, an editor of Star Wars novels and editorial director for Random House Worlds! Tom tells us how Star Wars books come into being and gives us advice for how to get started with the amazing (but daunting) content of The High Republic. We also dive into in-galaxy books and publishing, like the holo-books seen in Skeleton Crew. Who edits and publishes books? Did the Empire erase or burn all books about the Jedi? Did that lead to a renaissance after Return of the Jedi, with stories of Luke Skywalker turning into everything from fairy tales to fan fiction? Show Links: Check out all the amazing Star Wars books available from Penguin Random House! You can order James's crossword puzzle book now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on BlueSky and Instagram or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we talk to Karen Yu about lasers! PEW PEW! This episode, we dive into lasers in Star Wars but it turns out that many of the examples are likely actually something else entirely - plasma! Though lightsabers are sometimes called laser swords, Karen breaks down the reasons that light / lasers simply wouldn't work this way. Same goes for the Death Star's mighty weapon. Somehow we also end up talking about repulsor vehicles, invisible tires, and a lot of other physics and engineering quandaries. Enjoy! Show Links: Want to know more about transparent chicken? Of course you do! Here's the paper Karen mentioned. Listen to our Celebration London panel that Karen was part of, The Science of Return of the Jedi, which we referenced a few times during our discussion! Learn more about metamaterials and rail guns that Karen mentioned in this episode. You can order James's crossword puzzle book now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on BlueSky and Instagram or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we talk to Dr. Ryder Waldron, a dentist and huge Star Wars fan! On this episode, we talk about mouths - teeth, tongues, and lips all contribute to how an animal eats, sounds, and plays musical instruments. Do clone troopers have baby teeth or did they skip right to adult teeth? How might Max Rebo and Sy Snootles eat? Why do Sith Lords have such terrible oral hygiene? We also talk about porgs, of course! Show Links: Check out Ryder's Star Wars podcasts! Star Wars School of Dentistry, follow the show on Instagram, and Idiot's Array, also on Instagram! He's also part of the Dental Realists podcast. Here's the video Ryder mentioned where Temuera Morrison gets a smile makeover. You can order James's crossword puzzle book now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on BlueSky and Instagram or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we talk to Dr. Krista Noble about Eastern philosophical traditions and their similarities to the Force! Dr. Krista Noble joins us this episode on Star Warsologies to talk about her new book, One with the Force: 18 Universal Truths in Star Wars. Krista is a professor of Vedic studies and shares what she knows about George Lucas's connection to Eastern philosophies. We also cover the roles of the light and dark sides, supernatural abilities, and intuition. When characters say, "I've got a bad feeling about this," it's more than just a running joke, it's a philosophical moment! We hope you enjoy the episode and your next Star Wars rewatch with some more insights into the connections between the Jedi and real-life traditions. Show Links: You can buy Krista's book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org! Check out Krista's website. Book summary: Why are the Star Wars films so popular? Of course, viewers love the characters, the plot, the music, and the special effects. However, there is a deeper reason why these films resonate with audiences: Star Wars contains universal truths—principles that are "true for all time, all places and all people." The same principles can be found in religions and philosophies throughout the world, including the Vedic tradition of ancient India, Buddhism, Taoism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Native American/First Nations beliefs. In One with the Force: 18 Universal Truths in Star Wars, Krista Noble explores these principles. She delves into a rich array of topics, from the Force to collective consciousness, and from enlightenment to immortality. Readers will see that the philosophy of the Jedi doesn't only apply "in a galaxy far, far away"; it is also highly relevant to everyday living. Like Luke Skywalker, we should all look within to discover the deepest truths of life, pursue our individual destinies, and strive to reach our full potential as human beings. In these ways, we can embody the wisdom of the Jedi. Advance praise: "An intriguing addition to Star Wars scholarship, which reveals the timeless substructure underpinning the space-age saga. If you watched the Star Wars movies with a feeling in your bones that you were seeing something unfold that was not merely the product of modern creative storytellers but something ancient and powerful, this book will tell you why." —Joe Holland, Instructor of Consciousness & Human Potential, Maharishi International University "One with the Force reveals why Star Wars touches the souls of its fans, showing that this iconic film series has much more to it than meets the eye. Noble's book expounds on the universal principles in Star Wars that inspire us and sustain the cosmos."  —Marci Shimoff, #1 NY Times bestselling author of Happy for No Reason and Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul "This lucid study takes up a topic dear to my heart—the uses of fiction as a wisdom path—and traces essential principles from South Eastern and other traditions of wisdom and spirit appearing in Star Wars. The parallels mentioned by the author are evocative and even archetypal. The image of a path of spirituality emphasizing balance, experience, mindful action, and unity found in difference speaks strongly to our time of culture wars and increased questioning of traditional creeds." —Craig Chalquist, PhD, author of Soulmapper "Krista Noble's insightful presentation of the Star Wars trilogy highlights and magnifies the inherent nobility of this blockbuster film series, as she unearths and identifies age-old universal principles of life and living embedded in the story. Noble's book provides a happy hunting ground for exploring the profound truths of the world's cultural, spiritual, and religious traditions. A magnificent read!" —Dr. Judy Booth, retired faculty member at Maharishi International University, continuing to serve in an advisory capacity You can order James's crossword puzzle book now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on BlueSky and Instagram or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we talk to a geologist and paleontologist about their recent field trip to Disneyland! Garrett Vice recently led field trips into Disneyland during a scientific conference in Anaheim. So nerdy, right?! He and other geologist and paleontologists scoped out the features of Galaxy's Edge, along with other areas like Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Matterhorn. Give it a listen and, like us, you'll see the parks in a brand new light next time you visit, no matter how many times you've been before! What a gift! Show Links: Check out Garrett's YouTube Channel Earth and Time! He's also on Instagram! You can order James's crossword puzzle book now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on Instagram or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

Dr. Samantha Porter joins us to chat about her work using lasers and other technology to map archaeological sites without disturbing them. We delves into the historical significance of the ruins of Yavin and whether it's ethical for the Rebellion to hide out there. And of course we cover Star Wars's favorite archaeologist - Dr. Aphra! We even get a little bit into ancient alien conspiracies. Show Links: Check out Samantha's website and follow her on Instagram! Check out Samantha showing off her LIDAR on the show Mission Unstoppable! Read the paper Samantha mentioned, "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema" And also check out the Mayan archaeology content creators Samantha mentioned in the show. Stephan Milo (YouTube) Miniminuteman (YouTube, TikTok) Flint Dibble (YouTube, Twitter) You can order James's crossword puzzle book now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on Instagram or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

Enjoy this recording of our LA Comic Con panel about the 25th anniversary of Galaxy Quest! This bonus episide is also available on YouTube with images from the slideshow! Panel description: Let's celebrate 25 years of Galaxy Quest with behind the scenes stories from creatives who worked on the movie, including ILM model maker Fon Davis. He'll be joined by fans who were inspired by Galaxy Quest in their own creative work, including Erin Macdonald, the science advisor for the current Star Trek shows, and Jack Bennett, the director of “Never Surrender,” a documentary about making the movie. Moderated by science writer Melissa T. Miller. By Grabthar's Hammer, what a panel! Stan Winston Studio Galaxy Quest "Making of Images" courtesy of the Stan Winston Studio Archives Learn to create your own alien makeups, costumes, and puppets with Hollywood's master FX artists at Stan Winston School of Character Arts: www.stanwinstonschool.com

Enjoy this recording of our LA Comic Con panel about Coraline and The Nightmare Before Christmas! This bonus episide is also available on YouTube with images from the slideshow including storyboard art and behind the scenes photos! Panel description: As we kick off spooky season, let's celebrate the 15th anniversary of Coraline and the 30th anniversary of The Nightmare Before Christmas with some of the creatives who brought these movie masterpieces to life. Fon Davis (set builder, assistant art director), Kirk Scott (production assistant, stage manager), and Jorgen Klubien (storyboard artist) share their favorite stories and photos from the production of both films and answer all your questions.  

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we talk about all things Acolyte at Los Angeles Comic Con! We headed to LA Comic Con and talked about The Acolyte! Ecologist Sawyer Markham weighed in on all the critters! Planetary scientist Michaela Leung tells us about Brendok, Khofar, and that unknown planet! Dr. Drea Letamendi delves into the psychology! And James makes sure we're all up on the Star Wars lore (and there's a lot!). Thanks to all who came out to see us in person and to LACC for having us. Show Links: Follow Sawyer on TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter. Follow Dr. Drea and her podcast The Arkham Sessions. You can pre-order James's crossword puzzle book now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we talk space travel with a NASA project support specialist! At San Diego Comic-Con, James struck up a conversation with Johnathan Brendle at the NASA exhibit booth and he agreed to come on the podcast! We cover tons of space travel questions, including: What are hyperspace tunnels (purgill holes maybe?)? Do you need headlights in space? Is the Death Star basically a microwave? Show Links: Follow Johnny on TikTok and Instagram! Learn more about NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and some of the projects Johnny mentioned, like the Solar Dynamics Observatory, Solar System Exploration. If you're interested in working at NASA, check out their internship and fellowship programs, or search USA Jobs for positions at NASA. You can pre-order James's crossword puzzle book now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we take the show on the road to the local science center's dome theater to talk about the science of Episode I. The panel includes neuroscientist Ashley Juavinett, cell biologist Claire Meaders, paleontologist Gabriel-Philip Santos, and engineer Mike Tolley. We chat midi-chlorians (of course) and whether they've got a mind of their own. Does Jar Jar have a brain? Is Magneto a Jedi? Plus some wacky real science like arming cockroaches with canons and testing telepathy. Show Links: Watch the Ted Talk about brain to brain communications here. Read more about the Brain Gate project that turns thoughts into verbal communication. Follow the Fleet Science Center on Instagram and YouTube. And check out their After Dark events! Follow Ashley on Twitter and Instagram! Follow Gabriel on Instagram and Cosplay for Science on Instagram! You can also watch him on PBS Eons on YouTube and TikTok! And check out Cosplay for Science's first publication about how science communication at comic conventions. Follow Mike on Twitter and check out his lab's website! Or check out the art exhibit Mike's lab assisted with at the Beall Center for Art + Technology. Follow Claire on Twitter! You can pre-order James's crossword puzzle book now! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we're joined by Sawyer Markham to talk about urban ecology! Known as @Sawyeurism online, our expert this month breaks down her love of delving into the science of Star Wars, just like hosts James and Melissa. Sawyer talks the effects of urbanization and climate change on reptiles and amphibians and also shares some of her science education fun facts, like the Hutts having pouches like marsupials and why the son of Hera and Kanan has green hair. Above all, we learn that life finds a way! Show Links: Follow Sawyer as @sawyeurism on all platforms, including TikTok and Twitter, and check out the Yep Sesh podcast! Here's her TikTok explanations of Jabba the Hutt's anatomy and why Jacen Syndulla has green hair. Read Sawyer's article about the biology of Fallout! And her scientific paper about hot lizards! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we're joined by Gabriel-Philip Santos to talk about marine biology! Star Warsologies dives deep into the marine biology of Star Wars. Think water planets like Mon Cala and Kamino. As Qui-Gon says, there's always a bigger fish! We answer such pressing questions as: Are those thicc thala-sirens evolutionarily viable? Are we all evolving into crabs? We did talk for a long time and yes, I did edit out some of Gabe's negative comments about porgs! Show Links: Follow Gabriel on Instagram and follow PBS Eons on YouTube and TikTok! Follow Cosplay for Science on Instagram! Listen to Gabriel as part of episode 22, our "Science of Jurassic World" panel at SDCC 2022! Check out the short documentary-style video Melissa created about ocean creatures in Star Wars! We've previously interviewed Star Wars creature designers Jake Lunt Davies (twice!) and Terryl Whitlatch! Learn more about life evolving into crabs in this PBS Eons video. Learn more about Gabriel's cool walrus in this article, or read the scientific paper! Check out Cosplay for Science's first publication about how science communication at comic conventions. Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we're joined by the curator of the San Diego Automotive Museum and chat about ships, speeders, and other vehicles in Star Wars! What does the state of the Millennium Falcon say about Han Solo, especially since we know it was much nicer when Lando owned it? Why is it important that the Imperial and Rebel are so distinct from each other? Maria Romano de León answers these questions and shares insights about vehicles and culture throughout Star Wars, including a way to think about those shiny speeder bikes in Book of Boba Fett that annoyed so many fans. What's your favorite ship or speeder - and what does that say about you? Show Links: Listen to Maria's episode of The Facts & The Furious podcast! Check out the San Diego Automotive Museum's website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Here's videos of the Naboo starfighter repair scene and speeder bike chase scene we mention in the episode, for those who haven't seen Book of Boba Fett! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we hear from an ornithologist about birds in Star Wars, along with invasive species and extinction events! Justin Hite joins us for this episode to chat about his career studying birds and the environmental chaos they put up with. We get into whether Rey was exposed to harmful chemicals during her years salvaging parts from downed Star Destroyers and of course all the devastation the Death Star wreaks. We also cover more cheerful topics like birds being tiny dinosaurs and . Being a group of 80s kids, we also talk about how great the show Ewoks is! Show Links: Check out the Birds Not Mosquitoes website and Instagram to learn more about the project Justin works on. You can read the fictional account of a wildlife ranger in the Outer Rim that Melissa wrote while watching The Mandalorian. And the opinion piece she wrote for Nerdist about the killings in that show. And to learn more about how porgs are like puffins, check Melissa's my Insider article where I interviewed a puffin scientist and the concept artist that created porgs. Check out ebird.org for bird species to see wherever you live or are traveling. Check out Justin's Instagram feed, scroll back for more birds! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we learn the difference between empathy, compassion, and sympathy and how each is represented in Star Wars! Professor Maureen Day shares her insights with James and Melissa about virtue ethics and vices, and their roles in our galaxy and in Star Wars. Can we forgive the atrocities of Vader and Kylo Ren knowing their backstory of complicated young me? What makes the Sith a good example of empathy? What's the best redemption arc in Star Wars? There's more questions than answers in this episode, but we hope you enjoy pondering these topics for yourself! Show Links: A reading list from our expert, Maureen Day! Richard M. Gula, Reason Informed by Faith    Richard M. Gula, The Call to Holiness   Christian Smith, To Flourish or Destruct: A Personalist Theory of Human Goods, Motivation, Failure, and Evil Check out Maureen's website for more about her research, books, and appearances! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, conflict resolution experts weigh in on the wars, negotiations, and other conflicts in Star Wars! Jen Reynolds and Noam Ebner authored the book "Star Wars and Conflict Resolution: There Are Alternatives To Fighting" and speak with us about the lessons we can learn from Padme, Obi-Wan, and other characters who fight the good fight. From everything from hiring the Millennium Falcon to galactic wars, negotiations occur throughout the saga and mirror the real world in many ways. Apparently there's four ways people typically react to conflict: avoidance, cooperation, competitiveness, and yielding. Which type are you? Which type are your favorite Star Wars characters? Show Links: Buy "Star Wars and Conflict Resolution" on Jen and Noam's website and stay updated about the second book and other offerings. Follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

In this episode of Star Warsologies, an anatomy professor weighs in on the importance of designing aliens that make sense! Dr. Elizabeth Rega is an anatomy professor who consults on movies and video games to help creators add an element of realism to their projects. She worked on Mulan, The Emperor's New Groove, and even the Madden series. Melissa and James ask Elizabeth to speculate wildly about what we can tell about some of our favorite aliens based on the traits they share with humans. Is Klaud related to axolotls? Do Gungans breathe through their butts? What does Yoda look like under his Jedi robes? Fun questions for our anatomy expert! Show Links: Read Stephen Jay Gould's paper about the evolution of Mickey Mouse. Check out the Max Rebo maquette showing off his two limbs. Listen to episode 46 where Elizabeth joined our LA Comic Con panel of science advisors. Check out Elizabeth's paper about a new species of sloth. Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

It's the finale! Lisa and Melissa chat about the physics of the final franchise installment (for now). They're joined by Dr. Erin Macdonald, the science advisor for all the current Star Trek shows. Together, they answer important questions like, is a dam just a vertical road? Do bad guys make good shock absorbers in plummeting elevators? Just how much therapy has Jakob had since the last movie? Is Little B destined for a Nobel Prize in Physics? Will anything come of Little Nobody swiping right on Han's dating profile? We hope you had as much fun listening to these bonus episodes as we had making them! We'll return once there's a new F&F movie out! Follow Erin on Instagram and subscribe to her YouTube channel! Follow Melissa @melissatruth Follow Lisa @dustchick Listen to episode 10 here The Facts & The Furious is a podcast rewatch of the entire saga with Dr. Lisa Will (physicist) and Melissa Miller (science writer). We break down each movie of the saga with help from special guest experts. Remember, reality-based physics come and go, but family is forever! Subscribe so you won't miss our return once the next movie comes out!

Faaaaaaaacts in Spaaaaaace! Melissa and Lisa welcome NASA JPL systems engineer Bobak Ferdowsi (aka the Mohawk Guy!) to chat about the pros and cons of launching a Pontiac Fiero into space. But that's not the only physics nonsense in this movie - there's also magnets, mines, and more! As Bobak eloquently states, the science of Fast & Furious movies are like La Croix - there may not be any real science in the movie but it seems like the creators saw some science at one point or another.  Learn more about the NISAR program Bobak is working! Follow NASA on Twitter and Instagram! Bobak is also (sometimes) on Twitter and Instagram.  Learn more about the NASA internship program! Follow Melissa @melissatruth Follow Lisa @dustchick Listen to episode 9 here The Facts & The Furious is a podcast rewatch of the entire saga with Dr. Lisa Will (physicist) and Melissa Miller (science writer). We break down each movie of the saga with help from special guest experts. Remember, reality-based physics come and go, but family is forever! Subscribe so you won't miss the rest of our rewatch!    

Does Brixton's heads-up display actually give him helpful information? Can you really hold a helicopter down with a tow truck? Our resident physicist Lisa weighs in on those questions and more. There's plenty of medical jargon in the spin-off movie Hobbs & Shaw, but it turns out the physics holds up for the most part! Melissa and Lisa also interview Joy Phillips and Parag Katira from San Diego State University about the virus, immunology, and biomedical devices that make up a huge part of the plot. Find out what's realistic and what's pure fantasy! Check out Parag Katira's website and follow him on Twitter. And contact Joy Phillips if you have more immunology questions! And if you haven't recently watched Jason Statham dancing in a leopard print speedo while very oily, you should watch it here. Right now.  Follow Melissa @melissatruth Follow Lisa @dustchick Listen to episode 8 here The Facts & The Furious is a podcast rewatch of the entire saga with Dr. Lisa Will (physicist) and Melissa Miller (science writer). We break down each movie of the saga with help from special guest experts. Remember, reality-based physics come and go, but family is forever! Subscribe so you won't miss the rest of our rewatch!      

Melissa moderates this panel of scientists who consult on everything from books and video games to the MCU and Disney animation! Panelists include paleontologist Stuart Sumida (How To Train Your Dragon, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), registered nurse Toby Wareham (9-1-1: Lone Star, How To Get Away With Murder), physicist Clifford Johnson (Avengers: Infinity War, Paper Girls), biologist Elizabeth Rega (Strange World, The Lion King), and stem cell scientist Ron Coleman (Joe Ledger book series).Thanks to all those who came out! Show Links Follow Clifford Johnson on Instagram Follow Stuart Sumida on Twitter Listen to Elizabeth Rega and Stuart Sumida talk the science of Disney's Strange World on NPR's podcast Short Wave Read Cave 13 and The Werewolf's 15 Minutes to see characters based on Ronald Coleman! Watch Code Black and 9-1-1: Lone Star to see Toby Wareham's work! Here's the images Melissa and Stuart talked about! Images of Stitch courtesy of Walt Disney Feature Animations, credit: Alex Kuperschmidt. Photo credit of Darwin Sumida: Stuart Sumida. Images courtesy of DreamWorks Feature Animation. More relevant screen shots and photos coming soon on YouTube! Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter. Join our Facebook fan group! Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and other fields of knowledge and Star Wars!

Melissa moderates this panel of Star Warsologies favorites! Sam Wynns and Gabe Santos share their critter knowledge when it comes to Loth cats and purgill! Lisa Will and Paul Wynns talk navigation from one galaxy to the next! And James brings us up to date with all the Star Wars lore sprinkled throughout the show. We had a great audience with tons of questions for us. Thanks to all those who came out! Follow Dr. Lisa Will and the Fleet Science Center on Instagram Follow Paul Wynns and Flex Air on Instagram Follow Gabe Santos and Cosplay for Science on Instagram Follow Sam Wynns and Cabrillo National Monument on Instagram Check out the episode on YouTube with relevant screen shots and photos! (coming soon) Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter. Join our Facebook fan group! Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars!

Melissa and Lisa talk about the (relatively) toned down physics nonsense in the 8th installment of the Fast & Furious franchise, Fate of the Furious. Lisa and Melissa are also joined by Bea Gandica, a computer scientist, to talk about all the hacking, ghost flights, and of course Cipher and the Gods Eye. Listen in to answers to important questions like: What does hacking look like in real life? Did Tej go to a coding boot camp at some point? Was the wrecking ball a good idea?  Learn more about the free workshops on coding and cybersecurity from the Nuevo Foundation  Follow Bea Gandica and Nuevo Foundation on Instagram Follow Melissa @melissatruth Follow Lisa @dustchick Listen to episode 7 here The Facts & The Furious is a podcast rewatch of the entire saga with Dr. Lisa Will (physicist) and Melissa Miller (science writer). We break down each movie of the saga with help from special guest experts. Remember, reality-based physics come and go, but family is forever! Subscribe so you won't miss the rest of our rewatch!

Melissa and Lisa break down the physics nonsense in Furious 7. Can you jump between skyscrapers in a car? What happens when you drop cars out of an airplane with only a parachute? Clinical psychologist Dr. Drea Letamendi joins for a discussion about grief and forgiveness. How important is found family? Should Dom be in therapy? How does Brian's ending help us process Paul Walker's death? Check out Dr. Drea's website! Follow her on Instagram! And listen to her podcast The Arkham Sessions. Read the psychological profiles Drea writes for Fandom Follow Melissa @melissatruth Follow Lisa @dustchick Listen to episode 6 here The Facts & The Furious is a podcast rewatch of the entire saga with Dr. Lisa Will (physicist) and Melissa Miller (science writer). We break down each movie of the saga with help from special guest experts. Remember, reality-based physics come and go, but family is forever! Subscribe so you won't miss the rest of our rewatch!    

James and Melissa chat about the megafauna of The Mandalorian with Dr. Stuart Sumida. Stuart is a paleontologist, a teacher, and a science consultant for movies, TV shows, and video games. He answers questions for us, including: Do mythosaurs use echolocation? How many Mandalorians would those raptor babies be able to eat in one sitting? Would riding on a horse-wolf actually be comfortable? Follow Stuart on Twitter! Hear Stuart's interview on NPR's Short Wave podcast Listen back to episode 22 when Stuart joined our Jurassic World panel at SDCC 2022 Check out the nature documentaries we made for Star Wars Celebration 2022 Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter. Join our Facebook fan group! In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars!

Fast & Furious 6 gives us perhaps the most physics-defying hijinks of the franchise. Dom's leap of faith, him taking a bullet, and that epically long runway - there's a lot to discuss. Melissa and Lisa also chat with locations scout Kerry Patten, who worked on the movie. Hear from her about the logistics of filming a car chase in the streets of (not actually) London.  Here's an article calculating just how long the runway would have to be. And writer Chris Morgan's response is fun too. Kerry shared some great videos for people who want to learn more about location scouting and management.  More about location scouting and tech scouting. Insights from location scout Roger Deakins. A cinematographer's guide to location scouting.  Check out the Location Manager's Guild International website.  You can take a location management course at the National Film and Television School.  Search the database of international filming locations. Follow Melissa @melissatruth Follow Lisa @dustchick Listen to episode 5 here The Facts & The Furious is a podcast rewatch of the entire saga with Dr. Lisa Will (physicist) and Melissa Miller (science writer). We break down each movie of the saga with help from special guest experts. Remember, reality-based physics come and go, but family is forever! Subscribe so you won't miss the rest of our rewatch!  

Let's look at the music of Star Wars! So much of what we associate with the galaxy far, far away is connected to the soundtracks composed by John Williams. We take a look at the diagetic music of the films, from the cantina band tracks to the celebratory songs by Ewoks and Gungans. We also examine the common musical themes that John Williams built into the audio DNA of the saga, as well as musical pieces that may have influenced Williams in his composition. Our guest expert is Dr. Jason Giachetti, who teaches music at the college and high school level. He has a doctorate in music education, with an emphasis on percussive instruments. In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars! To better understand the music, Dr. Giachetti prepared a presentation that showcases the musical notation in the score, and the YouTube version of this episode has his slides synched up to the podcast audio. You can watch the original Jabba's Palace song on YouTube. Watch the end of A New Hope without any music! Here's Darth Vader's scene with a romantic song playing. Redouble our efforts indeed! Check out the Hans Zimmer Master Class that Jason mentioned.  And here's the books he recommended: The Film Music of John Williams by Emilion Audissino Creative Strategies in Film Scoring by Ben Newhouse  Musical Composition: Craft and Art by Alan Belkin

Melissa and Lisa welcome two guest experts to cover Fast Five, the movie that really accelerates the franchise into greatness. Prison escapes, train heists, and a bank vault crashing through the streets of Rio make up the action, but the movie is also about family (of course) and reunites some of our favorite characters. A city planner and a visual effects artist who worked on Tokyo Drift join our podcast family in this high speed episode! Here's a great behind the scenes video about the practical stunts in the bank vault sequence! And where we got the math about whether Dom and Brian could really tow the vault! Follow James Floyd on Twitter and Instagram.  And check out his Star Wars filming location tours, Galaxy Far, Far Away Journeys! Follow Melissa @melissatruth Follow Lisa @dustchick The Facts & The Furious is a podcast rewatch of the entire saga with Dr. Lisa Will (physicist) and Melissa Miller (science writer). We break down each movie of the saga with help from special guest experts. Remember, reality-based physics come and go, but family is forever! Listen to episode 4 here Subscribe so you won't miss the rest of our rewatch!

Melissa and Lisa discuss Fast & Furious, the fourth movie in the Fast saga. The car chases and stakes are finally high! Letty's (maybe) dead! Dom is bulletproof! Lots to discuss. Melissa and Lisa also welcome Dr. Jackson Vane to the show to discuss medical issues throughout the franchise, including the most important question - how are these characters even still alive??!  Check out Jackson's Hi Everybody! A Bad Medicine podcast including the episode about Hobbs & Shaw! And follow Jackson's podcast on Twitter. Follow Melissa @melissatruth Follow Lisa @dustchick The Facts & The Furious is a podcast rewatch of the entire saga with Dr. Lisa Will (physicist) and Melissa Miller (science writer). We break down each movie of the saga with help from special guest experts. Remember, reality-based physics come and go, but family is forever! Listen to episode 3 here Subscribe so you won't miss the rest of our rewatch!

We chat blue food in Star Wars and here on Earth, where's it's not nearly as prevelant. Dr. Changqi Liu from San Diego State University shares his expertise about flowers, berries, and other foods. But does he know why blue raspberry flavoring exists? Cook up some blue noodles, pour yourself a glass of blue milk, and enjoy! More about butterfly pea flower lemonade! More about color-changing gin! Find out more about Changqi's research! Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter. Join our Facebook fan group! Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and other fields of knowledge and Star Wars!

In this episode, Melissa and Lisa chat about Tokyo Drift and interview a stunt driver. Lisa explains the physics of drifting and Melissa posits whether the saga takes place within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie may feel out of place, but all is forgiven because it introduces Han to the franchise. Check out the Motion Picture Driving Clinic's website and on Instagram Follow Melissa @melissatruth Follow Lisa @dustchick The Facts & The Furious is a podcast rewatch of the entire saga with Dr. Lisa Will (physicist) and Melissa Miller (science writer). We break down each movie of the saga with help from special guest experts. Remember, reality-based physics come and go, but family is forever! Listen to episode 2 here Subscribe so you won't miss the rest of our rewatch!  

Voice actor extraordinaire Vanessa Marshall joins us on this episode of Star Warsologies! She is the voice (and soul) of "space mom" Hera Syndulla from Star Wars: Rebels, among many other credits. We talk about the importance of found family, fandom, and Joseph Campbell's hero's journey template. Vanessa is such a force for good and we are so excited to geek out with her about Star Wars and tons of other topics. Enjoy! Find Vanessa on Twitch, Instagram, and Twitter! You can visit her at one of these upcoming convention appearances: Fairfax Comic Con August 26-27, 2023 in Virginia Superstar Comic Con September 23-24, 2023 in Savannah, GA SPOOKALA October 6-8, 2023 in Tampa, FL uWu Con October 27-29, 2023 in Mesa, AZ Also, hear her voice as Wonder Woman in season 4 of Harley Quinn now streaming on HBO / MAX! Here's the link to the Metal Gear Solid event Vanessa mentioned, with ongoing online content. And you can even take an acting class from her on SkillsHub. Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter. Join our Facebook fan group! Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and other fields of knowledge and Star Wars!

No Dom, no problem! Lisa and Melissa dive into the physics of 2003's 2 Fast 2 Furious. Welcome Roman, welcome Tej. Don't let those pesky laws of gravity keep you down. Also weighing in is legal expert Stephen Lee, a former federal prosecutor. Hear what he has to say about Brian's terrible record as an undercover cop, can you earn a "clean record," and other ongoing leagal themes of the saga. Check out Stephen's Substack for more of his legal analysis of pop culture, including Andor, The Flash, Glass Onion, and more! https://moderndetection.substack.com/ https://www.stephenleelaw.com/ Follow Melissa @melissatruth Follow Lisa @dustchick The Facts & The Furious is a podcast rewatch of the entire saga with Dr. Lisa Will (physicist) and Melissa Miller (science writer). We break down each movie of the saga with help from special guest experts. Remember, reality-based physics come and go, but family is forever! Listen to episode 1 here Subscribe so you won't miss the rest of our rewatch!  

Star Warsologies hosted "Andor: Making a Rebel, Making a Rebellion", a panel at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2023.  The Star Wars series Andor speaks powerfully to today's audience about fighting oppression. Examining the first season of the Disney+ series, we will explore the motivations and actions of Cassian Andor, Mon Mothma, Luthen Rael and other characters as they put it all on the line to resist and rebel against the Empire. What type of people are drawn to stand up to tyranny? How do individual dissenters start forming movements? When can you fight inside the system, and when do you have to fight from the outside? Why does this show resonate so well at this time? Panelists include Robert A. Dagnall (MA candidate in Rhetoric and Writing Studies / instructor, SDSU), J. Dianne Dotson (sci-fi and fantasy author, producer, science writer, biologist), Dr. Drea Letamendi (psychologist at UCLA, host of the Arkham Sessions podcast), Desmond Hassing (lecturer of American Indian Studies, SDSU), Jake Rowlett (PhD candidate, SDSU/UCSB). Moderated by James Floyd (STEAMpop Network, Star Warsologies podcast, Star Wars Insider contributor). Join us as we tackle the nature of the fight to restore freedom to the galaxy. Show notes for this episode are available on Skywalking Network:

It all begins with this episode of The Facts & The Furious covering the low stakes of the first movie, 2001's The Fast and the Furious. As Melissa and Lisa realize, very few laws of physics are broken but there's still find plenty to talk about. Our guest expert is Maria Romano de Leon, curator of the San Diego Automative Museum. Learn about NOS, car culture, and why a lack of traffic may be the most unrealistic thing that happens in this movie.  Follow Melissa @melissatruth Follow Lisa @dustchick Follow the San Diego Automotive Museum on Facebook and Instagram The Facts & The Furious is a podcast rewatch of the entire saga with Dr. Lisa Will (physicist) and Melissa Miller (science writer). We break down each movie of the saga with help from special guest experts. 

Here's another of our San Diego Comic-Con 2023 panels! The Science of Superpowers brought together amazing scientists to talk about how realistic superheroes and supervillains are and whether there's any version of their powers in real life.  Here's video from our panel, plus slides we presented in the room. Thanks to everyone who came out and asked questions. We're so glad you found us online too, we love bringing our convention content to everyone for free! Panel Description:  Humans have been fascinated with the potential to gain superpowers for generations. Would a lab accident really transform your DNA? Is it possible to harness regenerative powers from the animal kingdom? Could a mutation make you telekinetic? Hear about the up-to-date science and technology bringing humanity closer to becoming superheroes (and potentially supervillains). Melissa T. Miller (STEAMpop Network, Star Warsologies) moderates a panel of experts that includes Lataisia Jones, Ph.D. (neuroscientist), Erika Anderson, M.S. (reliability engineer), Michelle Nolasco, Ph.D. (science communication consultant, SDSU), Ester Kwon, Ph.D. (nanoscale bioengineer, UCSD), Catherine Schrankel, Ph.D. (cell biologist, SDSU), and Beata Mierzwa, Ph.D. (molecular biologist and science artist, UCSD). Ester Kwon, PhD is an assistant professor of nanoscale bioengineering at University of California, San Diego @esterjkwon Catherine Schrankel, PhD is an assistant professor of cell biology at San Diego State University @DrSchrankel @schrankel_lab Michelle Nolasco, PhD is a molecular biologist and science writer at San Diego State University Beata Mierzwa, PhD is a molecular biologist and science artist at University of California, San Diego @beatascienceart on Twitter and Instagram Lataisia Jones, PhD is a neuroscientist at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke @HeyDrTay on Twitter and Instagram Erika Anderson, MS is a reliability engineer at Georgia Pacific @MsSTEMPossible on Twitter and Instagram Beata, Lataisia, and Erika are also AAAS If/Then ambassadors (ifthenshecan.org) @ifthenshecan on Twitter and @ifthenshecan on Instagram Star Warsologies is a podcast about science and other fields of knowledge and how they connect to Star Wars. Every episode, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller interview a guest about how their area of expetise intersects with the galaxy far, far away.

Star Warsologies hosted the "Indiana Jones and the Nexus of Archaelogy, History, and Punching Fascists" panel at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2023. This podcast episode contains the audio of the panel, with the slideshow images from the PowerPoint presentation. Our panelists are Bailey Jorgensen (archaeologist, Alf Museum of Paleontology), Kara Vetter (senior director of cultural resources, Museum of Us), and Dr. Becca Peixotto (archaeologist and IF/THEN ambassador). Panel description: Indiana Jones is back for more fortune and glory, and the Indy films have shaped the public's view of the world of archaeology and artifacts for more than 40 years. Now with the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, let's examine the legacy of the man with the whip and the hat. What do the Indiana Jones films get right and wrong about real world archaeological adventures? Do the antiquities collected by Dr. Jones really belong in a museum - and does he? How do historical artifacts connect to modern politics? How has Indiana Jones impacted the archaeological field? Panelists include Dr. Becca Peixotto (archaeologist, IF/THEN Ambassador), Bailey Jorgensen (historical archaeologist; collections manager, Alf Museum of Paleontology), Kara Vetter (senior director of cultural resources, Museum of Us). Moderated by James Floyd (STEAMpop Network, Star Warsologies podcast, Star Wars Insider contributor). Join our panel of globe-trotting archaeologists, historians, and cultural resource experts in discussing the science and ethics of his adventures as we follow the trail of Indiana Jones around the 20th century world. Star Warsologies is a podcast about science and other fields of knowledge and how they connect to Star Wars. Every episode, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller interview a guest about how their area of expetise intersects with the galaxy far, far away.

This episode, we're chatting with Gracie Ermi, and expert in machine learning. Are droids sentient? Is it ethical to wipe their memories and reprogram them? Other than the well-publicized art and writing controversies, what are some ways AI is already part of our lives? Are we close to a Star Wars level of robotic intelligence or an uprising? These are just some of the subject we cover in this episode. In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and other fields of knowledge and Star Wars! Or listen on YouTube with relevant screen shots and photos (coming soon)! Show Links Check see Gracie at the STEAM Fair at the Comic-Con Museum July 21-23 Follow her on Instagram and Twitter! Got follow up questions for us or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at starwarsologies@gmail.com Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter. Join our Facebook fan group! Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here!

Trailer for the new podcast The Facts & The Furious with Dr. Lisa Will and Melissa Miller. Two scientists break down each movie of the saga with help from special guest experts. Hear from a stunt driver, a medical doctor, a psychologist, a lawyer, and others fans who have something to say about how things would go down in real life. This deep dive is also a fun rewatch of all 11 Fast & Furious movies. 

This episode, we're chatting with linguist David Peterson, who constructs languages for properties like Game of Thrones, Elemental, House of the Dragon, the MCU, and many more! He weighs in on Aurebesh as a written language, as well as Binary, Shyriiwook, Gungan, and other spoken languages. It's a fascinating conversation with someone who clearly loves talking about language. Enjoy! In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and other fields of knowledge and Star Wars! Show Links Some images of the Super Bomber text David likes are here and here. You can check out David's website and buy his book "The Art of Language Invention" More information about constructed languages is available from conlang.org Got follow up questions for us or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at starwarsologies@gmail.com Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter. Join our Facebook fan group! Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here!

Star Warsologies hosted "Andor, the Empire, and a History of Resistance" panel at Star Wars Celebration Europe in April 2023 in London. Because the panel audio ended up not recorded by accident, we invited the original panelists back to re-create the panel and add some new content, just for our listeners. Coming back we have Chris Kempshall, Rebecca Harrison, Oli Mould, and Jake Rowlett. Unfortunately panelist Prof. Manuel Barcia was unable to rejoin us. Moderated by James Floyd, one of the hosts of Star Warsologies. Panel description: Star Wars is full of conflict between good and evil, and the stories of the galaxy far, far away center on that fight against oppression. Using real world history of resistance and rebellions, we will examine the entire saga and the Andor series in particular to see how and why our heroes seek to stand against the Galactic Empire in their own ways. Our panelists include Chris Kempshall (author, The History and Politics of Star Wars: Death Stars and Democracy; co-author, Star Wars: Battles that Changed the Galaxy), Rebecca Harrison (author, BFI Classics: The Empire Strikes Back), Manuel Barcia, Oli Mould, and Jake Rowlett. Join host James Floyd (Star Wars Insider regular contributor, Star Warsologies podcast) in exploring the freedom fighters that helped topple the Empire. In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars! Show notes page: https://skywalkingthroughneverland.com/new-podcast-star-warsologies-35-celebration-andor-the-empire-and-a-history-of-resistance/ Check out the YouTube version of the panel with relevant slides from the panel presentation: https://youtu.be/YqvI3NETAD4  

Here's another one of our panels from Star Wars Celebration! Melissa welcomes creatives who have worked on the movies and TV shows to share their insights and wonderful stories. Hear from Fon Davis (ILM model maker for the special editions, prequels, and The Mandalorian), Jake Lunt Davies (concept and creature designer from everything from The Force Awakens to Andor), Brian Herring (puppeteer for BB-8 and many other favorite characters), and Lee Towersey (droid wrangler at Pinewood Studios). Make sure to check out the images below and watch via YouTube to see all the amazing behind the scenes photos the panelists shared.  Check out the video version of this podcast! In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars! Follow our panelists and their research on social media! Fon Davis on Twitter and Instagram. Brian Herring on Twitter. Jake Lunt Davies on Twitter and Instagram. Lee Towersey on Twitter. Got follow up questions for us or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at starwarsologies@gmail.com Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter. Join our Facebook fan group! Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here!

This episode is a recording of a panel at Star Wars Celebration, hosted by James Floyd. From sarlacc biology to the physics of lightsabers and the ecosystem of Endor, Return of the Jedi is full of connections to real world science. How might a Hutt evolve? What goes into making a Death Star superlaser? Why do the Ewoks worship C-3PO? Our all-star lineup brings together experts in all sorts of fields, from paleontology and physics to meteorology and history. Join host James Floyd (Star Wars Insider regular contributor, Star Warsologies podcast) in celebrating the 40th anniversary of ROTJ with a look into its science and technology. Thanks to everyone who came to the panel and especially those who asked such great questions! Panelists include Karen Yu (optics and lasers), Manuel Barcia (history of empires), Heda Agić (paleobiology), Carsten Welsch (physics), and LeeAnn Allegretto (atmospheric science). In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars! Or listen on YouTube with relevant screen shots and photos! (coming soon) Show Links Follow our panelists and their research on Twitter! Heda Agić, Manuel Barcia, Carsten Welsch, LeeAnn Allegretto, and Karen Yu. The panel was highlighted in this story from the University of Liverpool! Got follow up questions for us or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at starwarsologies@gmail.com Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter. Join our Facebook fan group! Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here!

This episode we talk to concept and creature artist Terryl Whitlatch about her amazing designs for creatures in the Star Wars Special Editions and Episode I. Are there reptomammals on Earth or did Terryl just invent that term? Why was the sando aqua monster her favorite creature to design? What's your favorite Star Wars critter? In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars! Or listen on YouTube with relevant screen shots and photos! (coming soon) Show Links Follow Terryl Whitlatch on Instagram and Art Station! You can even take a class with her on Schoolism! Get your own copy of The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide to see more of Terryl's designs. Get your own copy of The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide to see more of Terryl's designs. Or check out Terryl's other books Animals Real and Imagined: The Fantasy of What Is and What Might Be Principles of Creature Design: Creating Imaginary Animals Science of Creature Design: Understanding Animal Anatomy The Katurran Odyssey: An Epic Adventure of Courage, Discovery, and Hope Hear more insights from Terryl on Melissa's 2020 ForceFest panel   Got follow up questions for us or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at starwarsologies@gmail.com Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter. Join our Facebook fan group! Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here!

This episode we talk about dancing and choreography in Star Wars with Nicholas Foote, a professional dancer. We chat Ewoks, Gungans, and Wookiees. Do Hutts have a mating dance? Do Bothans get the zoomies? And is the ballet in Revenge of the Sith really called Squid Lake?! In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars! Or listen on YouTube with relevant screen shots and photos! (coming soon) Show Links Follow Nicholas Foote on Twitter and Instagram! Watch the barn dance scene from the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Watch Gene Kelly talk about dance as an athletic pursuit. Got follow up questions for us or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at starwarsologies@gmail.com Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter. Join our Facebook fan group! Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here!