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Explore every episode of the podcast Popcorn Science Podcast

Dive into the complete episode list for Popcorn Science Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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1–20 of 20

TitlePub. DateDuration
Tunguska-Terma03 May 202500:59:40
Topics
  • Antarctic Meteorite Survey
  • Tunguska
References Misc

In our first episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind The X-Files two-parter "Tunguska/Terma". These episodes first aired in November 1996, and follow Mulder and Scully around the world as they try to get their hands on a rock filled with a mysterious alien oil.

Ender's Game17 May 202501:01:22
References Misc

In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the 2013 movie "Ender's Game". Based on the 1985 novel by Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game follows a young boy as he learns to defend the Earth from an invasion by a mysterious alien species known as the Formics.

Contact31 May 202501:01:54

In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the 1997 movie "Contact".

Based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Carl Sagan, Contact explores what would happen if humanity were to receive a message from an extraterrestrial civilization.

Topics
  • Science Gripes (4:37)
    • Headphones? (6:01)
    • Opening Sequence (9:40)
    • Hitler, Messenger of Earth (11:20)
    • Arecibo Message (12:28)
    • Arecibo Geography (16:00)
    • Ellie the Astronaut (17:28)
    • Funding (20:08)
    • Arecibo v. VLA (21:15)
    • Timeline Issue (48:35)
  • The Good Things (24:59)
    • On Location (25:05)
    • Science Culture (27:40)
    • Signal from Vega (30:32)
    • Is Space Exploration Worth it? (34:48)
    • Crewed Spaceflight (38:50)
    • Transit Network / Wormholes (#42:25)
  • Of Their Time (44:35)
    • Computer Technology (44:53)
    • Bill Clinton (47:00)
    • Space Industrialists (49:56)
    • Science v. Faith (52:52)
    • Fragile Institutions (54:59)
  • Accuracy and Significance (56:39)
References
Tribbles14 Jun 202501:00:25
References Misc

In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind two Star Trek episodes: "The Trouble with Tribbles" (1967) from The Original Series and "Trials and Tribble-ations" (1996) from Deep Space Nine. In both episodes, the crews try to grapple with an outbreak of a number of fuzzy spheroids known as Tribbles, with the DS9 crew coming from the future to help out Kirk and Spock!

The Core28 Jun 202500:59:31
References Misc

In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the movie everyone loves to hate: "The Core"! First released in 2003, this movie explores what would happen if the Earth's outer core stopped spinning, and sends a courageous group of "terranauts" down to start it up again.

Clara12 Jul 202500:57:31
References Misc

In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the 2018 movie "Clara." Clara tells the sotry of a down-on-his-luck astronomer who succeeds in making a momentous discovery with the help of a mysterious artist. Featured in the Toronto International Film Festival, this movie has a familiar science advisor - Dr. John Moores!

Thor26 Jul 202500:57:22
References Misc

In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the movie Thor!

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story10 Aug 202501:02:23

Many Bothans died to bring us this episode.

In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the movie Rogue One.

References
Battlestar Galactica24 Aug 202500:59:29

In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine hear nothing but the rain while discussing the 2003 Battlestar Galactica miniseries. So grab your gun and bring the cat in.

References
Blade Runner07 Sep 202501:04:48

A new life awaits you in the Popcorn Science Podcast. The chance to begin again in a golden land of opportunity and adventure!

In this episode of "Popcorn Science," discuss the 1982 cult classic Blade Runner. Catherine and John have seen things you people wouldn't believe. If you don't listen to this episode, all those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.

References
Deep Impact20 Sep 202501:01:35

Cities fall, but they are rebuilt. And heroes die, but they are remembered. We honor them with every podcast we record. Our planet, our home.

In this episode of "Popcorn Science," discuss the 1998 film Deep Impact.

Topics
  • Science Gripes (4:30)
    • Nobody notices the comet
    • Sublimation / thermal inertia
    • Gravity on a comet
    • Sun visor, facial boils
    • Travel time
    • Communication failure
    • Impact effects (earthquake, airburst)
    • Temperature increase due to many small impactors (>10 degrees)
  • Science Shine (28:05)
    • Comet naming
    • Comet stats: Reasonable size, mass, density and rotation
    • More likely scenario than Armageddon (comet from Ort cloud, off the plane of solar system)
    • Visuals: Cometary Jets, dark colouration
    • 2 years of darkness (maybe)
    • Nuclear propulsion
  • Of it's time (45:45)
  • Ratings (56:29)
References
2001: A Space Odyssey04 Oct 202501:03:48

In this episode of "Popcorn Science," discuss the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Topics
  • Science Gripes (7:00)
    • Tapir do not live in Africa
    • Arid environment, but humans likely evolved in arboreal environment
    • Little evidence for humans living in caves
    • Humans are not the only tool users, monolith didn't grant unique advantage
    • Artistic placement of the moon
    • Random equations / diagrams on screen: Sci-Fi jibberish
    • Space craft: No thrusters
    • Moonwalking: Too much gravity, too little falling down
    • EVA without tether or thruster packs, gardening gloves
    • Discovery:
      • Moving too fast: 3 weeks to Mars? 18 weeks to Jupiter?
      • Habitation ring too slow (or too much gravity)
      • For every action, these wasn't an equal reaction
    • Jupiter:
      • Too many (major) moons
  • Science Shine (31:00)
    • Centripetal gravity, close enough
    • Decent job showing zero-gravity life
    • Clavius station under ground, close enough to Tycho for a shuttle
    • Infectious disease concerns in space
    • Predicted Magnetic anomalies on the Moon!: Lunar Swirls
    • Earth phases
    • 13 seconds in vacuum, plausible!
    • HAL wins at chess
    • Smooth space turns: Reaction wheels
    • Commercial travel looks modern
  • Of it's time (46:33)
  • Ratings (59:03)
References
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