Unobtainium Podcast

What is a Black Hole?Core Definition: A black hole is a region of space with an extraordinarily powerful gravitational field created when massive amounts of matter are packed into a tiny volume.The "Divide-by-Zero" Error: In simple terms, a black hole represents a point where our current understanding of physics breaks down—a mathematical singularity where space-time equations result in an undefined state.Event Horizon: The absolute point of no return. Gravity is so strong within the event horizon that not even light can escape, causing its trajectory to loop back inward.Star Collapse & SupernovasStellar Evolution: Stars roughly 10 times more massive than our Sun fuse elements up the periodic table (hydrogen to helium, carbon, oxygen, etc.) until they reach iron.Supernova Collapse: Once iron is reached, nuclear fusion stops providing outward pressure. The star's outer layers collapse inward onto the core in a fraction of a second, bouncing off and causing a catastrophic supernova explosion.Core Remnant: If the remaining core mass is sufficient, it continues to crush down into a super-dense object just a few kilometers across, forming a stellar-mass black hole.Anti-Gravity FieldsIn-Movie Use: Dr. Reinhardt uses an anti-gravity energy reactor to keep the Cygnus suspended near the event horizon and to provide artificial Earth gravity aboard the ship.Real World Physics: Repulsive gravity does not exist in real physics. Unlike electromagnetism (which has positive and negative poles that can attract or repel), gravity is strictly an attractive, one-way force between masses.Einstein-Rosen Bridges & WormholesIn-Movie Use: The characters discuss an Einstein-Rosen bridge as a pathway through the black hole to travel across space and time.Real World Physics: Theoretically, an Einstein-Rosen bridge connects a black hole to a hypothetical "white hole" (a region that strictly expels matter). However, there is zero observational evidence that white holes or traversable wormholes exist in nature.Tidal Forces & "Spaghettification"Tidal Gravitational Pull: Gravitational pull weakens over distance. Near a small black hole, the gravitational pull on an astronaut's feet would be exponentially stronger than on their head.Spaghettification: This extreme difference in force stretches objects vertically and compresses them horizontally.Size Matters: Counterintuitively, smaller black holes cause harsher, instant fatal tidal forces outside the event horizon. A black hole would need to be supermassive (tens of thousands of solar masses) for a human to pass through the event horizon without being immediately torn apart.So Many Weird Elements Flaming Meteors: During the film's climax, flaming meteorites chase characters through the ship’s interior corridors—an impossibility in space, where there is no oxygen to support an open flame.Glass Spaceships & Structural Inconsistencies: The hosts point out the absurd design choice of building a deep-space ship out of glass, as well as inconsistent physics during hull breaches and vacuum exposures.Cinematic Era TransitionGothic Space Horror: The film functions as a classic gothic horror story (haunted house, mad scientist, isolated environment) transposed into a space setting with a grand, dramatic score by James Bond composer John Barry.The Post-2001 Shift: Released in 1979, The Black Hole suffered critically because audience expectations had changed following 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Star Wars (1977), and Alien (1979), which presented either realistic physics or grounded world-building.Unfinished Script & The Bizarre Ending: Due to an incomplete script during production, the filmmakers left the ending open to post-production interpretation. This resulted in a surreal "lava lamp" climax where the villains merge and descend into a literal Dante’s Inferno-style hell, while the ship sails toward an ethereal light. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why does the museum look like a spaceship? What does Luke Skywalker have in common with a scientist? And could an N-1 Starfighter actually fly?Come inside with us.  What’s really inside George Lucas’s new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art? We got a sneak peek—and it wasn’t quite what we expected.UNOBTAINIUM hosts planetary scientist Dr. Amy Mainzer and writer/producer Adam Sigel head inside the spectacular new Los Angeles museum expecting plenty of Star Wars. And yes, there are spaceships, droids and enough Death Star vibes to keep two lifelong fans happy. But Star Wars represents only a small part of what Lucas is trying to do here.The museum is really an exploration of narrative art: the images societies have used to tell stories. These are the stories that people need to come to understand who they are,  from ancient cave paintings and mythology to illustration, comics, movie posters and science fiction. That leads Amy and Adam straight to Joseph Campbell, the Hero’s Journey and the Power of Myth—ideas that profoundly influenced George Lucas and the creation of Star Wars. And then things get very UNOBTAINIUM. Amy makes a surprising connection between the Hero’s Journey and the scientific process itself: leaving what we know, venturing into the unknown, facing uncertainty, gaining new knowledge and bringing it home. Along the way, we explore the museum’s spaceship-like architecture, its unusual argument about “high” and “low” art, the science behind Star Wars technology—and an N-1 Starfighter that raises the inevitable question: how much energy would it actually take to make that thing fly? Come with us for a sneak peek inside the Lucas Museum—and a journey through Star Wars, science, mythology and the stories human beings use to understand the universe and ourselves. UNOBTAINIUM: Where great movies meet real science. #LucasMuseum #StarWars #GeorgeLucas #LucasMuseumOfNarrativeArt #ScienceFiction #JosephCampbell #HeroJourney #Science #UnobtainiumPodcast #LosAngeles    Follow Unobtainium Podcast! Website: unobtainiumpodcast.comWatch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod Stay connected: Instagram: @unobtainiumpod TikTok: @unobtainiumpod Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social X: @unobtainiumpod   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode DescriptionCould humans really breathe liquid? Could we actually live hundreds of meters beneath the ocean—and what might be waiting for us in the unexplored deep? In this episode of UNOBTAINIUM, hosts Amy and Adam “dive” into the science behind James Cameron’s 1989 sci-fi classic THE ABYSS with Dr. Tina Treude, UCLA professor and expert in marine geomicrobiology.The biggest mystery of all is how much of the deep ocean have we actually explored. Scientists continue to encounter species they’ve never seen before, reminding us that some of the most alien environments we know of are right here on Earth. James Cameron imagined an alien world at the bottom of our own ocean. The remarkable thing is how alien the real one already is.  Hosts Dr. Amy Mainzer and Adam Sigel welcome guest Dr. Tina Treude, a UCLA professor of marine geomicrobiology. They analyze James Cameron's 1989 sci-fi film The Abyss, noting its accurate depiction of deep-sea pressure dynamics.Gas Solubility & The Bends: Under high pressure, gases like nitrogen dissolve faster into a diver's bloodstream. Rapid ascents cause dissolved nitrogen to form gas bubbles, causing decompression sickness ("the bends"), which can block nervous system connections and prove fatal.Decompression Protocols: To avoid decompression sickness, technical divers entering high-pressure environments must undergo controlled decompression in chambers—often lasting days or weeks—to allow nitrogen to slowly diffuse out of the body.2. The Science of Liquid BreathingThe famous scene where a rat breathes oxygenated fluorocarbon fluid reflects real scientific experiments.Mechanism & Benefits: Breathing oxygenated fluorocarbon emulsion prevents lung collapse at extreme depths because liquids are incompressible under pressure.The Physical Limitation: While fluorocarbons can deliver adequate oxygen to the lungs, human respiration with liquids is bottlenecked by fluid viscosity and CO2 removal. Moving dense fluid in and out of the lungs requires tremendous physical effort, making long-term human fluid breathing impractical due to CO2 retention.3. High-Pressure Effects & Saturation DivingNitrogen Narcosis: Diverging from decompression sickness, nitrogen narcosis occurs at depths typically below 40 meters (120 feet), where nitrogen exerts an intoxicating, narcotic effect on neural synapses.Ambient Pressure Habitats: The underwater station depicted in The Abyss operates at ambient sea pressure. Divers can enter and exit through an open moon pool without immediate pressure changes because the internal gas pressure matches the external water pressure.Submersibles & ROVs: Dr. Treude notes that while human industrial diving peaked around 300 to 500 meters, modern deep-sea research relies heavily on Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to mitigate safety risks.4. Marine Biology & Deep-Sea EcosystemsOxygen Limits in Deep Waters: Dissolved oxygen levels in seawater are roughly 40 times lower than in air. Marine life compensates with high-surface-area external gills and continuous water flow rather than internal lungs.Bioluminescence: Deep-ocean organisms generate light through enzymatic reactions or bacterial endosymbiosis for communication, hunting (e.g., anglerfish lures), and camouflage.Chemosynthesis & Extremophiles: Geothermal heat at hydrothermal vents can support unique microbial life, highlighting ecosystems that thrive entirely independent of surface sunlight.  Follow Unobtainium Podcast! Website: unobtainiumpodcast.comWatch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod Stay connected: Instagram: @unobtainiumpod TikTok: @unobtainiumpod Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social X: @unobtainiumpod For Dr. Tina Treudehttps://faculty.epss.ucla.edu/~ttreude/https://www.ioes.ucla.edu/person/tina-treude/ #TheAbyssMovie #JamesCameron #DeepSea #OceanScience #Liquid Breathing #ScienceFiction #MarineBiology #Nitrogen Narcosis #UnobtainiumPodcast #DeepSeaExploration #TinaTreude #AmyMainzer #MovieBreakdown #SciFiMovies   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the "Rage Virus" in 28 Days Later scientifically plausible? Amy and Adam sit down with Dr. Sima Yasmin—medical doctor, former CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officer, author and disease detective! – to separate the real science of viruses and pandemics from one of cinema’s most frightening fictional outbreaks. What exactly is a virus—and is it even alive? Could scientists really use a virus to alter human behavior? Why are viruses used as vectors in cutting-edge gene therapies (like CAR-T cancer therapy)? They also discuss incubation periods, the math of R-naught, split-brain Klüver-Bucy syndrome, and how real is the "Rage Virus" in Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's classic 2002 film 28 Days Later. Full SummaryHosts Dr. Amy Mainzer (UCLA planetary scientist) and Adam Sigel (Hollywood writer/producer) welcome guest Dr. Sima Yasmin, a medical doctor and former CDC Epidemic Intelligence Officer.Are Viruses Alive? Dr. Yasmin explains that viruses are non-living packages of genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein capsid. They cannot replicate independently and must hijack host cellular machinery to reproduce.Viral DNA in Humans: Estimates suggest that 10% to 12% of the human genome is viral in origin. Over millions of years, ancestral viral infections integrated permanently into human DNA.2. Viral Vectors: Science vs. Cinematic TropesIn 28 Days Later, scientists at a Cambridge laboratory use an Ebola-based viral vector to alter primate behavior.Real-World Viral Vectors: Humans have used viruses as delivery mechanisms since 1972. In modern medicine (such as CAR-T cancer therapy), harmless viruses (like Adeno-Associated Viruses or AAVs) are modified to carry therapeutic genes into human cells to train the immune system against cancer.Movie vs. Reality: In real life, medical researchers use non-pathogenic viruses as vectors rather than lethal filoviruses like Ebola. Furthermore, while Ebola in movies is depicted as causing external bleeding from every orifice, real-world Ebola primarily kills through extreme dehydration and electrolyte disruption.3. Incubation Periods and R-Naught10-Second Incubation: The film features a hyper-fast incubation period of 10 to 20 seconds. Dr. Yasmin notes this is scientifically unrealistic. Even rabies—the closest real-world equivalent to a "rage" virus—has an incubation period ranging from 3 to 8 weeks (or up to years), depending on how close the bite site is to the central nervous system.The Math of R-naught: The basic reproduction number (R-naught) represents the average number of secondary infections caused by one infected individual in a susceptible population. While measles has an R-naught of 12–18 due to airborne transmission, the fictional Rage Virus would have an extraordinarily high R-naught because infected hosts actively seek out others to attack.4. Neuroscience, the Amygdala, and Human EmpathyThe Amygdala & Klüver-Bucy Syndrome: The scientists in the movie attempt to suppress rage by targeting the brain. Historically, removing the amygdala in primates rendered them docile and fearless. This study would lead to the understanding of Klüver-Bucy syndrome,  Societal Reflections: The hosts note that the film uses a viral outbreak as a lens to explore deeper human flaws. While societal collapse is triggered by a laboratory experiment, the ultimate threats to the survivors stem from human violence, power dynamics, and a lack of empathy. Ultimately, the narrative shows that human connection and community remain the primary forces for survival. Follow Unobtainium Podcast! Website: unobtainiumpodcast.comWatch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod Stay connected: Instagram: @unobtainiumpod TikTok: @unobtainiumpod Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social X: @unobtainiumpod For Dr. Seema Yasminhttps://seemayasmin.com/ #28DaysLater #DannyBoyle #AlexGarland #SeemaYasmin #Viruses #AmyMainzer #unobtainiumpodcast #MovieBreakdown #SciFiMovies #HorrorMovies #Science #Unobtainium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode DescriptionWhat begins as a discussion of climate change expands into a deep dive into the science as well as the misinformation, political inertia, corruption and the psychology behind why societies struggle to respond to existential threats—even when the evidence is clear.McKay discusses the real-world inspiration for the film, Leonardo DiCaprio's performance, and why science and storytelling must work together if humanity hopes to solve its greatest challenges.  Full SummaryThe Holocene Epoch & The Greenhouse EffectHost Dr. Amy Mainzer (UCLA astrophysicist) and director Adam McKay open with a discussion on the fundamental stability of Earth's climate over the past 12,000 years (the Holocene epoch). This stable climate enabled the rise of organized human agriculture.The Physics of Greenhouse Gases: Amy emphasizes that climate change physics is rooted in standard quantum mechanics. Molecules of greenhouse gases like CO2 absorb specific infrared light wavelengths emitted by the Earth, increasing molecular motion which manifests as trapped thermal energy.Earth Energy Imbalance (EEI): McKay highlights the extreme rate of trapped energy entering the biosphere—equivalent to the energy of roughly 12 Hiroshima bombs per second—moving the global climate past normal seasonal variations at an unprecedented pace.Science vs. Political Inaction & Media GaslightingMcKay shares his experiences speaking with scientists, politicians, and media professionals. Despite unequivocal empirical data, political structures and profit-driven media ecosystems frequently downplay or miscommunicate existential threats.Scientific Communication Dilemma: Scientists often struggle to convey urgent warnings without being labeled as alarmist or shut out of public discourse.Evolutionary Blindspots: Humans are evolutionarily hardwired to react to immediate, visible threats (e.g., an approaching predator) rather than invisible or complex systemic crises (e.g., viruses, greenhouse gas accumulation, or distant space objects).Behind the Scenes: The Leonardo DiCaprio "Network" SpeechThe hosts discuss the key scene where Dr. Randall Mindy (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) breaks down on live television.Tension Between Data and Incentives: DiCaprio advocated for a dramatic, classic "network speech" to capture a scientist's raw emotion when empirical data clashes with corporate greed, political complacency, and media circus tactics.Loyalty to Science: The narrative underscores that while individual scientists have human flaws, the scientific process itself relies on peer review and observed reality, standing firm against corporate gaslighting.Oligarchs, Geoengineering, and the "Nugget of Hope"Interference in Deflection Missions: In Don't Look Up, humanity's initial, viable plan to divert the comet using space shuttles is subverted by a billionaire tech mogul seeking to mine the object for valuable minerals, which mirrors real world influence by powerful billionaires on the public.The Power of Science: Despite the film's apocalyptic climax, Amy and McKay identify a core message of persistence: scientific solutions exist to mitigate existential threats, provided public interest and rigorous peer review take precedence over short-term financial interests.Follow Unobtainium Podcast! Website: unobtainiumpodcast.comWatch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod Stay connected: Instagram: @unobtainiumpod TikTok: @unobtainiumpod Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social X: @unobtainiumpod For Adam McKay:https://www.instagram.com/mr.ghostpanther/ www.yellowdotstudios.com  #DontLookUp #AdamMcKay # LeonardoDiCaprio #NASA #ClimateChange #physics #AmyMainzer #unobtainiumpodcast #MovieBreakdown #SciFiMovies #GreenhouseEffect Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode DescriptionIn this episode of The Unobtainium Podcast, Amy shows her true Trekkie colors as she and Adam unpack the science and themes of the beloved TOS cast film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Together, they explore the ethical dilemmas of genetic engineering, eugenics, and CRISPR, along with the real-world science behind planet and star formation and the possibilities of terraforming dead planets. They also discuss why Khan Noonien Singh remains one of the franchise's best villains.Whether you're a lifelong Trekkie, a casual science fiction fan, or simply curious about the real science behind classic movies, this episode separates science fact from science fiction while celebrating one of the most beloved films in the Star Trek Universe.Full SummaryHosts Amy Mainzer (UCLA astrophysicist) and Adam Sigel (Hollywood writer/producer) discuss Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and why it remains the definitive TOS cast Star Trek movie. Released in 1982, the film marked a major cinematic evolution for the franchise, transitioning from 1960s TV camp to a high-stakes, narrative-driven space opera tackling mature themes like aging, mortality, and transformation.Genetic Engineering & Khan’s Origins·   Eugenics and CRISPR: The villain Khan Noonien Singh (played by Ricardo Montalbán) is a genetically engineered "superman" from 20th-century Earth. Designed to be ten times stronger and smarter than average humans, Khan and his followers eventually became dictators during the Eugenics Wars.·   Ethical Dilemmas: The hosts connect Khan’s backstory to modern genetic tools like CRISPR and selective breeding. The narrative raises the ethical question: Does superior physical or mental capacity give individuals the moral authority to rule over others?The "Genesis Device" vs. Real AstrophysicsThe conversation then turns to the film's legendary Genesis Device, examining whether terraforming could ever become reality. In the film, Project Genesis offers a technology capable of reorganizing subatomic matter that can instantly turn a dead moon into a living planet.·   The "Proto-Matter" Fallacy: Amy notes that the movie's underlying concept of "proto-matter" matrix reorganization is entirely fictional.·   Real Solar System Formation: In reality, planets do form from nebulae (clouds of gas and dust). Over millions of years, gravity pulls the cloud inward while rotational forces flatten it into a protoplanetary disk, eventually forming stars and planets. The Genesis Device essentially accelerates a process taking millions of years down to a few minutes.·   Terraforming Reality: Real-world terraforming remains in its infancy. Current space exploration focuses on in-situ resource utilization (e.g., harvesting water ice on the Moon or Mars) rather than atmosphere-altering planetary engineering.Key Themes Beyond the Science·   Creation vs. Destruction: The core narrative warning of Project Genesis is its potential as a weapon. If deployed where life already exists, it would destroy existing structures to create its new matrix. This serves as a metaphor for dual-use technologies like AI or nuclear energy.·   Emotions vs. Pure Logic: Throughout the film, the emotional bonds between Captain Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy emphasize that human intuition and empathy often overcome pure cold logic—a central theme that defines the heart of Star Trek. Follow Unobtainium Podcast! Website: unobtainiumpodcast.comWatch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod Stay connected: Instagram: @unobtainiumpod TikTok: @unobtainiumpod Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social X: @unobtainiumpod#startrek #trekkie #GeneticEngineering #Terraforming #unobtainiumpodcast #MovieBreakdown #SciFiMovies #StarTrek2WrathofKhan #GenesisDevice #PlanetFormation #AmyMainzer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the 2009 movie Moon pure fiction, or is lunar mining the future of clean energy? Could automated harvesters actually strip-mine the lunar surface regolith (moon soil)? Could we really harvest enough helium-3 to power nuclear fusion reactors on Earth? Is it possible to build a permanent moon base via NASA's Artemis missions? In this episode of the Unobtainium podcast, hosts astrophysicist and UCLA Professor Dr. Amy Mainzer and writer/producer Adam Sigel dive into a fascinating Moon movie breakdown. Directed by Duncan Jones (David Bowie’s son) on a modest $5 million budget, the outstanding 2009 Moon is widely celebrated as one of the best hard science fiction movies in the last 20 years. To separate cinematic fiction from orbital reality, the hosts are joined by a leading lunar and Mars expert: Dr. Dave Paige from UCLA’s Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences. The Reality of Lunar Mining and Helium-3 FusionThe central conceit of Moon revolves around a massive industrial operation by Lunar Industries to harvest helium-3 from the Moon’s surface to power clean nuclear fusion back on Earth. Dr. Paige suggests that mining the Moon at an industrial scale introduces massive economic and physical hurdles. Unlike nuclear fission (which splits heavy atoms), nuclear fusion jams light atoms together to release an immense amount of energy. While the movie positions helium-3 as an easily fusible miracle isotope that offers an "aneutronic" reaction (meaning it doesn't emit destructive neutrons), Dr. Paige points out a major real-world catch: a helium-3 reaction actually requires temperatures five times higher than standard hydrogen isotopes—billions of degrees Celsius—making it incredibly difficult to harness. Scraping the Lunar Regolith: A Scarred Moon?Helium-3 is an ultra-rare primordial isotope created just 20 seconds after the Big Bang. While it is virtually non-existent on Earth, it has accumulated for billions of years in the lunar regolith (lunar soil) via the solar wind. Because the Moon lacks plate tectonics and a traditional atmosphere, its ancient surface acts as perfect "flypaper" for cosmic particles. However, harvesting it requires an astonishingly inefficient scale. To extract just one single gram of helium-3, automated lunar harvesters would need to excavate and heat 100 tons of lunar soil to a glowing 600°C. Dr. Paige calculates that providing enough helium-3 to power 75% of Earth would require strip-mining a patch of the moon the size of a small U.S. state annually—an operation that would permanently change the face of the moon visible from Earth within a few centuries. Redefining the Sci-Fi Tropes: Space Isolation and AIBeyond the planetary geology, the Unobtainium team explores the intense human drama of the film's lone worker, Sam Bell, who is on a grueling three-year contract. The hosts note that real-world space agencies, such as NASA, use strict "buddy systems" for long-duration spaceflight to safeguard mental health. They also highlight how the film brilliantly subverts the classic "malevolent AI" trope popularized by HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Instead of acting as a cold, corporate antagonist, the ship's AI, Gertie, eventually demonstrates genuine compassion. It shifts the film from a standard space thriller into a profound existential commentary on corporate greed, scientific ethics, and what it truly means to be human. Follow Unobtainium Podcast! Website: unobtainiumpodcast.comWatch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod Stay connected: Instagram: @unobtainiumpod TikTok: @unobtainiumpod Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social X: @unobtainiumpod For Dave Paigehttps://www.space.ucla.edu/david-paigehttps://www.diviner.ucla.edu/daphttps://www.planetary.org/profiles/david-paige#NuclearFusion #SpaceExploration #duncanjonesmoon #helium3fusion #PlanetaryScience #unobtainiumpodcast #MovieBreakdown #ArtemisMission #SciFiMovies #MoonMovie #lunarmining Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Description Is Godzilla Minus One just a wonderful homage to the classic monster movies or is it the ultimate warning about nuclear energy? 🦖⚛️ In this episode of Unobtainium, Adam and Amy break down the real science, historical context, and emotional power of Godzilla Minus One. Joining the conversation is Professor Stephanie Diem, a nuclear physicist and engineer, and Professor of Engineering Physics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, to separate nuclear facts from the King of the Monsters science fiction. Along the way, they discuss the difference between fission and fusion, the realities of radiation, and the challenges of communicating complex science to the public. But the episode also digs into the film's deeper themes: postwar trauma, guilt, sacrifice, resilience, and humanity's complicated relationship with powerful technologies. The result is a fascinating look at how a giant radioactive lizard (or maybe a wayward dinosaur?) became cinema's most enduring metaphor for the atomic age. And why Godzilla Minus One resonated with audiences around the world. From the history of postwar Japan to the cutting-edge future of clean energy, they’re unpacking it all! Full SymmaryWhat makes Godzilla such an enduring pop culture icon? Godzilla Minus One took the world by storm, returning the King of Monsters to his terrifying roots as a symbol of nuclear destruction while delivering a deeply human story about trauma, survivor's guilt, and rebuilding after World War II. In this episode of Unobtainium, Adam and Amy dive into the Godzilla science, history, and emotional power of the film with Professor Stephanie Diem, a nuclear engineer and professor of Engineering Physics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. They break down the realities of nuclear engineering, including the fundamental differences between nuclear fission vs. fusion, how real-world nuclear reactors work, and whether Godzilla's devastating atomic breath is scientifically closer to a fission reactor or fusion reactions (hint: the blue color tells a lot).The conversation goes deep into the real science behind Godzilla's radioactive origins, including the differences between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, how nuclear reactors work, and why fusion energy remains one of humanity's greatest technological challenges. Along the way, Stephanie explains the workings of a reactor, from control rods to Cherenkov radiation, and fusion experiments. And how the world has moved beyond the fear of nuclear weapons to look at how nuclear technology is used for clean energy solutions, medical treatments, and space exploration. And they also touch on the challenges of modern science communication. But the episode goes far beyond monster science. Amy, Adam, and Stephanie examine the historical context that gave birth to Godzilla in postwar Japan, the legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the promise and peril of nuclear technology, and the role of science diplomacy in addressing global challenges. They also discuss why Godzilla Minus One resonates so powerfully with audiences today: beneath the spectacle of a giant radioactive monster lies a moving story about family, sacrifice, resilience, and the value of human life. Topics include: Godzilla Minus One, radiation, nuclear weapons, fission, fusion, reactor design, atomic breath, Cherenkov radiation, clean energy, science communication, postwar Japan, nuclear ethics, science diplomacy, and why one giant monster continues to embody humanity's hopes and fears about technology. Follow Unobtainium Podcast! Website: unobtainiumpodcast.comWatch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod Stay connected: Instagram: @unobtainiumpod TikTok: @unobtainiumpod Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social X: @unobtainiumpod For Stephanie Diem https://engineering.wisc.edu/directory/profile/stephanie-diem/https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffi-diem/#godzillaminusone #godzilla #moviescience #stephaniediem #scifi #unobtainiumpodcast #physics   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Unobtainium, Amy, Adam, and UCLA planetary scientist Dave Jewitt (discoverer of the Kuiper Belt) explore Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey—a film that remains one of the most scientifically realistic depictions of humans in space and a transformational moment for sci-fi cinema. From the physics of artificial gravity and existing in vacuum to HAL 9000, human evolution (what’s the story with those actors playing the apes?), and the search for alien intelligence, the conversation examines what the movie gets right and where it bends the rules. And incredibly, why its mysteries continue to captivate scientists and audiences nearly sixty years later. Along the way, they discuss the possibility of advanced civilizations (plus the reason why the Monolith is black), the dangers of technology (poor Hal, are humans are the real problem?), the purpose of exploration, and the profound question at the heart of Kubrick's vision: what comes next for humanity?Follow Unobtainium Podcast! Website: unobtainiumpodcast.comWatch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod Stay connected: Instagram: @unobtainiumpod TikTok: @unobtainiumpod Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social X: @unobtainiumpod For Dave Jewitt: https://faculty.epss.ucla.edu/~jewitt/David_Jewitt.html https://www.kavliprize.org/david-jewitt-autobiography #Kubrick #2001aspaceodyssey #science #scifi #starchild #unobtainiumpodcast #physics #Kuiperbelt#space #hal9000 #film #moviescience  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Unobtainium Podcast, hosts Adam Sigel and Amy Mainzer are joined by astrobiologist and evolutionary scientist Betül Kaçar to explore the real science beneath Jurassic Park. Could dinosaur DNA really survive inside amber for 65 million years? How close are modern scientists to resurrecting extinct species? And what happens when humanity gains the power to rewrite life itself? The conversation dives into cloning, CRISPR gene editing, ancient DNA, microbial evolution, extinction events, and the surprising role bacteria played in transforming Earth’s atmosphere billions of years ago. Along the way, the episode explores the deeper themes that make the Jurassic Park films endure: scientific ambition, chaos theory, corporate greed, the ethics of de-extinction, and humanity’s endless desire to control nature — even when nature refuses to cooperate. Equal parts funny, philosophical, and scientifically grounded, the discussion reveals why Jurassic Park remains one of the most compelling science fiction franchises. Follow Unobtainium Podcast! Website: unobtainiumpodcast.comWatch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod Stay connected: Instagram: @unobtainiumpod TikTok: @unobtainiumpod Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social X: @unobtainiumpod For Betül Kaçar : Website: https://www.kacarlab.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betul.kacar.astro  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this mind-bending episode of Unobtainium Podcast, hosts Adam and Amy are joined by neuroscientist and bestselling author David Eagleman to unpack the science behind Inception. They explore what dreams actually are, why the brain creates them, and whether concepts like dream manipulation, shared dreaming, mind hacking, and incepting your subconscious could ever become real. The conversation moves from the neuroscience of memory and perception to lucid dreaming and recurring nightmares.Also, they touch on related issues such as false memories, eyewitness testimony, processing grief, and the unsettling idea that our brains constantly rewrite reality. Along the way, they examine how Christopher Nolan’s film turns neuroscience into cinematic storytelling — using dreams not just as a sci-fi premise, but as a metaphor for filmmaking itself: the act of planting ideas inside someone else’s mind. The result is a fascinating exploration of consciousness, imagination, and why the line between reality and perception may be thinner than we think.Follow Unobtainium Podcast!Website: unobtainiumpodcast.comWatch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpodStay connected: Instagram: @unobtainiumpod TikTok: @unobtainiumpod Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social X: @unobtainiumpodFor David Eagleman:Website: https://eagleman.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/davideagelman/?hl=en X: https://x.com/davideagleman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.