Jim Al-Khalili on Dark Matter in 'Sunfall'

Jim Al-Khalili on Dark Matter in 'Sunfall'

Author: Marty Kurylowicz and Holly Carson May 16, 2024 Duration: 51:18
Our theme in the next two episodes is dark matter, the kind of far-out science that is stranger than fiction and presents realms of possibility that are both more plausible and more interesting than parallel worlds or extra dimensions or even wormholes. In this episode we talk to Jim Al-Khalili, who is many things: physicist, author of both fiction and non-fiction, educator, broadcaster and all around extraordinary public intellectual who reaches millions of people around the world with his p...

Ever wonder how close that far-future technology in your favorite novel really is, or what a biologist thinks about the alien ecosystems a writer dreams up? That’s the space where The Science in The Fiction lives. Hosted by Marty Kurylowicz and Holly Carson, this series bridges two worlds that often talk past each other. Each episode begins with a conversation with a science fiction author, pulling apart the big ideas and speculative concepts woven into their work. Then, they bring a scientist or expert into the studio to examine those same ideas through the lens of current research and theory. The real magic happens when these perspectives collide, creating a genuine dialogue. You’ll hear a physicist geek out over warp drive mechanics with an author who just wrote about them, or an ethicist debate artificial consciousness with the novelist who imagined it. It’s not just about fact-checking fiction; it’s about using narrative to ask better questions and using science to deepen our sense of wonder. This podcast operates on a simple, powerful belief: that science fiction can make science more compelling and accessible, and that solid science can, in turn, inspire more thoughtful and visionary stories. If you’ve ever finished a brilliant sci-fi book and immediately fallen down a research rabbit hole, this show feels built for you. Tune in for conversations that are as insightful about human creativity as they are about quantum mechanics or xenobiology, all designed to fuel your curiosity.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 65

The Science in The Fiction
Podcast Episodes
Daniel H. Wilson on Planetary Protection in 'The Andromeda Evolution' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:42
Daniel H. Wilson has a PhD in robotics and is the author of the non-fiction books ‘How to Survive a Robot Uprising’, ‘How to Build a Robot Army’ and ‘Where’s my Jetpack’, as well as the bestselling science fiction novels…
Alex Moskaluk on the Science of Sci-Fi Fungi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:22
This is our fourth and final episode on the theme of Sci-Fi Fungi, where we dig a little deeper into the current science and future science of mycology with Dr. Alex Moskaluk, a mycologist and professor of biology at the…
Kaitlyn Kuehn on Sci-Fi Fungi on The Flora Funga Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:38
Marty speaks with Kaitlyn Kuehn (KK), creator and host of the Flora Funga Podcast, discussing recent developments in real world applications of fungi, and speculating about the possible roles fungi may play in our scienc…
Mike Carey on Sci-Fi Fungi in 'The Girl With All The Gifts' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:23
We speak with M. R. Carey about his book 'The Girl With All The Gifts', where the zombie fungus Cordyceps plays a central role in bringing about the end of civilization. We talk about the appeal of a post-apocalyptic sto…
Benjamin Percy on Sci-Fi Fungi in 'The Unfamiliar Garden' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:00
Beginning our highly anticipated new topic of Sci-Fi Fungi, we talk to science fiction author Benjamin Percy about the second book of his Comet Cycle, 'The Unfamiliar Garden'. We discuss Ben's writing career in comic boo…
Edward M. Lerner on First Contact in 'On The Shoals of Space-Time' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:00
We talk to a returning guest and friend of the show, science fiction author Edward M. Lerner, about his latest book 'On The Shoals of Space-Time', on the topic of First Contact. Ed is a fount of scientific insight and in…
Mark Milne on Geoengineering in 'The Ministry for the Future' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:03
In this episode we talk to Mark Milne as a follow-up on our interviews with science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson and glaciologist Heidi Sevestre in episodes 21 and 22, on the topic of Geoengineering as portrayed i…
Peter Watts in Conversation with Justin Gregg - Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:34
We continue the conversation between science fiction author Peter Watts and scientist Justin Gregg, and now they get down to the tricky business of discussing the nature of consciousness. We discuss Peter's premise of 'B…
Peter Watts in Conversation with Justin Gregg - Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:29
In this episode we present a conversation between science fiction author Peter Watts and scientist Justin Gregg, following up on our individual interviews with each of them on the general theme of intelligence and consci…