Julius Csotonyi on Dark Ecology in 'Dark Eden' - Part 2

Julius Csotonyi on Dark Ecology in 'Dark Eden' - Part 2

Author: Marty Kurylowicz and Holly Carson June 19, 2025 Duration: 44:08
This is the second part of Marty's conversation with Julius Csotonyi about dark ecology in relation to the dark rogue world of Chris Beckett’s book 'Dark Eden'. We discuss the extraordinary existence of anoxygenic autotrophic bacteria that are capable of photosynthesis in the dark of the ocean floor! Julius describes the ecology of thermal vents and geothermal energy as it stems from a hot planetary core, and we speculate about the kinds of planets that could host a dark ecology. ...

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
Alex Moskaluk on the Science of Sci-Fi Fungi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:22
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Duration: 55:38
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Mike Carey on Sci-Fi Fungi in 'The Girl With All The Gifts' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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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
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Mark Milne on Geoengineering in 'The Ministry for the Future' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:03
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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…
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Duration: 46:04
Marty and Holly talk to George Paxinos - neuroscientist, environmental activist and author of 'A River Divided', a book that explores neurological determinism - the claim that we have no free will and that our actions ar…