Ep 104: Science Fiction at Dragon*Con with Plait and Grazier

Pamela left Fraser behind (with sorrow) and took on Dragon*Con and the facts (or lack there of) in Science Fiction. Helping her out were special guests Phil Plait and Kevin Grazier.

Ep. 104: Science Fiction at Dragon*Con with Plait and Grazier

Who's Who:

Real people:

• Phil Plait
• Phil's Bad Astronomy Blog
• Kevin Grazier
• More on Kevin from the Cassini mission site

Real people discussed

• Larry Niven
• Arthur C. Clarke
• Richard Hatch
• Michael Bay
• Katee Sackhoff
• BAUT Forum

Show Roll:

• Zula Patrol
• About Zula Patrol
• Battlestar Galactica (official site)
• Battlestar Galactica (SciFi Channel)
• Star Trek (official site)
• Virtuality
• Eureka (SciFi Channel)
• Eureka (Wikipedia)
• Firefly
• Dr. Who (BBC site)
• Dr. Who (SciFi Channel)
• Space 1999 – and the Eagle spacecraft
  
• Babylon 5 (SciFi Channel)
• Babylon 5 (Wikipedia)
• Armageddon (movie)
• Phil Plait's review of Armageddon
• War of the Worlds (original radio broadcast)
• War of the Worlds (original 1953 )movie
• War of the Worlds (2005 movie)
• 2001 (Wikipedia)
  
• 2010 (Wikipedia)

Characters discussed

• Dr. Pulaksi
• Dr. Who
• new Dr. Who
• Donna Noble
• Victor Bergman
• Sheriff Jack Carter
• Spock
• Mr. Data
• Captain Janeway
• Boltar

Real Science Discussed:

• Pulsars
• Star Clusters
• Expansion of the sun
• mass loss rates of the sun
• Mt. Vesuvius
• Dyson Sphere
• Coronal Mass Ejections
• nucleic acids
• Iapetus
• Jupiter turning into a sun? (not going to happen)

1. Sci-Fi Si Says:
   September 6th, 2008 at 5:37 am

   I love this episode! Thank you.

2. Mike Says:
   September 6th, 2008 at 6:22 am

   Loved last years science and sci-fi episodes and this one too. Was there any more Q&A that you might be able to post as either a supplemental audio segment or show?

   Also, Dr Pam has got to post what she was wearing that day at Dragon*Con. We all want to she how cute she was in person!

3. Buzz Ryan Says:
   September 6th, 2008 at 10:41 am

   It was a great pleasure to be in the audience for this recording!

   I wish more people could hear this and know that you can love science and enjoy science fiction despite the inaccuracies, because in the end it is all fun!

   Dr. Platt is correct. The Eagle is the most awesome spaceship in sci fi! I want the one with the RV module.

4. Buzz Ryan Says:
   September 6th, 2008 at 12:49 pm

   Sorry!!!!!!!!!!! Dr. Plait not Platt!!!!!!!!!!!

5. Andrew Hobson Says:
   September 8th, 2008 at 5:31 am

   Sorry, but I was disappointed and confused by this episode. It's doesn't belong to a series of astronomical/scientific podcasts such as Astronomy Cast.

   I have come to expect certain things from Astronomy Cast - namely, "a fact based journey through the cosmos [with] weekly discussions on astronomical topics ranging from planets to cosmology, bringing the questions of an avid astronomy lover direct to an astronomer".

   This "mission statement" just doesn't square with this week's podcast.

   I live in France, and I have never heard of or seen most of the sci-fi/fantasy series mentioned by Kevin Grazier and the rest of the panel. I'm not a Star Trek or Battlestar Galactica fanatic, I'm an amateur astronomer. This particular podcast did nothing to advance my knowledge in what is a very exciting and fast-moving science - particularly at the moment, with all the exciting missions to Mars, Mercury and beyond, and all the new discoveries that are being made.

   There are so many exciting topics to choose from right now, and I'm surprised that you consider sci-fi TV series to be more important than, say, the Phoenix mission to Mars.

   Just looking forward to a return to form next week!

6. Greg Says:
   September 8th, 2008 at 10:07 am

   Maybe your horizons will be broadened now, Mr. Andrew Hobson.
   Expecting things from people almost always leads to disappointment, so maybe it is not such a good idea to expect things from strangers or radio hosts. The podcast reaches many people aside from you and a lot of those people like a show of this sort once in awhile, so don't ruin it for the rest of us, will you?
   The stars aren't going anywhere (you know what I mean), and the data coming back from these missions will be around for next week, so don't worry so much and try to enjoy learning about something new.

7. Andrew Hobson Says:
   September 8th, 2008 at 1:38 pm

   Hi Greg and thanks for your comment. I concede that certain Astronomy Cast listeners will welcome this fantasy/sci-fi themed show.

   But there will also be people like me, looking for more serious, scientific content.

   I realise these sci-fi shows are only once in a while, but I still wanted to share my thoughts. I’m sorry if my remarks provoked you.

   I've been a devoted listener of Astronomy Cast right since the start, and I listen every week. I look forward to next week's episode.

8. Kayla Says:
   September 8th, 2008 at 1:47 pm

   I really loved the show and played it back (as I do many other AstroCasts) to my 13 y/o daughter so she could hear that science is fun. Plus, Dr Pamela Gay is such a great role model for young girls!

9. The Astronomy Cast Troll Says:
   September 9th, 2008 at 4:02 am

   TACT admits that he it has watched the first three seasons of BSG despite bad science.

   TACT is neither place nor displeased with the words of the BSG science advisor.

   TACT has not since watched BSG.

   TACT thinks science advisors need to be more assertive.

10. The Bad Astronomer Says:
    September 9th, 2008 at 11:33 am

    Thanks for the kind words, folks! Kevin and I had a grand time with Pamela… of course, I always have fun when I'm with her; she's a fantastic person. But you already know this.

11. Alex Says:
    September 11th, 2008 at 4:22 am

    what a sucky episode. Though the podcast is great.

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