Popcorn Science Podcast

John E. Moores & Catherine Neish
  • 5.0 (3)
  • ASTRONOMY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Popcorn Science is a podcast that takes a critical look at the science portrayed in our favourite movies and television shows.

Episodes

  1. 10/04/2025

    2001: A Space Odyssey

    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 2001: A Space Odyssey (film, 1968) 2001: A Space Odyssey (novel, 1968) Stargate Effect Arthur C. Clarke Stanley Kubrick Also sprake Zarathustra - Richard Strauss Sapians Homo Habilus (tool users) Stanford Torus Andromeda Strain: Book (1969), Film (1971) Lunar Swirls Vacuum Suit Accident Reaction Wheel Computer sings "Daisy Bell" (1961) Douglas Rain Universe (1960) - National Film Board of Canada

    1h 4m

  2. 09/20/2025

    Deep Impact

    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 Deep Impact (1998) Carolyn Shoemaker Gene Shoemaker Meteor Crater DART Orion Deep Impact (NASA Mission)

    1h 2m

  3. 09/07/2025

    Blade Runner

    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 Blade Runner (1982)

    1h 5m

  4. 08/24/2025

    Battlestar Galactica

    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 Battlestar Galactica (2003)

    59 min

  5. 08/10/2025

    Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

    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 Star Wars: Rogue One

    1h 2m

  6. 07/26/2025

    Thor

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

    57 min

  7. 07/12/2025

    Clara

    References Clara (film) Clara on YouTube 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!

    58 min

  8. 06/28/2025

    The Core

    References The Core Stevenson (2003) 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.

    1 hr

  9. 06/14/2025

    Tribbles

    References The Trouble with the Tribbles Trials and Tribble-ations 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!

    1 hr

  10. 05/31/2025

    Contact

    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 Contact (film) Contact (book) Kent Cullers Frank Drake Arecibo Message Arecibo Telescope (RIP) Project Phoenix Jill Tarter Rendezvous with Rama Robert Zemeckis Carl Sagan The Demon Haunted World Cosmos

    1h 2m

  11. 05/17/2025

    Ender's Game

    References Ender's Game (film) Ender's Game (book) 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.

    1h 1m

  12. 05/03/2025

    Tunguska-Terma

    Topics Antarctic Meteorite Survey Tunguska References Tunguska Event Tunguska Episode Terma Episode 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.

    1 hr
  • 12 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Popcorn Science is a podcast that takes a critical look at the science portrayed in our favourite movies and television shows.

Information