Unobtainium Podcast

Adam Sigel & Dr. Amy Mainzer
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Science Fiction

The Unobtainium Podcast is hosted by Adam Sigel, a Hollywood writer-producer, and Dr. Amy Mainzer, an astrophysicist. Together, they explore the science in science fiction. Each episode unpacks the Unobtainium behind movies—what’s real, what’s cinematic, and why filmmakers bend reality. This is for the nerds, sci-fi fans, film junkies, and anyone curious about the science behind the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. Alien Intelligence, Physics of Space, a Homicidal AI, and More with UCLA planetary scientist (and discoverer of the Kuiper Belt) Dave Jewitt on Kubrick’s Masterpiece

    1d ago

    Alien Intelligence, Physics of Space, a Homicidal AI, and More with UCLA planetary scientist (and discoverer of the Kuiper Belt) Dave Jewitt on Kubrick’s Masterpiece

    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.com Watch 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.

    47 min
  2. Is the Force real? From hyperspace to parsecs, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson joins us to discuss the science of Star Wars.

    Jun 9

    Is the Force real? From hyperspace to parsecs, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson joins us to discuss the science of Star Wars.

    In this episode of Unobtainium Podcast, hosts Adam and Amy sit down with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to unpack the science and mythology of Star Wars. Together, they explore whether the Force resembles anything in real-world physics, from gravity and electromagnetism to quantum mechanics and multiple dimensions. The conversation dives into hyperspace travel, wormholes, faster-than-light storytelling shortcuts, and the infamous“12 parsecs” controversy, while also examining why Star Wars resonates so deeply on a human level. Along the way, they discuss the Star Wars canon, good versus evil, selflessness versus selfishness, the psychology of belief, and why the Force endures as a timeless metaphor for power, destiny, and transformation. Funny, philosophical, and deeply nerdy, the episode explores why Star Wars continues to shape modern culture nearly 50 years after its release. Follow Unobtainium Podcast!   Website: unobtainiumpodcast.com Watch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod   Stay connected:  Instagram: @unobtainiumpod  TikTok: @unobtainiumpod  Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social  X: @unobtainiumpod   For Neil deGrasse Tyson:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neildegrassetyson  Youtube: https://youtube.com/@startalk  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neildegrassetyson?_r=1&_t=ZT-9736KZJtaIA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min
  3. Is It Actually Possible to Bring Back Dinosaurs? Unearthing Ancient DNA, CRISPR, Chaos Theory in Jurassic Park with Astrobiologist Betül Kaçar

    Jun 2

    Is It Actually Possible to Bring Back Dinosaurs? Unearthing Ancient DNA, CRISPR, Chaos Theory in Jurassic Park with Astrobiologist Betül Kaçar

    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.com Watch 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.

    31 min
  4. Lucid Dreaming Is Real, but Is Shared Dreaming Also Possible? David Eagleman Discusses Neuroscience of Dreams, Memory, Consciousness in Christopher Nolan's Inception

    May 26

    Lucid Dreaming Is Real, but Is Shared Dreaming Also Possible? David Eagleman Discusses Neuroscience of Dreams, Memory, Consciousness in Christopher Nolan's Inception

    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.com Watch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod Stay connected:  Instagram: @unobtainiumpod  TikTok: @unobtainiumpod  Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social  X: @unobtainiumpod For 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.

    40 min
  5. What Is the Science of Time Travel? In their first episode, Amy and Adam Go “Back to the Future” on Einstein, Paradoxes, and an Iconic DeLorean with a Flux Capacitor

    May 26

    What Is the Science of Time Travel? In their first episode, Amy and Adam Go “Back to the Future” on Einstein, Paradoxes, and an Iconic DeLorean with a Flux Capacitor

    What if the greatest time travel device in movie history is just a glowing Y-shaped excuse to ask bigger questions about science, storytelling, and human imagination?   In the premiere episode of Unobtainium Podcast, Hollywood writer/producer Adam Sigel and rocket scientist Amy Mainzer launch a smart, funny deep dive into the science of science fiction through one of cinema’s most iconic inventions: the flux capacitor from Back to the Future.   Along the way, they explore why great sci-fi doesn’t need perfect science — it just needs enough “unobtainium” to make us believe. From Einstein’s theory of relativity and real-world time dilation to wormholes, paradoxes, plutonium, and the narrative genius of a time-traveling DeLorean, the conversation moves between real physics and Hollywood storytelling craft.   The result is a lively exploration of why science fiction matters: not just because it predicts the future, but because it helps us imagine it. Follow Unobtainium Podcast! Website: unobtainiumpodcast.com Watch full episodes on Youtube: https://youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod Stay connected: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unobtainiumpod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unobtainiumpod Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/unobtainiumpod.bsky.social X: https://x.com/unobtainiumpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
  6. Unobtainium Podcast Trailer

    Trailer

    Unobtainium Podcast Trailer

    The Unobtainium Podcast is hosted by Adam Sigel, a Hollywood producer-writer, and Dr. Amy Mainzer, an astrophysicist. Together, they explore the science in science fiction. Each episode unpacks the Unobtainium behind movies—what’s real, what’s cinematic, and why filmmakers bend reality. This is for the nerds, sci-fi fans, film junkies, and anyone curious about the science behind the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Unobtainium Podcast is hosted by Adam Sigel, a Hollywood writer-producer, and Dr. Amy Mainzer, an astrophysicist. Together, they explore the science in science fiction. Each episode unpacks the Unobtainium behind movies—what’s real, what’s cinematic, and why filmmakers bend reality. This is for the nerds, sci-fi fans, film junkies, and anyone curious about the science behind the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Adam Sigel & Dr. Amy Mainzer
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Cognito Entertainment. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Unobtainium Podcast

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