24 episodes

Experts from the MacDiarmid Institute take an idea from fiction and see how it stands up to scientific scrutiny.

Sci Fi / Sci Fact RNZ Originals

    • Science
    • 5.0 • 1 Rating

Experts from the MacDiarmid Institute take an idea from fiction and see how it stands up to scientific scrutiny.

    Zero Point Energy

    Zero Point Energy

    This episode we look at a villain's secret weapon - Zero Point Energy. In The Incredibles Syndrome uses Zero Point Energy to freeze the heroes and get away with his crimes against humanity.

    • 35 min
    Neutronium

    Neutronium

    Neutronium comes up in Star Wars, Star Trek and many of the Marvel Comics. It's a hypothetical substance made purely of neutrons. Jan Eldridge, Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Auckland tells Bryan Crump how likely 

    • 22 min
    Antman

    Antman

    Marvel's Antman can shrink down to the size of an ant but still pack the punch of Mike Tyson. The McDiarmid Institute's Dr Mike Price discusses the difficulties of making this a reality.

    • 32 min
    Axonite

    Axonite

    Axonite is a 'thinking' material that can replicate and spread across the cosmos to feed. The MacDiarmid Institute's Professor Bill Williams discusses whether this sort of material is scientifically possible.

    • 24 min
    Nth Metal

    Nth Metal

    Nth Metal is a hyper-conductive metal that negates gravity. It features heavily in DC comics, but how does it stack up in the real world Professor Penny Brothers gives Bryan Crump her scientific take on it.

    • 27 min
    Philote

    Philote

    In the Ender's Game series, philote is a particle that enables communication across the galaxy. Dr Krista Steenbergen talks to Bryan Crump about the realities of such a thing.

    • 24 min

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