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PODCAST

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast

Michael L. Wong

Hosted by planetary scientist and astrobiologist Dr. Michael L. Wong, Strange New Worlds examines science, technology, and culture through the lens of Star Trek!

science

All Episodes

00:31:14

Episode 69: Attitude Control

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2019/04/30

Guest: Steve Collins On Episode 69, Mike talks to NASA JPL Senior Engineer Steve Collins about designing and flying spacecraft to numerous extraterrestrial destinations over the past 25 years—as well as designing a fictional starship to boldly go where no musical has gone before. Watch "Boldly Go!" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdtBArmWHdY Follow us on Twitter! Mike: @Miquai Steve: @LongHairNasaGuy

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00:29:20

Episode 68: Looking Forward to Section 31

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2019/04/21

Guests: Dr. Henry Ngo & Laura Ngo Now that the second season of Star Trek: Discovery has wrapped up, it's time to look forward to the multitude of Trek shows in development. For Laura and Henry Ngo, the announcement of a brand-new Section 31 series is a dream come true. Mike sits down with this dynamic duo to discuss what they enjoyed about Section 31 in past iterations of Trek and what their hopes are for the upcoming series. Follow us on Twitter! Mike: @Miquai Henry: @AstroDino

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00:30:31

Episode 67: Xahea

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2019/04/15

In DSC: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1," we get a brief glimpse of Xahea's planetary characteristics on the main viewscreen. Using this information alone, Mike calculates the properties of Xahea's star and realizes that it is quite different from the Sun. At its orbital distance, one of the only ways that Xahea could maintain habitable temperatures is if it had lots of clouds to reflect away most of the incoming starlight—and, indeed, Xahea was depicted as a very cloudy place! Screencap of Xahea's

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00:23:47

Episode 66: In & Out of Shadow

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2019/04/11

Guest: Desun Oka In Star Trek: Discovery (23rd century), Section 31 seems like a legitimized intelligence agency operating well within the collective consciousness of Starfleet. This is contrary to its portrayal as a completely independent shadow organization that answers to no one in Star Trek: Enterprise (22nd century) and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (24th century). Historian Desun Oka tells us how the shifting nature of Section 31 ties into the fluidity of how history is written and remembered

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00:56:23

Episode 65: Flying Through a Flare

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2019/04/02

Guest: Dr. Jim Davenport Every Star Trek: Voyager episode begins with the U.S.S. Voyager sailing through a stellar flare. But what are flares? Why do they happen? And should you be worried about them? Dr. Jim Davenport, an astronomer who studies stellar flares, is here to answer all of your questions. Then, Mike and Jim dive into the science and storylines of Star Trek: Discovery's second season. Jim is the creator and host of Astro Vlog, a YouTube series that tells the story of the life of a

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00:44:27

Episode 64: The Worst Best Hug

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2019/03/22

Guest: Elise Cutts In Star Trek: Discovery, Ensign Tilly finds out that she has a "eukaryotic organism" growing inside of her—what's that? And why would Stamets' argon/xenon mixture make a good lightning rod? Newly minted Fulbright Fellow Elise Cutts is back on the show to discuss storylines and scientific themes from the first five episodes of Discovery's second season. Mike's "The Science of Star Trek" Astro On Tap Seattle talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2g17F-OomE Astronomy On Tap:

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00:42:21

Episode 63: The MU69 Flyby & Terralysium's Rings

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2019/03/09

Guest: Dr. James T. Keane On January 1, 2019, the New Horizons spacecraft flew past the Kuiper belt object MU69. Mike sat down with Dr. James T. Keane, a member of the New Horizons team, to ask him about being at this unique planetary encounter, what we've learned about the mysterious MU69 so far, and the Trekkiest thing about the flyby. Then, Mike and James discuss the physics behind the criss-crossing rings of planet Terralysium in the Star Trek: Discovery episode "New Eden." Follow us on

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00:55:14

Episode 62: The Sport Psychology of Star Trek

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2019/02/23

Guest: Dr. Jason von Stietz Whether you're running a half-marathon in Starfleet's Command Training Program, forming a baseball team on Deep Space Nine, or fencing a clever El-Aurian, Dr. Jason von Stietz is here to tell you how to overcome your opposition—with your mind! Jason, a PhD in clinical psychology, works as a sport psychologist at Whittier College and Cognitive Behavior Therapy of Southern California. Mike talks to Dr. von Stietz about the mental side of sports and how it relates to

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00:32:59

Episode 61: Driving Stories with Science

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2019/02/12

Guest: Joshua Zeller Mike sits down with playwright, actor, and director Joshua Zeller to discuss the writing of science-driven stories. Joshua is the author of "The God Particle Complex," a play about the search for the Higgs boson. Then, they discuss a range of Star Trek topics, including the latest DSC episode, "An Obol for Charon," Follow us on Twitter: Mike: @Miquai Joshua: @madcapofscience

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00:49:19

Episode 60: The Search for Circumbinaries

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2019/01/31

Guest: Diana Windemuth What do Gallifrey from Doctor Who, Tatooine from Star Wars, and Talos IV from Star Trek have in common? They all orbit binary stars! On Episode 60 of Strange New Worlds, Diana Windemuth tells Mike about her hunt for circumbinary planets and why it's a much harder quest than looking for planets around single stars. Then, they discuss aspects of Star Trek Discovery's second season, including the latest episode, "New Eden," the Marvel-ization of Star Trek, and why Diana doesn't

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00:18:43

Episode 59: Disco Bingo

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2019/01/24

Guests: Dr. James T. Keane & Dr. Peter Gao Mike, James, and Peter recap Star Trek: Discovery's Season 2 premiere in a totally unique way—through their bingo sheets! That's right, they're playing Disco Bingo! Find out who's in the lead after the first episode, what made Mike cry, and who stole "the tardigrade returns" just to lord it over Mike if it ever does. Follow us on Twitter! Mike: @Miquai James: @jtuttlekeane Peter: @PlanetaryGao

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00:29:04

Episode 58: #AGU18: What Science Stands For

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2019/01/19

Guests: Erika K. Carlson, Voon Hui Lai, Dr. Jamie S. Rankin, Cecilia B. Sanders, Hima J. Hassenruck Gudipati, and Dr. James T. Keane The theme of the American Geophysical Union meeting in December 2018 was "What Science Stands For," so Mike went around asking scientists and science communicators, "What DOES science stand for?" Follow us on Twitter! Mike: @Miquai Erika: @erikakcarlson James: @jtuttlekeane

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00:23:54

Episode 57: Short Treks Review

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2019/01/15

Welcome to 2019! In this first episode of what's bound to be a Star Trek–packed year, Mike gears up for Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery by reviewing the first four Short Treks episodes. Also inside: how science is benefitting restoration and preservation projects in the Angkor region of Cambodia! Brandon-Shea Mutala's recent interviews with Star Trek composer's on TrekFM's Melodic Treks podcast: Dennis McCarthy: http://www.trek.fm/melodic-treks/89 Nicholas Meyer:

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00:33:17

Episode 56: The Beginning of an Odyssey?

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2018/12/21

Guest: Elise Cutts In the final episode of 2018, Michael interviews former co-host Elise Cutts about the Short Treks episode "Calypso." Also, there's plenty of space news—from InSight to OSIRIS-REx to Voyager 2. Astro Vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl__Ae2qk1Y&t=2s Michael's Planetary Report story on the emergence of life: http://www.planetary.org/explore/the-planetary-report/the-making-of-life.html Follow us on Twitter! Michael: @Miquai Elise: @emcuttsy

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00:30:59

Episode 55: #DPS18 Day 5: Who Let J.J. Abrams Direct...

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2018/12/16

Guests: Dr. Peter Gao, Dr. Laura Mayorga, Danica Adams Michael is joined by Dr. Peter Gao, Dr. Laura Mayorga, and Danica Adams to recap the 2018 Division for Planetary Science meeting. Each summarizes the science that they presented at #DPS18 and shares their favorite aspect of the conference. Also, Peter talks about how he hid subtle Star Trek references in his conference talk and faculty applications. Follow us on Twitter! Michael: @Miquai Peter: @PlanetaryGao Laura: @mayorgalc

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00:24:27

Episode 54: #DPS18 Days 1–3: Captain's Logs

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2018/12/08

Michael recaps the exciting science from the first three days of the 2018 Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) Meeting in a series of Captain's Logs. DPS is the annual conference for planetary scientists of the American Astronomical Society (AAS). Follow me on Twitter! Michael: @Miquai

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00:30:11

Episode 53.5: BONUS! Discovery NYCC Trailer Analysis

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2018/12/04

Guest: Dr. Peter Gao In this BONUS episode of Strange New Worlds, Michael and Dr. Peter Gao pick apart the Discovery Season 2 trailer (released at the New York Comic Con in October) from a science and Star Trek perspective. NYCC Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6eoD9rQHL4 Oxygen on Mars, from PBS/NOVA: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/living-mars-oxygen/ Follow us on Twitter! Michael: @Miquai Peter: @PlanetaryGao

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00:31:16

Episode 53: Oxygen Isn't Everything & A "Runaway"...

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2018/12/01

Guest: Dr. Peter Gao Postcard: Dr. James T. Keane Dr. Peter Gao visits Michael in Seattle to share his research on how atmospheric oxygen can be made without life. Such copious amounts of oxygen might fool astronomers as false-positive biosignatures—but there are clever ways to combat this uncertainty. Then, Michael and Peter respond to Dr. James T. Keane's digital postcard reviewing the first-ever Short Treks episode, "Runaway." Follow us on Twitter! Michael: @Miquai Peter: @PlanetaryGao James:

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00:15:12

Episode 52.5: BONUS! Happy Tryptophan Day

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2018/11/22

In this BONUS episode of Strange New Worlds, Michael wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving and talks about the recent groundbreaking discovery of the amino acid tryptophan deep below the bottom of the ocean—and what that might mean for the origin of life. Follow us on Twitter! Michael: @miquai

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00:43:53

Episode 52: The Cloud Academy

Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast ·

2018/11/11

Guests: Dr. Tony Del Genio, Maria Steinrueck, Ryan MacDonald Clouds and hazes play important roles in controlling planetary climates and can both help and get in the way of astronomers who are trying to learn about an exoplanet. In this episode, Michael interviews scientists at The Cloud Academy at the Les Houches Advanced School for Physics, and stumbles upon some surprising connections to Star Trek. Follow us on Twitter! Michael: @Miquai NASA NExSS (contributed to by Tony): @nexssinfo Maria:

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