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

More from Unobtainium Podcast All episodes →

1. 

   S1 · E110 · 21 Jul 2026 · 42 min

   Is a “Severance” Split Brain possible? How Are Memories Formed? Can Different Aspects of Personality Be Isolated Inside the Brain? Memory, Identity, and Neuroplasticity with David Eagleman

   Could your mind really be split in two? Can a chip in your brain divide your work life from your personal life? Hosts astrophysicist and UCLA Professor Dr. Amy Mainzer and writer/producer Adam Sigel welcome back Stanford neuroscientist, author and creator of Inner Cosmos , David Eagleman, who also serves as a science consultant for Severance Season 3. Adam references the Hollywood development term "science-faction" to describe the show—a blend of fiction rooted heavily in real-world scientific possibilities. The core premise of the show explores the ultimate, extreme form of satirical…

2. 

   S1 · E109 · 14 Jul 2026 · 42 min

   Mining on the Moon? Explore the possibilities of Fusion Using Helium-3, a New AI Computer in Space, and the Ethics of Reaching Humanity's Next Frontier with Lunar Expert Dave Paige

   Is the 2009 movie Moon pure fiction, or is lunar mining the future of clean energy? Could automated harvesters actually strip-mine the lunar surface regolith (moon soil)? Could we really harvest enough helium-3 to power nuclear fusion reactors on Earth? Is it possible to build a permanent moon base via NASA's Artemis missions? In this episode of the Unobtainium podcast, hosts astrophysicist and UCLA Professor Dr. Amy Mainzer and writer/producer Adam Sigel dive into a fascinating Moon movie breakdown. Directed by Duncan Jones (David Bowie’s son) on a modest $5 million budget, the outstanding…

3. 

   S1 · E108 · 7 Jul 2026 · 36 min

   Why is a parasitic alien so terrifying? From Facehuggers to Xenomorphs, we dissect Space Travel, Exoplanets, and the Enduring Nightmares Implanted Within This Sci-Fi Masterpiece .

   What makes the deep-space horror classic film Alien (1979) one of the scariest science fiction movies ever made? Amy and Adam explore science, psychology, and the enduring power of Ridley Scott’s masterpiece. In space, no one can hear you scream—but there’s plenty to talk about. Full Summary In this episode of the Unobtainium podcast, astrophysicist and planetary scientist Dr. Amy Mainzer (UCLA) and Hollywood writer-producer Adam Sigel break down Ridley Scott’s 1979 cinematic masterpiece, Alien in search of an answer to why this movie is one of the most terrifying sci-fi horror movies of all…

4. 

   S1 · E107 · 30 Jun 2026 · 41 min

   Is Godzilla Fission or Fusion? From Radiation Mutation to Blue Atomic Breath, Nuclear Physicist Stephanie Diem Unpacks This Superb Homage Monster Movie.

   Episode Description Is Godzilla Minus One just a wonderful homage to the classic monster movies or is it the ultimate warning about nuclear energy? 🦖⚛️ In this episode of Unobtainium, Adam and Amy break down the real science, historical context, and emotional power of Godzilla Minus One . Joining the conversation is Professor Stephanie Diem , a nuclear physicist and engineer, and Professor of Engineering Physics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, to separate nuclear facts from the King of the Monsters science fiction. Along the way, they discuss the difference between fission and…

5. 

   S1 · E106 · 23 Jun 2026 · 39 min

   Can Robots Feel? Roboticist Hiro Ono joins us to explore consciousness, mortality, AI Robots, and what it means to be human as we discuss Ridley Scott’s thought-provoking sci-fi film Blade Runner.

   Episode Description Blade Runner is famous for its flying cars, neon cyberpunk skylines, and bioengineered replicants—but its most enduring questions are about what it means to be human. In this episode of the Unobtainium podcast, hosts Adam and Amy are joined by renowned roboticist Hiro Ono to explore the cutting-edge science and philosophy behind Ridley Scott's sci-fi masterpiece. How close is modern technology to creating truly humanoid robots? Can Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) or large language models (LLMs) achieve actual machine consciousness? What role do memory, emotion, and…

6. 

   S1 · E104 · 9 Jun 2026 · 33 min

   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…

7. 

   S1 · E103 · 2 Jun 2026 · 31 min

   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…

8. 

   S1 · E101 · 26 May 2026 · 30 min

   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…

9. 

   S1 · E102 · 26 May 2026 · 39 min

   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…

10. 

    12 May 2026 · 1 min

    Unobtainium Podcast Trailer (Meet the Hosts)

    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.