Why We Deny Scientific Warnings? A Deep Dive into the Science of Climate Change, Searching for Hope, and the Art of Integrating Science into Emotional and Evocative Storytelling

More from Unobtainium Podcast

1. 

   S1 · E106 · 1 Sep 2026 · 10 min

   Could a Snake Robot Find Alien Life? | Mars, Enceladus & the Future of Space Robotics

   What does it take to build a robot that can explore another world—and maybe even help us find extraterrestrial life? In this special bonus mini-episode of UNOBTAINIUM, roboticist Dr. Hiro Ono takes us from the surface of Mars to the hidden ocean of Enceladus, Saturn’s icy moon. Hiro, who joined us for our episode on BLADE RUNNER and the future of robotics, worked on the Mars Perseverance rover, helping develop autonomous vision systems that allow a robot millions of miles from Earth to understand its surroundings and navigate the Martian landscape. With signals between Earth and Mars taking…

2. 

   S1 · E114 · 25 Aug 2026 · 42 min

   Could the Rage Virus in 28 Days Later actually happen? Dr. Seema Yasmin joins us to unpack the terrifying real science of viruses, outbreaks, R-naught, and why this horror classic hits very differently after COVID.

   Is the "Rage Virus" in 28 Days Later scientifically plausible? Amy and Adam sit down with Dr. Sima Yasmin—medical doctor, former CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officer, author and disease detective! – to separate the real science of viruses and pandemics from one of cinema’s most frightening fictional outbreaks. What exactly is a virus—and is it even alive? Could scientists really use a virus to alter human behavior? Why are viruses used as vectors in cutting-edge gene therapies (like CAR-T cancer therapy)? They also discuss incubation periods, the math of R-naught, split-brain…

3. 

   S1 · E103 · 18 Aug 2026 · 10 min

   More on Astrobiology with Dr. Betül Kaçar

   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4. 

   S1 · E112 · 4 Aug 2026 · 28 min

   What’s our plan for a planet-killer comet? The facts about NASA’s Planetary Defense (Kinetic Impactors vs Armageddon Nukes) and more in Adam McKay’s film "Don’t Look Up."

   Episode Description How do long-period comets (like Comet NEOWISE) actually move, how NASA’s real-life Planetary Defense Coordination Office operates, and whether kinetic impactors (like the DART mission) or nuclear explosives could divert a planet-killing object? They also dive into why the film serves as a sharp allegory for climate change, pandemic responses, corporate greed, and the politicization of science. Full Summary Amy Mainzer (UCLA astrophysicist and science advisor on Don't Look Up ) and Adam Sigel (Hollywood writer/producer) welcome writer/director Adam McKay to discuss…

5. 

   S1 · E111 · 28 Jul 2026 · 40 min

   How Real is the Science in Star Trek? Amy and Adam Talk Terraforming, Genetic Engineering, and Trekkie Love for the Wrath of Khan

   Episode Description In this episode of The Unobtainium Podcast , Amy shows her true Trekkie colors as she and Adam unpack the science and themes of the beloved TOS cast film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . Together, they explore the ethical dilemmas of genetic engineering, eugenics, and CRISPR, along with the real-world science behind planet and star formation and the possibilities of terraforming dead planets. They also discuss why Khan Noonien Singh remains one of the franchise's best villains. Whether you're a lifelong Trekkie, a casual science fiction fan, or simply curious about the…

6. 

   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…

7. 

   S1 · E117 · 6 Oct 2026 · 47 min

   Could You ACTUALLY Survive on Mars? Planetary Scientist Dave Paige Breaks Down Ridley Scott's blockbuster film The Martian, breaking down what the film got right, what was exaggerated, and what real NASA missions face when exploring the Red Planet.

   Episode Description In this episode of Unobtainium , hosts Adam and Amy sit down with UCLA Planetary Science Professor Dave Paige to dissect the science behind Ridley Scott's blockbuster film The Martian . From the atmospheric physics of Martian dust storms to the realities of growing potatoes in extraterrestrial soil, Professor Paige breaks down what Hollywood got right, what they exaggerated, and what real NASA missions face when exploring the Red Planet. Full Summary Why couldn’t the movie’s massive Martian dust storm really happen? Could you actually grow potatoes in Martian soil? How…

8. 

   S1 · E116 · 22 Sep 2026 · 44 min

   We came for Star Wars. We found something much bigger. Inside the Lucas Museum: Star Wars, Narrative Art, and the Power of Myth

   Why does the museum look like a spaceship? What does Luke Skywalker have in common with a scientist? And could an N-1 Starfighter actually fly? Come inside with us. What’s really inside George Lucas’s new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art? We got a sneak peek—and it wasn’t quite what we expected. UNOBTAINIUM hosts planetary scientist Dr. Amy Mainzer and writer/producer Adam Sigel head inside the spectacular new Los Angeles museum expecting plenty of Star Wars . And yes, there are spaceships, droids and enough Death Star vibes to keep two lifelong fans happy. But Star Wars represents only a small…

9. 

   S1 · E104 · 15 Sep 2026 · 24 min

   Neil deGrasse Tyson on Superheroes, Time Travel, Aliens, Bad Movie Science and growing up in the geekosphere.

   What superhero would Neil deGrasse Tyson be? Where would he go if he could travel through time? And how much bad science will he forgive if a movie tells a great story? And how he grew up an athlete who lived in the geekosphere. In this special bonus mini-episode of UNOBTAINIUM, planetary scientist Dr. Amy Mainzer and producer Adam Sigel revisit their conversation with Neil deGrasse Tyson for a wide-ranging trip through science, science fiction and geek culture. Neil reveals why he once imagined himself as “Protector of the Geeks,” explains why the Marvel Universe has a scientific edge over…

10. 

    S1 · E115 · 8 Sep 2026 · 46 min

    What’s lurking in the unexplored deep? Liquid Breathing, Decompression Issues, & Alien Sea Life in James Cameron’s mysterious film The Abyss with marine geomicrobiologist Dr. Tina Treude

    Episode Description Could humans really breathe liquid? Could we actually live hundreds of meters beneath the ocean—and what might be waiting for us in the unexplored deep? In this episode of UNOBTAINIUM, hosts Amy and Adam “dive” into the science behind James Cameron’s 1989 sci-fi classic THE ABYSS with Dr. Tina Treude, UCLA professor and expert in marine geomicrobiology. The biggest mystery of all is how much of the deep ocean have we actually explored. Scientists continue to encounter species they’ve never seen before, reminding us that some of the most alien environments we know of are…

Every episode of Unobtainium Podcast →