Site • RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
Flâneur and irrepressible commentator, Rick Edwards, and "Indiana Jones in a lab coat" Dr. Michael Brooks, delve into the science behind popular culture.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Science behind films, TV, books • emerging tech: invisibility, cyborgs, VR, AI, autonomous cars, encryption • health/neuroscience: pain, sleep, dementia, hypnosis, mindfulness • environment/disasters: PFAS, waste, geoengineering, volcanoes • physics/space/math, evolution and ethicsThis podcast uses popular films, TV, and books as a jumping-off point to explore real scientific ideas and the evidence behind them. Hosted by Rick Edwards and Dr. Michael Brooks, conversations move between entertainment concepts—like invisibility, cyborg bodies, regenerative healing, virtual reality, mind uploading, and parallel universes—and the current state of research in fields such as physics, neuroscience, biology, medicine, and computer science. Episodes often ask “could this happen?” questions and then unpack what’s feasible, what’s speculative, and what would be required for the idea to work in the real world.
A recurring thread is how science intersects with ethics, society, and risk. Topics include environmental contamination and public health, waste and climate interventions, pandemics, extinction, and natural disasters, as well as technology-related vulnerabilities like hacking, encryption, satellites, and autonomous vehicles. The show also examines human behavior and cognition—pain, sleep, hypnosis, empathy, intelligence, personality testing, and consciousness—sometimes using extreme fictional scenarios to clarify what scientists know about the brain and body.
Across the episodes, the hosts regularly bring in expert guests (researchers and other specialists) to explain complex concepts accessibly, connect them to real-world data, and consider practical implications, from medical treatments and enhancement to geopolitical threats and long-term human survival.
| Episodes: |
8: Episode 100: The Invisible Man2020-Mar-06 43 minutes |
7: Dark Waters2020-Feb-28 44 minutes |
6: Robocop2020-Feb-21 43 minutes |
5: Silence of The Lambs2020-Feb-14 39 minutes |
4: Star Wars2019-Dec-20 41 minutes |
3: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle2019-Dec-13 40 minutes |
2: Game Of Thrones (Live)2019-Dec-06 49 minutes |
1: Jaws2019-Nov-29 40 minutes |
12: History of the World: Part 12019-Mar-21 40 minutes |
11: Deadpool2019-Mar-14 40 minutes |
10: Inside Out2019-Mar-08 39 minutes |
9: Antz2019-Feb-28 36 minutes |
8: WALL-E2019-Feb-22 40 minutes |
7: Geostorm2019-Feb-14 40 minutes |
6: Icarus2019-Feb-07 34 minutes |
5: Dante's Peak2019-Jan-31 36 minutes |
4: Westworld2018-Dec-20 35 minutes |
3: Blindness2018-Dec-14 37 minutes |
2: Moonraker2018-Dec-06 35 minutes |
1: Fight Club2018-Nov-29 35 minutes |
33: Is LIGO right?2018-Nov-02 37 minutes |
32: First Man2018-Oct-19 39 minutes |
31: Pi2018-Sep-13 39 minutes |
30: Doctor Strange2018-Sep-07 36 minutes |
29: Frankenstein2018-Aug-30 43 minutes |
28: Rounders2018-Aug-23 40 minutes |
27: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy2018-Aug-16 39 minutes |
26: The Dead Zone2018-Aug-09 41 minutes |
25: Nightmare on Elm Street2018-Aug-02 42 minutes |
24: Knight Rider2018-Jul-26 39 minutes |
23: Get Out2018-Jul-19 37 minutes |
22: Enigma2018-Jul-12 38 minutes |
21: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom2018-Jul-05 42 minutes |
20: Still Alice2018-Jun-29 35 minutes |
19: Ice Age2018-Jun-21 28 minutes |
18: Good Will Hunting2018-Jun-14 36 minutes |
17: Chain Reaction2018-Jun-07 34 minutes |
16: Demolition man2018-May-31 32 minutes |
15: Rick and Morty2018-May-24 48 minutes |
14: Seven Pounds2018-May-17 35 minutes |
13: Contagion2018-May-10 36 minutes |
12: Altered Carbon2018-May-03 35 minutes |
11: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button2018-Apr-26 36 minutes |
10: The Machine Stops2018-Apr-19 36 minutes |
9: Dr Strangelove2018-Apr-12 38 minutes |
8: The Cell2018-Apr-05 29 minutes |
7: The Day of the Triffids2018-Mar-29 31 minutes |
6: Hackers2018-Mar-22 35 minutes |
5: Limitless2018-Mar-15 31 minutes |
4: Flatliners2018-Mar-08 28 minutes |
3: Children of Men2018-Mar-01 31 minutes |
2: Never Let Me Go2018-Feb-22 38 minutes |
1: Arrival2018-Feb-15 34 minutes |
Science(ish) Season Three Trailer2018-Feb-01 5 minutes |
Science(ish) Christmas Special, Series 2 Episode 82017-Dec-21 38 minutes |
Gattaca – Live from The Wigtown Book Festival, Series 2 Episode 72017-Oct-06 60 minutes |
Armageddon, Series 2 Episode 62017-Jul-26 53 minutes |
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Series 2 Episode 52017-Jul-14 53 minutes |
The Fly, Series 2 Episode 42017-May-17 55 minutes |
Perfume, Series 2 Episode 32017-Apr-24 53 minutes |
Special(ish) 023 – Big Data Brother2017-Apr-21 7 minutes |
1984, Series 2 Episode 22017-Mar-17 59 minutes |
The Matrix, Series 2 Episode 12017-Feb-14 67 minutes |
Scienceish Season Two Trailer2017-Feb-07 5 minutes |
Special(ish) 022 – The Red Planet2016-Nov-30 19 minutes |
Special(ish) 021 – Mauna Loa2016-Nov-22 17 minutes |
017 – The Martian2016-Nov-15 61 minutes |
016 – Her2016-Oct-25 75 minutes |
Special(ish) 019 – Flight to Mars2016-Oct-18 14 minutes |
Special(ish) 018 – Harmon-E2016-Oct-05 10 minutes |
Special(ish) 017 – The Uncanny2016-Sep-21 8 minutes |
015 – Big Data2016-Sep-13 49 minutes |
Special(ish) 016 – Finding Your Voice2016-Sep-08 7 minutes |
Special(ish) 015 – Back to Reality2016-Aug-31 8 minutes |
014 – Lord Of The Flies2016-Aug-24 46 minutes |
Special(ish) 014 – Piggy in the Middle2016-Aug-21 10 minutes |
Special(ish) 013 – King of the Swingers2016-Aug-03 8 minutes |
013 – The Abyss2016-Jul-27 45 minutes |
Special(ish) 012 – Stuck in the Mud2016-Jul-20 6 minutes |
Special(ish) 011 – The Deep2016-Jul-13 12 minutes |
012 – Alien2016-Jul-06 50 minutes |
Special(ish) 010 – The Great Escape2016-Jul-03 7 minutes |
Special(ish) 009 – Here Be Dragons2016-Jun-22 7 minutes |
Special(ish) 008 – Dark Night2016-Jun-15 8 minutes |
Special(ish) 007 – Area 512016-Jun-08 12 minutes |
011 – Minority Report2016-Jun-02 50 minutes |
Special(ish) 006 – A Criminal Mind2016-May-25 9 minutes |
Special(ish) 005 – Pale Blue Dot2016-May-18 10 minutes |
010 – Interstellar2016-May-13 51 minutes |
Special(ish) 004 – Life on Mars2016-May-04 12 minutes |
Special(ish) 003 – A Head Above2016-Apr-26 13 minutes |
009 – Planet of the Apes2016-Apr-19 45 minutes |
Special(ish) 002 – Rise of the Machines2016-Apr-13 9 minutes |
Special(ish) 001 – Sticks & Stones2016-Apr-06 12 minutes |
008 – The Circle2016-Mar-15 51 minutes |
007 – Ex Machina2016-Feb-16 55 minutes |
006 – The Time Machine2016-Feb-08 49 minutes |
005 – Comics2016-Jan-29 47 minutes |
004 – The Day After Tomorrow2015-Dec-30 44 minutes |
003 – Jurassic Park2015-Dec-03 46 minutes |
002 – Brave New World2015-Dec-03 50 minutes |
001 – Inception2015-Dec-03 45 minutes |