The podcast where we challenge the way you think about Earth, existence and the unknown. Join us biweekly to explore the divide between science fiction and science fact.
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If you thought you'd heard all the crazy stories from the Cold War period, think again. This episode dives into one of the wildest military ideas to date. At a time when international communications were severely limited in their reach and reliability, the U.S. Military was ready to try anything. One such initiative was part Project Westford: a secret military plan to give the Earth a giant metal ring. This episode, AJ and Jud jump into the project's wild history, the science behind it, and its incredibly complicated aftermath. Along the way, you'll learn how radio waves work, how they're used, and the unique role that the ionosphere plays for Earth. Additional Topics Include: Boeing Starliner, China's new sample-return mission, Voyager 1, and more things Star Wars got wrong. Check out our more music from t.o on Spotify here Check out all the new Pocket Science apparel here Follow the show to never miss updates by using our linktree!
Who doesn't love more rules? Starting with the Outer Space Treaty in 1969, the United Nations has continued to build the framework for what flies in space (pun intended). Now, with the commercial space race in its beginnings, NASA has built the Artemis Accords with the help of seven other nations to provide continued guidance. This week, Jud and AJ will tear through the legal jargon and explain exactly what these new laws mean - for better or for worse. Additional Topics Include: the Cybertruck Recall, an 11-billion dollar NASA mission, and some interesting deaths. Check out T.O, the creator of our show music, on Spotify here! Check out our linktree to never miss out on Universe-ity content!
Despite life's age of 500 million years on planet Earth, brutal climate conditions have challenged its resiliency on several occasions. This week, AJ and Jud dive into every mass extinction, whether it was from volcanoes, asteroids, global cooling - or a hellish mix of just about everything. While it's been 66 million years since the last one, they'll explain why we might be nearing the next big event - and how we can avoid it. Additional topics include: A time zone for the moon, the new world's-largest camera, and the worst pick for a "state planet". Check out our linktree to follow us on our socials!
Regarded as one of the most technically demanding sci-fi movies of the 21st century, "The Martian" challenges what the near-future of spaceflight looks like. And while its science may seem sound, the story took an incredible amount of engineering (and movie-magic) to bring it to life. This week, AJ and Jud sit down with the film's production designer Arthur Max (known for other films such as Se7en, Gladiator, and Napoleon) to see how the an off-world adventure was created right here on Earth. Additional Topics Include: rock theater, a sneak peak at a Gladiator sequel 20 years in the making, and Brad Pitt's limousine driver.
Billions of years ago, the most energetic event in the universe would send space-warping shockwaves hurtling towards Earth. Yet, when they reached us in 2015, we didn't feel a thing. In fact, everything around you is constantly creating these gravitational waves. This week, AJ and Jud will dive into how they're created and how we're proving their existence with two of the largest experiments ever created. Additional Topics Include: a breakthrough in quantum gravity, a ban for TikTok, and one of Germany's most interesting laws. Check out our linktree to stay up to date with all things Universe-ity!