Pocket Science

Aug 19 2024 35 ep. 47 mins

Pocket Science Podcast artwork

Exploring questions of Earth, existence and the unknown. Join us biweekly to explore the divide between science fiction and science fact.

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Previously the Universe-ity podcast.

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Superconductors: Magic Materials, Real Power

Aug 19 2024 53 mins

Superconductors are the closest thing to magic that science has to offer - and likely the key to our future. They'll change technology, transportation, and our power grids as we know it. Over five Nobel Prizes have been awarded for research into superconductive materials, but their behavior remains difficult to explain. AJ and Nate sit down with materials scientist Dr. Tim Cullinan

Can Science Restore Venus's Ancient Oceans?

Aug 05 2024 39 mins

Today, Venus is a scorching hot, inhospitable wasteland. Yet, in the distant past, it was a water world identical to Earth. To understand this drastic change, AJ and Nate will explore a strange phenomenon discovered in Venus's atmosphere. Then, they'll break down an insane, far-fetched plan to restore Venus to its former glory - that with enough time, just might work.Additional top

Do Your Past and Future Exist?

Jul 22 2024 55 mins

Our daily lives would tell us we understand time - but what if that's not the case? AJ and special guest Nate Pinto explore the mysteries of time and what physics says about its place in our universe. Is there only "the now"? Is the past lost and is the future unwritten? The answer is a solid... maybe.Additional Topics Include: A potential new airspeed record, the best spot for a m

Why Physicists Think Alien Civilizations are Harvesting the Stars

Jun 03 2024 47 mins

The Sun is the greatest source of energy in our entire solar system. So what if we could harness it's energy directly? This theory, known as a Dyson Sphere, has been around since the 60s, but recent research indicates that this theory could be a reality right here in the Milky Way. This episode, AJ and Jud discuss the purpose of Dyson Spheres, breakdown two new studies pointing to

Project West Ford: The Craziest U.S. Military Experiment in Space

May 06 2024 49 mins

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 Eart

How Space Law Will Shape Our Future

Apr 22 2024 44 mins

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 jargo

Mass Extinction Events: Every Time Life Beat Death

Apr 08 2024 41 mins

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 nearin

Making "The Martian": Behind-the-Scenes with the Designer

Mar 25 2024 59 mins

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 fil

Gravitational Waves: How Everything Warps Everything

Mar 11 2024 36 mins

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 e

The Three-Body Problem: How Gas Giants Built a Moon-opoly

Feb 26 2024 54 mins

Have you ever wondered what it would look like if we had no moon? Well, how about if there were dozens? If we take a tour of the solar system, other moon systems get incredibly complex. So why isn't that the case here? In this episode, Jud and AJ will explain the billion year old physics of how the Earth was robbed of an even more interesting night sky.Additional Topics Include: Wh