Carry the Two

Kevin Grazier on Orbital Dynamics in Foundation

Jul 11, 2023

In this engaging conversation, Kevin Grazier—a planetary physicist and science advisor known for his work on Battlestar Galactica and Gravity—dives into the intersection of science and storytelling. He discusses how complex scientific concepts, especially orbital dynamics, are seamlessly woven into the narrative of the Foundation series. Grazier shares insights from his collaboration on projects like the Cassini mission, illustrating how real science can enhance cinematic experiences. He also emphasizes the importance of integrating math and statistics into engaging storytelling.

25:15

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Kevin Grazier

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Quick takeaways

The podcast highlights the importance of collaboration between filmmakers and scientists to accurately depict complex scientific concepts in entertainment.

It contrasts the fictional concept of psychohistory from Asimov's Foundation series with modern theories, emphasizing the tension between narrative creativity and scientific feasibility.

Deep dives

The Science Entertainment Exchange

The Science Entertainment Exchange connects filmmakers with scientists to ensure accuracy in depicting scientific concepts in movies and television. This initiative emerged from the National Academy of Sciences to improve public understanding of science through entertainment. Filmmakers can consult with experts, such as those involving submarine pressures or astrophysics, to portray realistic scenarios. This collaboration enhances storytelling while maintaining scientific integrity, exemplifying how creative fiction can benefit from factual input.

Intro

2min

Navigating Science in Entertainment

8min

Navigating the Unknown: Orbital Dynamics in Foundation

3min

Navigating the Cosmos: Optical Techniques and Triangulation

8min

Integrating Science in Storytelling

3min

Gratitude and Whimsy in Scientific Talk

2min

If you’ve seen the first season of Apple TV’s Foundation, you probably noticed how heavily the show relies on ideas based in mathematics and statistics. However, while the idea of a field of research called psycho-history seems far-fetched, some of the show's scenes are much closer to reality than you might realize.

In this episode, we hear from planetary physicist and television science advisor Kevin Grazier about how researchers can help advise TV projects and what that actually looks like.

Find our transcript here: LINK

Curious to learn more? Check out these additional links:

Foundation novels by Isaac Asimov: https://www.goodreads.com/series/43939-foundation-chronological-order

Foundation (tv series) season 1 promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4QYV5GTz7c

The Cassini mission: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/cassini/overview/

Orbital dynamics: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4939-0802-8_10

Science and Entertainment Exchange: http://scienceandentertainmentexchange.org/

Follow more of IMSI’s work: www.IMSI.institute, (twitter) @IMSI_institute, (mastodon) https://sciencemastodon.com/@IMSI, (instagram) IMSI.institute

Follow Kevin Grazier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-grazier-1057792/

This episode was audio engineered by Tyler Damme.

Music by Blue Dot Sessions.

The Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation (IMSI) is funded by NSF grant DMS-1929348.