Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast

Guest: Harriet Brettle In Episode 37, Michael asks first-year Caltech planetary science graduate student Harriet Brettle, "Can science fiction predict the future?" We also talk about The Planetary Society—an international nonprofit foundation advocating for space exploration—that Harriet and Star Trek: Voyager's Bob Picardo are heavily involved in. Follow us on Twitter: Harriet: @harriet_brettle The Planetary Society: @exploreplanets Michael: @Miquai

Guest: Jon Wong In Episode 36, Michael brings aboard his brother, Jon Wong, to talk about diet and nutrition and critique the breakfast that Burnham orders for Tilly in DSC: "Lethe." Follow us on Twitter! Michael: @Miquai

Guest: Desun Oka In Episode 35, Michael and Desun Oka chat about Star Trek: Discovery's bonus scene featuring Section 31, clandestine organizations in general, and the metaphor behind the Battle of the Binary Stars. Bonus Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGRJ4CvOvhc Follow us on Twitter! Michael: @Miquai

Guest: Dr. Pushkar Kopparla In Episode 34, Michael invites Dr. Pushkar Kopparla to speculate on what "polarize the hull plating" means and explain how he uses polarization in real life to characterize the properties of exoplanets. Follow us on Twitter! Michael: @Miquai

Guest: Dr. Stuart Bartlett In Episode 33, Michael and Elise continue their discussion about the origin and nature of life by bringing in Dr. Stuart Bartlett to share his "four pillars of life" and how molecular machines drive life's functions in the face of Brownian chaos. Follow us on Twitter! Elise: @emcuttsy Michael: @Miquai

In Episode 32, Michael and Elise watch TNG: "All Good Things..." and discuss different theories for the origin of life. Follow us on Twitter! Elise: @emcuttsy Michael: @Miquai

Guests: Cecilia Sanders, Shreyas Vissapragada, & Dr. James T. Keane In Episode 31, Michael recaps Star Trek: Discovery Season 1 by hosting a roundtable discussion featuring Cecilia Sanders, Shreyas Vissapragada, and Dr. James T. Keane, who are all joined by Elise Cutts via transporter midway through. Follow us on Twitter: James: @jtuttlekeane Elise: @emcuttsy Michael: @Miquai

Guest: Dr. Morgan Cable In Episode 30, Michael sits down with NASA JPL's Dr. Morgan Cable to talk about the exotic chemistry on Saturn's moon Titan and the possibility of life not as we know it. Follow us on Twitter: Morgan: @starsarecalling Michael: @Miquai

Guests: Dr. James T. Keane & Dr. Peter Gao In Episode 29, Michael and Elise are joined by Dr. James T. Keane & Dr. Peter Gao to talk about James' scientific illustrations from the 38th New Horizons Science Team Meeting, the #SuperBlueBloodMoon, and all of the wildest developments in Star Trek: Discovery. Follow us on Twitter! James: @jtuttlekeane Peter: @PlanetaryGao Elise: @emcuttsy Michael: @Miquai

In Episode 28, Michael and Elise use TOS: "The Devil in the Dark" and "The Tholian Web" to spark a discussion about Earth's subsurface biosphere and silicon-based life. Cosmic Motivations, by Michael and Prof. Katie Mack (@AstroKatie): https://www.redbubble.com/people/astrokatie/collections/835103-cosmic-motivations?asc=u Follow us on Twitter! Elise: @emcuttsy Michael: @Miquai