Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast
Michael L. Wong
Hosted by planetary scientist and astrobiologist Dr. Michael L. Wong, Strange New Worlds examines science, technology, and culture through the lens of Star Trek!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 11, 2024 • 32min
Episode 174: #TEDxNE Reflections
On this short solo episode, Mike shares his TEDxNewEngland experience.
Mike's paper, "On the roles of function and selection in evolving systems": https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2310223120
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Strange New Worlds: twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: twitter.com/miquai

Aug 26, 2024 • 1h
Episode 173: Temporal Mechanics 101
Guest: Dr. Erin Macdonald
Dr. Erin Macdonald, the official science advisor for the Star Trek universe, joins us to discuss the science behind Season 5 of Star Trek: Discovery and Season 2 of Star Trek: Prodigy.
"Chromatin remodeling in tribbles in Star Trek: Prodigy" by Prof. Mohamed Noor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2PePbR3FPk
Erin's Nerd Nite talk, "Faster-Than-Light Travel in Science Fiction": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lw7JOgQ_MI
Mike's Nerd Nite talk, "The Astrobiology of Star Trek": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtgcaVg7puM
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Strange New Worlds: twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: twitter.com/miquai
Erin: twitter.com/drerinmac

Aug 5, 2024 • 58min
Episode 172: Leadership in Star Trek
Guests: Prof. Jason A. Kaufman & Prof. Aaron M. Peterson
Professors Jason A. Kaufman and Aaron M. Peterson join us to discuss their sweeping book "Leadership in Star Trek: Lessons from the Captain's Chair." Learn how communication, patience, and relationship underpin every good leader, from Burnham to Picard.
Book: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/leadership-in-star-trek/
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Strange New Worlds: twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: twitter.com/miquai
Jason: twitter.com/vagabondkaufman

Jul 7, 2024 • 57min
Episode 171: Astrotopia
Guest: Prof. Mary-Jane Rubenstein
Professor Mary-Jane Rubenstein joins us to talk about her book "Astrotopia: The Dangerous Religion of the Corporate Space Race," which explores the religious narratives that underpin commercial space exploration, and its connections to Star Trek.
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Strange New Worlds: twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: twitter.com/miquai

Jun 21, 2024 • 43min
DSC 508–510: Lagrange Points
Guest: Dr. Shi En Kim
Science journalist Shi En Kim joins Mike to reflect on the last three episodes of Star Trek: Discovery's fifth and final season, DSC: "Labyrinths," "Lagrange Point," and "Life, Itself." How do Mike and Kim process their fears? What is a Lagrange point? And what do they make of the Progenitor's technology?
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Mike: twitter.com/miquai
Kim: twitter.com/goes_by_kim

May 19, 2024 • 31min
DSC 506 & 507: Distilled
Guest: Dr. Shi En Kim
Mike and Kim chat about themes in DSC: "Whistlespeak" and "Erigah." Is cloud seeding a real thing, how do you create ultra-distilled water, and what are some contaminants that plague our waterways here on Earth?
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Strange New Worlds: twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: twitter.com/miquai
Kim: twitter.com/goes_by_kim

May 1, 2024 • 28min
DSC 504 & 505: Temporal Bug
Guest: Dr. Shi En Kim
Mike and Kim unpack DSC: "Face the Strange" and "Mirrors." Can you use relativity to defeat a temporal shield? What do they make of Moll and L'ak's backstory?
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Strange New Worlds: twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: twitter.com/miquai
Kim: twitter.com/goes_by_kim

Apr 20, 2024 • 26min
DSC 503: Half-Life
Guest: Dr. Shi En Kim
Mike and Kim take a closer look at DSC: "Jinaal." What do they make of the Trill's test? And why was Stamets so bubbly about isotope half-lives?
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Strange New Worlds: twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: twitter.com/miquai
Kim: twitter.com/goes_by_kim

Apr 12, 2024 • 25min
DSC 502: Double Solar Eclipse
Guest: Dr. Shi En Kim
Mike and Kim examine the themes in DSC: "Under the Twin Moons." What does it take to get a double solar eclipse? And what do they make of Captain Rayner's advice?
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Strange New Worlds: twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: twitter.com/miquai
Kim: twitter.com/goes_by_kim

Apr 8, 2024 • 25min
DSC 501: Sturzstrom
Guest: Dr. Shi En Kim
Science journalist Dr. Shi En Kim joins Mike to talk about DSC: "Red Directive," from sand avalanches to the big revelation at the end of the episode.
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Strange New Worlds: twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: twitter.com/miquai
Kim: twitter.com/goes_by_kim


