Unobtainium Podcast

Adam Sigel & Dr. Amy Mainzer

The Unobtainium Podcast is hosted by Adam Sigel, a Hollywood writer-producer, and Dr. Amy Mainzer, an astrophysicist. Together, they explore the science in science fiction. Each episode unpacks the Unobtainium behind movies—what’s real, what’s cinematic, and why filmmakers bend reality. This is for the nerds, sci-fi fans, film junkies, and anyone curious about the science behind the story.

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13 episodes
Updated Tuesday

Episodes13

Newest first

Tuesday · 28 min
What’s our plan for a planet-killer comet? The facts about NASA’s Planetary Defense (Kinetic Impactors vs Armageddon Nukes) and more in Adam McKay’s film "Don’t Look Up."
Could humanity actually stop an asteroid? Is the planetary defense in Don't Look Up scientifically accurate? Director Adam McKay joins Adam and Amy (who was the science advisor) for an inside look at the making of this satiric disaster film!
July 28 · 40 min
How Real is the Science in Star Trek? Amy and Adam Talk Terraforming, Genetic Engineering, and Trekkie Love for the Wrath of Khan
Digging into Star Trek 2: Wrath of Khan science such as eugenics, the ethics of creating enhanced humans, the movie's "Genesis Effect" vs. actual solar system formation. And also a mind-controlling space monster.
July 21 · 44 min
Is a “Severance” Split Brain possible? How Are Memories Formed? Can Different Aspects of Personality Be Isolated Inside the Brain? Memory, Identity, and Neuroplasticity with David Eagleman
How a real-world "severance procedure" could isolate memories and more including split-brain surgery, alien hand syndrome, and the profound questions in the show about human identity. With neuroscientist and Severance season 3 consultant David Eagleman
July 14 · 42 min
Mining on the Moon? Explore the possibilities of Fusion Using Helium-3, a New AI Computer in Space, and the Ethics of Reaching Humanity's Next Frontier with Lunar Expert Dave Paige
The hard-sci-fi film Moon imagines a future built on lunar helium-3 mining and fusion energy, but the real science reveals an even more fascinating story about the economics and psychological toll of space exploration.
July 7 · 36 min
Why is a parasitic alien so terrifying? From Facehuggers to Xenomorphs, we dissect Space Travel, Exoplanets, and the Enduring Nightmares Implanted Within This Sci-Fi Masterpiece .
What if the scariest parts of Alien aren't the ones made up? Amy and Adam explore the the plausibility of faster-than-light space travel and hypersleep to exoplanets, extraterrestrial life, and parasitic biology.
June 30 · 40 min
Is Godzilla Fission or Fusion? From Radiation Mutation to Blue Atomic Breath, Nuclear Physicist Stephanie Diem Unpacks This Superb Homage Monster Movie.
Is Godzilla Minus One just a wonderful homage to the classic monster movies or the ultimate warning about nuclear energy? Adam and Amy break down the real science, history, and emotional power of Godzilla Minus One with Professor Stephanie Diem. 🦖⚛️
June 23 · 39 min
Can Robots Feel? Roboticist Hiro Ono joins us to explore consciousness, mortality, AI Robots, and what it means to be human as we discuss Ridley Scott’s thought-provoking sci-fi film Blade Runner.
What makes us human? Using Blade Runner as a guide, Adam, Amy, and roboticist Hiro Ono explore the question at the heart of the film: if a machine can think, feel, and fear death, what really separates it from us?
June 16 · 46 min
Alien Intelligence, Physics of Space, a Homicidal AI, and More with UCLA planetary scientist (and discoverer of the Kuiper Belt) Dave Jewitt on Kubrick’s Masterpiece
What’s the next evolutionary step for humanity? Amy, Adam, and Dave Jewitt launch into the enduring mysteries of alien life, space exploration, artificial intelligence in the enigmatic 2001: A Space Odyssey.
June 9 · 33 min
Is the Force real? From hyperspace to parsecs, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson joins us to discuss the science of Star Wars.
Is the Force science or spirituality— or both? In this episode of Unobtainium, Adam, Amy, and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson explore the science, philosophy, and enduring mythology behind Star Wars and its most iconic idea: the Force.
June 2 · 31 min
Is It Actually Possible to Bring Back Dinosaurs? Unearthing Ancient DNA, CRISPR, Chaos Theory in Jurassic Park with Astrobiologist Betül Kaçar
Could scientists really bring dinosaurs back from extinction? Ancient DNA, CRISPR, Chaos Theory, and Why Life Always Finds a Way with Astrobiologist Betül Kaçar joining Amy and Adam.
May 26 · 40 min
Lucid Dreaming Is Real, but Is Shared Dreaming Also Possible? David Eagleman Discusses Neuroscience of Dreams, Memory, Consciousness in Christopher Nolan's Inception
Guest David Eagleman discusses Neuroscience of Dreams, Memory, Consciousness, Lucid Dreaming, Perception and the Hollywood Created Concepts of Shared Dreaming, Dream Manipulation and the Metaphor of Filmmaking.
May 26 · 36 min
What Is the Science of Time Travel? In their first episode, Amy and Adam Go “Back to the Future” on Einstein, Paradoxes, and an Iconic DeLorean with a Flux Capacitor
Science of Time Travel, Einstein's Theories of Relativity, Wormholes, Paradoxes, a DeLorean and Hollywood storytelling.
May 12 · 37 sec
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