EPISODES
What the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Movie Got Wrong
The first Tomb Raider movie featured a device known as the “Triangle of Light” which has some weird and fun real world parallels!
How The Joker’s Plan in Batman (1989) Would Have Worked in the Real World
Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman movie is a classic of the genre, and one of the most memorable things about it is the Joker’s deadly Smilex gas, which has surprising roots in the real world.
How The Rocketeer Took Elements From Real History
In which we ask the biggest question everybody always asks about The Rocketeer. You know the one.
Don’t Hold Your Breath for Real Transformers
Just what would it take for a car to turn into a robot (and vice versa) anyway? That’s the central concept of the Transformers franchise, and that’s what we’re tackling today!
What Beetlejuice Teaches Us About Demonic Possession
Can you believe we asked a physicist what he thinks of the concept of demonic possession as it’s portrayed in Beetlejuice? We’re full of surprises this week!
The Frightening Relevance of Terminator Zero
The showrunner of Netflix’s Terminator Zero, Mattson Tomlin, tells us about how modern AI struggles helped influence the show, the decision to make it an anime, and why there’s not an animated Arnold Schwarzenegger in it.
The Paradox at the Heart of The Terminator Franchise
The entire Terminator franchise is built around the concept of “the grandfather paradox,” a concept which comes up again and again in time travel stories. We explain why it does (and doesn’t) make sense!
The Real Magic of the Original Crow Movie
The concept of the magical familiar is a common one in fantasy fiction, but it was used to unique effect in 1994’s The Crow movie. As it turns out, if you’re looking to pick a familiar, crows might just be the ones you want watching your back!
The Science of a Controversial Alien Franchise Moment
The human/Xenomorph hybrid in Alien Resurrection remains one of the most controversial moments in the history of the franchise. We’re taking a look at what does and doesn’t work about this wild sci-fi movie concept.
Goldfinger: The Coolest James Bond Car, the Legend of the Golden Lady, and Oddjob’s Hat
Will you really die if you’re painted gold? Are car ejector seats a real thing? How about murder by hat brim? All of these questions are raised by the classic James Bond movie, Goldfinger!
The Most Infamous Scene in the Indiana Jones Movies Explained
When people think of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, they tend to go straight to the infamous moment when a man’s still-beating heart is torn from his chest. We’re taking a look into the specifics…and the possibilities…of heart-ripping.
Back to the Future Time Travel Rules Explained!
How realistic is the science of time travel as depicted in Back to the Future?
Can We Create Real Life Twisters?
The (air) pressure is on as we dive into some on-set stories, Wizard of Oz references, and barometric gossip as we break down the science and story logic behind a beloved 90s movie: 1996’s Twister.
Star Wars: What Are Lightsabers Really Made Of?
The most iconic weapon in all of science fiction, the lightsaber from Star Wars, is also one of the most technically, scientifically, and even story logic complex, as well. It’s time to dive in and figure out just how realistic it might be.
Does A Quiet Place Have the Most Realistic Movie Aliens?
The aliens in the A Quiet Place franchise only hunt those who emit the slightest of sounds. What are these creatures, and could they actually exist?
Is Real World Iron Man Tech Possible?
Was Tony Stark, that cool exec with a heart of steel, on to something when he came up with the idea of the ARC Reactor, the life-saving device that also powers the Iron Man armor in the MCU? Let’s take a look…
The Boys’ Starlight: The Most Realistic Superhero Powers?
Believe it or not, there’s a surprising amount of scientific evidence to support Starlight’s powers on The Boys.
Could the 3 Body Problem Headset Work in Real Life?
We ask the question raised by Netflix’s 3 Body Problem: Is it possible to create a headset that can hijack the human brain?
Is Planet of the Apes Our Future?
What would it take for our future to look like the one depicted in the Planet of the Apes franchise?
Red Dwarf: What Does Stasis Technology Do?
The central concept of Red Dwarf is the fact that a main character was put in stasis for three million years. We look at all the ways could (or couldn’t) work.
The Scariest Thing About the Alien Franchise
One of the most iconic space monsters in cinematic history gets put under the Does if Fly? microscope as we examine the terrifying questions of the Xenomorph life cycle. Not for the faint of heart!
The Central Question of an Underrated Modern Sci-Fi Classic!
Just how DID the aliens from Attack the Block make their way to our planet? The answer is a little chemistry, a little biology, and a whole lot of “nasty.”
Are We Headed Toward the Dystopian Future of Children of Men?
Join us as we delve into the intricacies of a childless society’s functioning, the plausibility of a species-wide epidemic, and the mechanics of viral transmission as we explore the blend of fact and fiction that underpins the iconic sci-fi film: Children of Men.
Doctor Who: How Could a TARDIS Actually Work?
From black holes to reverse time acceleration and more, we look at the science, the fiction, and everything in between behind Doctor Who’s most iconic piece of technology, the TARDIS.
Can We Create Black Mirror’s San Junipero in Real Life?
We explore the science, morality, and story logic behind one of Black Mirror’s most celebrated episodes, the mysterious San Junipero.
Is Star Trek’s Transporter Really Possible?
We explore the rules of one of the greatest innovations in sci-fi history, Star Trek’s transporter! We also ask the big question: could this iconic science fiction technology become a science reality in our lifetimes?