Unobtainium Podcast

Adam Sigel & Dr. Amy Mainzer

Topics: Science Fiction

No. 48 in Fiction▼2

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Latest episodeWhat is a Black Hole? The Science, the Madness, and the Mystery of Disney's THE BLACK HOLE: We look at how the 1979 film is one of the strangest, darkest, and most ambitious science fiction movies of its era.October 23, 2026 · 42 min

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Latest episodes

1. What is a Black Hole? The Science, the Madness, and the Mystery of Disney's THE BLACK HOLE: We look at how the 1979 film is one of the strangest, darkest, and most ambitious science fiction movies of its era.October 23, 2026 · 42 min
2. Could You ACTUALLY Survive on Mars? Planetary Scientist Dave Paige Breaks Down Ridley Scott's blockbuster film The Martian, breaking down what the film got right, what was exaggerated, and what real NASA missions face when exploring the Red Planet.October 6, 2026 · 47 min
3. We came for Star Wars. We found something much bigger. Inside the Lucas Museum: Star Wars, Narrative Art, and the Power of MythSeptember 22, 2026 · 44 min
4. Neil deGrasse Tyson on Superheroes, Time Travel, Aliens, Bad Movie Science and growing up in the geekosphere.September 15, 2026 · 24 min
5. What’s lurking in the unexplored deep? Liquid Breathing, Decompression Issues, & Alien Sea Life in James Cameron’s mysterious film The Abyss with marine geomicrobiologist Dr. Tina TreudeSeptember 8, 2026 · 46 min
6. Could a Snake Robot Find Alien Life? | Mars, Enceladus & the Future of Space RoboticsSeptember 1, 2026 · 10 min
7. Could the Rage Virus in 28 Days Later actually happen? Dr. Seema Yasmin joins us to unpack the terrifying real science of viruses, outbreaks, R-naught, and why this horror classic hits very differently after COVID.August 25, 2026 · 42 min
8. More on Astrobiology with Dr. Betül KaçarAugust 18, 2026 · 10 min
9. Why We Deny Scientific Warnings? A Deep Dive into the Science of Climate Change, Searching for Hope, and the Art of Integrating Science into Emotional and Evocative StorytellingAugust 11, 2026 · 35 min
10. 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."August 4, 2026 · 28 min

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