In the 64th episode of Rabbit Hole of Research, from the Basement Studio, Joe, Nick, Georgia, and Mary welcome rocket scientist, engineer, and a planetary geophysicist who studied lava tubes and volcanoes, Ernie Bell (currently a Spacecraft Flight Crew Operations Engineer at Blue Origin, and formerly a NASA Extravehicular Activities flight controller and crew trainer) to dig into one of science fiction’s most interesting settings, the underground.
And the timing couldn’t be better. The episode was recorded on the day Artemis II successfully launched, sending a crew of four toward the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. Ernie breaks down what comes next, SLS/Orion, docking with lunar landers from Blue Origin or SpaceX, and eventually, the question of this episode: will our first permanent foothold on the Moon be underground?
The crew explores cave types, karst limestone systems vs. lava tubes, how lava tubes form, why lunar and Martian tubes could dwarf anything on Earth due to lower gravity, and why going underground off-world isn’t just a Handwavium survival trope but a genuine strategy for surviving on other worlds.
They also get into the parts fiction almost always Handwavium away: cave life and extremophiles (Georgia’s favorite word), the silent hazards of CO2 buildup, radon, moisture, and the very real psychological toll of losing your day-night cycle underground, including the wild self-experiment of Michel Siffre. They tackle food (Joe and his calories), water recycling, the lessons of Biosphere 1 and 2, real-world bunkers, and whether Silo, Fallout, and The Expanse actually got any of it right.
And remember if all else fails, the geothermal heat is free and a bunch of people underground makes for a great rave scene.
Check out what the RHR crew is creating
Joe:
Named by the Guild Literary Complex as one of the 35 writers to watch!
Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories Anthology featuring a story by Joe!
Joe’s Sci-fi physiological thriller Novel: Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?
Joe’s Rom-Com Novella: Tomorrow May Be Too Late
Essay by Joe: From Beyond Press: Specific Knowledge: Jotham Austin, II, PhD on Transformations in Fiction
It’s Science for Weirdos
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We want to Hear From You (leave a comment):
1) Ernie mentioned that the Moon’s volcanic activity is essentially over, making its lava tubes potentially stable for billions of years. Does that make you more or less interested in living in one (you know Nick will be there)?
2) Michel Siffre spent months underground alone with no clock and completely lost track of time. How long do you think you’d last before you started to unravel?
3) The crew weighed in choosing from Silo, Fallout, The Expanse, For All Mankind, Kong’s Hollow Earth, The Matrix as fictional underground worlds to live in, which fictional underground world would you like to live in (feel free to pick another)?
Future Episodes
Episode 66 – Planetary Defense: Saving Earth from Other Worldly Impact Guest: Charles Blue
Episode 68 - Hive Mind: Plubris Guest: Wes Thorn (returning guest — Simulation Hypothesis episode)
Three Part Spider-Man Series to get ready for the new MCU Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Episode 70 – Spider-Man Villain Series 1: Lab Safety
Guest: Tera Lavoie, PhD
Episode 72 – Spider-Man Villain Series 2: Scorpion and the Other Chimeras
Guest: Erin C. Anthony
Episode 74 – Spider-Man Villain Series 3: What His Villains Reveal About Him
Guest: To Be Announced
Future Events to Hang with the Crew:Podcast Cross-Appearances
Joe on GoIndieNow: 21grams with Joe Compton
RHR Crew on This Podcast Will Change Your Life with Ben Tanzer
Events & Conventions to hang with the Crew:
Events & Conventions:
35 Writers to Watch: Celebration Party - Epiphany Center for the Arts 201 South Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL, United States (April 30th 7-9pm)
5th Annual Mai Fest - Blue Island, IL (May 9th 2026 12-5pm)
Avondalia Night Out - Rosa’s Lounge in Avondale, Chicago IL (May 14th 2026 7-8pm)- Joe reading
Creative Arts Summit - DIY Podcast Workshop at Lake County Public Library (Merrillville, IN) on May 23rd, 2026
ConCarolinas - Charlotte, NC (May 29–31, 2026 ) - Joe attending as Guest
Slay the Lake Chicago Pride Book Fest Soundgrowler Brewing Co., Tinley Park, IL 60487 (June 27, 2026 12PM-5PM)
Shore Leave 46 - Lancaster, PA (July 10-12, 2026)
Lancaster Wyndham Resort and Convention Center
Dragon Con - Atlanta, GA (September 3-7, 2026) - Joe attending as Professional
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