Shows
Almost 107Will Human Civilization ever exist on Mars?In this episode, we will take a deeper dive into whether human civilization will ever exist on Mars. We will be talking to students from Fanshawe College and Dr. Catherine Neish, who is a Western University professor and NASA researcher. With these insights, we will learn if civilization on Mars is truly possible or if the planet will remain forever uninhabited.
2025-11-1617 min
Popcorn Science Podcast2001: A Space OdysseyIn this episode of "Popcorn Science," discuss the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Topics
Science Gripes (7:00)
Tapir do not live in Africa
Arid environment, but humans likely evolved in arboreal environment
Little evidence for humans living in caves
Humans are not the only tool users, monolith didn't grant unique advantage
Artistic placement of the moon
Random equations / diagrams on screen: Sci-Fi jibberish
Space craft: No thrusters
Moonwalking: Too much gravity, too little falling down
EVA without tether or thruster packs, gardening gloves
Discovery:
Moving too fast: 3 weeks to Mars? 18 weeks to Jupiter?
Habitation ring too slow (or...
2025-10-041h 03Popcorn Science Podcast2001: A Space OdysseyIn this episode of "Popcorn Science," discuss the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Topics
Science Gripes (7:00)
Tapir do not live in Africa
Arid environment, but humans likely evolved in arboreal environment
Little evidence for humans living in caves
Humans are not the only tool users, monolith didn't grant unique advantage
Artistic placement of the moon
Random equations / diagrams on screen: Sci-Fi jibberish
Space craft: No thrusters
Moonwalking: Too much gravity, too little falling down
EVA without tether or thruster packs, gardening gloves
Discovery:
Moving too fast: 3 weeks to Mars? 18 weeks to Jupiter?
Habitation ring too slow (or...
2025-10-041h 03Popcorn Science PodcastDeep ImpactCities fall, but they are rebuilt. And heroes die, but they are remembered. We honor them with every podcast we record. Our planet, our home.
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," discuss the 1998 film Deep Impact.
Topics
Science Gripes (4:30)
Nobody notices the comet
Sublimation / thermal inertia
Gravity on a comet
Sun visor, facial boils
Travel time
Communication failure
Impact effects (earthquake, airburst)
Temperature increase due to many small impactors (>10 degrees)
Science Shine (28:05)
Comet naming
Comet stats: Reasonable size, mass, density and rotation
More likely scenario than Armageddon (comet from Ort cloud, off the plane...
2025-09-201h 01Popcorn Science PodcastDeep ImpactCities fall, but they are rebuilt. And heroes die, but they are remembered. We honor them with every podcast we record. Our planet, our home.
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," discuss the 1998 film Deep Impact.
Topics
Science Gripes (4:30)
Nobody notices the comet
Sublimation / thermal inertia
Gravity on a comet
Sun visor, facial boils
Travel time
Communication failure
Impact effects (earthquake, airburst)
Temperature increase due to many small impactors (>10 degrees)
Science Shine (28:05)
Comet naming
Comet stats: Reasonable size, mass, density and rotation
More likely scenario than Armageddon (comet from Ort cloud, off the plane...
2025-09-201h 01Popcorn Science PodcastBlade RunnerA new life awaits you in the Popcorn Science Podcast. The chance to begin again in a golden land of opportunity and adventure!
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," discuss the 1982 cult classic Blade Runner. Catherine and John have seen things you people wouldn't believe. If you don't listen to this episode, all those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
References
Blade Runner (1982)
2025-09-071h 04Popcorn Science PodcastBlade RunnerA new life awaits you in the Popcorn Science Podcast. The chance to begin again in a golden land of opportunity and adventure!
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," discuss the 1982 cult classic Blade Runner. Catherine and John have seen things you people wouldn't believe. If you don't listen to this episode, all those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
References
Blade Runner (1982)
2025-09-071h 04Popcorn Science PodcastBattlestar GalacticaIn this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine hear nothing but the rain while discussing the 2003 Battlestar Galactica miniseries. So grab your gun and bring the cat in.
References
Battlestar Galactica (2003)
2025-08-2459 minPopcorn Science PodcastBattlestar GalacticaIn this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine hear nothing but the rain while discussing the 2003 Battlestar Galactica miniseries. So grab your gun and bring the cat in.
References
Battlestar Galactica (2003)
2025-08-2459 minPopcorn Science PodcastRogue One: A Star Wars StoryMany Bothans died to bring us this episode.
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the movie Rogue One.
References
Star Wars: Rogue One
2025-08-101h 02Popcorn Science PodcastRogue One: A Star Wars StoryMany Bothans died to bring us this episode.
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the movie Rogue One.
References
Star Wars: Rogue One
2025-08-101h 02Popcorn Science PodcastThorReferences
Thor
Misc
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the movie Thor!
2025-07-2657 minPopcorn Science PodcastThorReferences
Thor
Misc
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the movie Thor!
2025-07-2657 minPopcorn Science PodcastClaraReferences
Clara (film)
Clara on YouTube
Misc
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the 2018 movie "Clara." Clara tells the sotry of a down-on-his-luck
astronomer who succeeds in making a momentous discovery with the help of a mysterious artist. Featured in the Toronto International Film Festival, this
movie has a familiar science advisor - Dr. John Moores!
2025-07-1257 minPopcorn Science PodcastClaraReferences
Clara (film)
Clara on YouTube
Misc
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the 2018 movie "Clara." Clara tells the sotry of a down-on-his-luck
astronomer who succeeds in making a momentous discovery with the help of a mysterious artist. Featured in the Toronto International Film Festival, this
movie has a familiar science advisor - Dr. John Moores!
2025-07-1257 minPopcorn Science PodcastThe CoreReferences
The Core
Stevenson (2003)
Misc
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the movie everyone loves to hate: "The Core"! First released
in 2003, this movie explores what would happen if the Earth's outer core stopped spinning, and sends a courageous group of "terranauts" down to
start it up again.
2025-06-2859 minPopcorn Science PodcastThe CoreReferences
The Core
Stevenson (2003)
Misc
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the movie everyone loves to hate: "The Core"! First released
in 2003, this movie explores what would happen if the Earth's outer core stopped spinning, and sends a courageous group of "terranauts" down to
start it up again.
2025-06-2859 minPopcorn Science PodcastTribblesReferences
The Trouble with the Tribbles
Trials and Tribble-ations
Misc
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind two Star Trek episodes: "The Trouble with Tribbles" (1967) from
The Original Series and "Trials and Tribble-ations" (1996) from Deep Space Nine. In both episodes, the crews try to grapple with an outbreak of a
number of fuzzy spheroids known as Tribbles, with the DS9 crew coming from the future to help out Kirk and Spock!
2025-06-141h 00Popcorn Science PodcastTribblesReferences
The Trouble with the Tribbles
Trials and Tribble-ations
Misc
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind two Star Trek episodes: "The Trouble with Tribbles" (1967) from
The Original Series and "Trials and Tribble-ations" (1996) from Deep Space Nine. In both episodes, the crews try to grapple with an outbreak of a
number of fuzzy spheroids known as Tribbles, with the DS9 crew coming from the future to help out Kirk and Spock!
2025-06-141h 00Popcorn Science PodcastContactIn this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the
science behind the 1997 movie "Contact".
Based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Carl Sagan, Contact
explores what would happen if humanity were to receive a message from
an extraterrestrial civilization.
Topics
Science Gripes (4:37)
Headphones? (6:01)
Opening Sequence (9:40)
Hitler, Messenger of Earth (11:20)
Arecibo Message (12:28)
Arecibo Geography (16:00)
Ellie the Astronaut (17:28)
Funding (20:08)
Arecibo v. VLA (21:15)
Timeline Issue (48:35)
The Good Things (24:59)
On Location (25:05)
Science Culture (27:40)
Signal from Vega (30:32)
Is Space Exploration Worth it? (34:48)
Crewed Spaceflight (38:50)
Transit Network / Wormholes (#42:25)
Of Their Time (44:35)
Computer Technology (44:53)
Bill Clinton (47:00)
Space...
2025-05-311h 01Popcorn Science PodcastContactIn this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the
science behind the 1997 movie "Contact".
Based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Carl Sagan, Contact
explores what would happen if humanity were to receive a message from
an extraterrestrial civilization.
Topics
Science Gripes (4:37)
Headphones? (6:01)
Opening Sequence (9:40)
Hitler, Messenger of Earth (11:20)
Arecibo Message (12:28)
Arecibo Geography (16:00)
Ellie the Astronaut (17:28)
Funding (20:08)
Arecibo v. VLA (21:15)
Timeline Issue (48:35)
The Good Things (24:59)
On Location (25:05)
Science Culture (27:40)
Signal from Vega (30:32)
Is Space Exploration Worth it? (34:48)
Crewed Spaceflight (38:50)
Transit Network / Wormholes (#42:25)
Of Their Time (44:35)
Computer Technology (44:53)
Bill Clinton (47:00)
Space...
2025-05-311h 01Popcorn Science PodcastEnder's GameReferences
Ender's Game (film)
Ender's Game (book)
Misc
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the 2013 movie "Ender's Game".
Based on the 1985 novel by Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game follows a young boy as he learns to defend the
Earth from an invasion by a mysterious alien species known as the Formics.
2025-05-171h 01Popcorn Science PodcastEnder's GameReferences
Ender's Game (film)
Ender's Game (book)
Misc
In this episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind the 2013 movie "Ender's Game".
Based on the 1985 novel by Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game follows a young boy as he learns to defend the
Earth from an invasion by a mysterious alien species known as the Formics.
2025-05-171h 01Popcorn Science PodcastTunguska-TermaTopics
Antarctic Meteorite Survey
Tunguska
References
Tunguska Event
Tunguska Episode
Terma Episode
Misc
In our first episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind The X-Files two-parter "Tunguska/Terma".
These episodes first aired in November 1996, and follow Mulder and Scully around the world as they try to get their hands on a rock filled with
a mysterious alien oil.
2025-05-0359 minPopcorn Science PodcastTunguska-TermaTopics
Antarctic Meteorite Survey
Tunguska
References
Tunguska Event
Tunguska Episode
Terma Episode
Misc
In our first episode of "Popcorn Science," John and Catherine discuss the science behind The X-Files two-parter "Tunguska/Terma".
These episodes first aired in November 1996, and follow Mulder and Scully around the world as they try to get their hands on a rock filled with
a mysterious alien oil.
2025-05-0359 min
The World We WantGender Parity in Research: Progress and Persistent ChallengesIn this episode of the "World We Want" podcast, Márcia Balisciano interviews Catherine Neish, Associate Professor, Western University. In this episode, they discuss how women still face lower participation in many STEM fields and unequal opportunities in funding and senior positions. They also discuss initiatives to address this gender bias and what changes are needed to attract more women in science. Catherine Neish Catherine Neish is a planetary scientist specializing in orbital radar observations to study planetary geology, particularly impact cratering. Her work focuses on planets with thick atmospheres like Ven...
2024-10-1625 min
Cosmic Coffee Time with Andrew Prestage#66 Saturn’s largest moon Titan is an incredible place, but could anything live there? Canadian Astrobiologist Dr Catherine Neish led a study on Titan’s habitability. She joins us for a fascinating chat about what she found.Send us a textTitan. The largest moon in the Saturnian system has been a candidate as a habitable world ever since NASA’s Cassini mission sent back the first radar images of its surface in 2004. Astrobiologist Dr. Catherine Neish of Western University in Canada has spent years studying Titan, and has just published a study on the habitability of Titan. Catherine joins us to step through the findings, what is needed for life? Is there enough of it on Titan? And does it all come together?Read Ralph Lorez's paper Titan Under a...
2024-04-3023 min
Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic Discoveries#401: Titan's Troubles & UN's Satellite Summits: Life on Ice Moons and Space Traffic ControlThis episode of Space Nuts is brought to you with the support of NordVPN. For our special discount deal and 30 day money back guarantee, visit nordvpn.com/spacenuts ...You'll be glad you did!Embark on a cosmic exploration with your favorite interstellar enthusiasts, Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson, in this latest episode of Space Nuts. Today's celestial journey takes us to Saturn's moon, Titan, where new research casts a shadow on the prospects of finding life in its sub-ice oceans. Despite the rich hydrocarbons on Titan's surface, the study by astrobiologist Catherine Neish suggests that...
2024-03-2133 min
SpacepodCraters on Titan with Prof. NeishProfessor Catherine Neish explains why there's so few craters on Saturn's moon Titan. She explains why Titan's craters may contain the organic molecules needed for life, and how the Dragonfly mission will test that hypothesis.
2021-12-2124 min
The Titanium Physicists PodcastEpisode 66: Life On MarsThere are astrophysicists who study life on mars. specifically, the prospects of detecting life on mars. Zach Weinersmith Joins Catherine Neish and Briony Horgan and we talk about LIFE ON MARSSSSS!!!
2016-07-201h 08
The Titanium Physicists PodcastEpisode 63: WorldbuildingPatrick Mchale makes his triumphant return to the show!
Astrophysicists Catherine Neish and Brian Jackson explain how planets form around stars, and why the planets we see around other stars are so weird.
2016-03-2559 min
Keck Institute for Space Studies - VideoRadar Observations of the Lunar PolesCatherine Neish from NASA/GSFC discusses radar observations of the lunar poles. This talk was part of the Short Course on Lunar Volatiles during the New Approaches to Lunar Ice Detection and Mapping workshop at the Keck Institute for Space Studies at Caltech on July 22, 2013.
2013-08-1200 minKeck Institute for Space Studies - AudioRadar Observations of the Lunar PolesCatherine Neish from NASA/GSFC discusses radar observations of the lunar poles. This talk was part of the Short Course on Lunar Volatiles during the New Approaches to Lunar Ice Detection and Mapping workshop at the Keck Institute for Space Studies at Caltech on July 22, 2013.
2013-08-1200 min
The Titanium Physicists PodcastEpisode 28: Smoke Like Swirls on the Moon
"Conceiving my heart as gutter broke,
my sweet love grants me a boon,
and joy rose up, grey billowing smoke,
smoke like swirls on the moon"
-no quality poem ever.
So back when i started the show I sent Catherine an email. She's always been one of my most gifted astronomy friends. I said "hey, give me a topic for the show." I expected her to say like "variable stars that wobble because of acoustic waves" or something. she said "lunar swirls". i said "I'll get back to...
2013-01-2140 min
The Titanium Physicists PodcastEpisode 5: The Dunes of TitanIn This Episode, charlie Barnhart, Catherine Neish and I talk to Ryan North about the similarities between Titan, Earth and Mars. This show has a bit of bonus conversation after the closing music
2011-12-2338 min