Episodes 77
Avg. Duration 33m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 4.6 (5)
Since Aug 2020
Latest Episode May 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Monthly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
29%
Hosting
anchor.fm

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

Cosmic Log's podcast from the place where science and technology intersect with science fiction and popular culture, hosted by science writer Alan Boyle and science-fiction writer Dominica Phetteplace. Become a supporter for less than (or more than) a dollar a month.

Explore Statistics

Recent Episodes

Sci-fi pioneer's final novel bridges cultures

May 15, 2026 22m

Nisi Shawl discusses the genesis of "The Curve of the World," a newly published novel about an ancient odyssey from Crete to the Pacific Northwest that science-fiction pioneer Vonda N. McIntyre…

The real 'Project Hail Mary': Looking for E.T.

Mar 10, 2026 23m

SETI astronomer Seth Shostak talks about the parallels between the alien connection in "Project Hail Mary" and the real-world search for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence.

Occupy Mars? Or the moon? Get a reality check

Feb 17, 2026 42m

Now Elon Musk wants to build a city on the moon before building a city on Mars. Biologist Scott Solomon, author of a new book titled "Becoming Martian," sizes up the prospects for building a city…

Why NASA is going nuclear on the moon

Jan 30, 2026 46m

Aerospace consultant Roger Myers explains why space nuclear power will play a big role in the competition between the U.S. and China to establish bases on the moon in the 2030s.

Pluto shines as a science-fiction star

Oct 31, 2025 33m

Space scientist Les Johnson tells the story behind his role in creating "Pluto," the last novel in sci-fi master Ben Bova's Grand Tour series and one of the first works of fiction to incorporate…

Native American legends are woven into a UFO tale

Oct 13, 2025 33m

Cherokee science-fiction author Daniel H. Wilson blends ancient tales about extraterrestrials with up-to-date speculation about alien visitations in a new novel called "Hole in the Sky."

'Rocket Dreams' and rocket realities

Sep 26, 2025 39m

Washington Post staff writer Christian Davenport, author of "Rocket Dreams," discusses the parallel space races between America and China, and between Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

Thriller explores Florida's flooded future

Aug 11, 2025 30m

Tim Chawaga, the author of a climate-fiction thriller titled "Salvagia," weaves the implications of future sea-level rise and other high-tech twists into a Florida murder mystery.

Dinosaur facts vs. fiction in 'Jurassic World Rebirth'

Jul 04, 2025 59m

Tech pioneer Nathan Myhrvold and paleontologist Thomas Holtz discuss how dinosaur science has evolved over the past three decades - and do a reality check on the latest "Jurassic World" dino-movie.

How the Rubin Observatory will change astronomy

Jun 18, 2025 34m

Mario Juric, director of the University of Washington's DiRAC Institute, explains why astronomers are celebrating the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's "First Look" at the cosmos - and tells you how to…

Get a reality check on AI hype

May 19, 2025 40m

Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna, authors of "The AI Con," say the benefits of AI are being played up while the costs are being played down — and they lay out strategies for fighting the hype.

How dictators use tech in fact and fiction

Apr 01, 2025 43m

Science-fiction author Ray Nayler talks about his latest book, "Where the Axe Is Buried," a chilling tale of AI-powered repression and resistance that was inspired by current events as well as…

How humans will be reinvented for life in space

Mar 08, 2025 30m

Copies of human bodies can't be printed out, as shown in the space-based satire "Mickey 17," but biomedical researcher Christopher Mason says it should be possible to re-engineer humans to make them…

Mary Roach on the science of space sex

Feb 14, 2025 21m

In a Valentine's Day episode, Mary Roach, the author of "Packing for Mars," brings us up to date on one of the big questions about living in space: What would zero-G sex be like?

Scientists dream up solar system adventures

Jan 29, 2025 23m

Planetary scientist John E. Moores and astrophysicist Jesse Rogerson weave tales about interplanetary adventures that are like nothing on Earth in a book titled "Daydreaming in the Solar System."

Will AI cross the line into personhood?

Nov 05, 2024 39m

Law professor James Boyle, author of "The Line: AI and the Future of Personhood," explains why he thinks intelligent machines will eventually be considered persons.

How to defend against disinformation

Oct 22, 2024 41m

TrueMedia.org founder Oren Etzioni and Annalee Newitz, author of "Stories Are Weapons," discuss the escalating arms race between the purveyors of political disinformation and those who are trying to…

Hard science fiction explained

Sep 04, 2024 28m

Allan Kaster, the editor of "The Year's Top Hard Science Fiction Stories," traces the connections between science fiction and real-world science.

Authors of 'The Expanse' create their next saga

Aug 08, 2024 32m

Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, who wrote the books of "The Expanse" sci-fi series under the pen name James S.A. Corey, talk about the completely different alien-invasion saga they're in the midst of…

OpenScope focuses on the mind's mysteries

Jul 28, 2024 25m

Allen Institute neuroscientist Jerome Lecoq explains how the OpenScope program is expanding the frontiers of brain science, from the effects of psychedelic substances to the mechanisms of memory.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Fiction Science have?

Fiction Science has published 77 episodes since August 2020, covering topics in Fiction, Science Fiction.

Is Fiction Science still active?

Fiction Science is currently highly active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 33m.

How do I contact Fiction Science for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Fiction Science, including email and social media links.

Similar Podcasts