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Fiction

Fiction Science

by Alan Boyle

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Latest episodes

  • Quantum physicist explains the mysteries of time

    August 31, 2026 · 25 min

    British physicist Jim Al-Khalili, author of "On Time: The Physics That Makes the Universe Tick," discusses why time flows in only one direction, and why time travel into the past is highly unlikely - but not yet completely ruled out.

  • How 'Star City' reimagined the Soviet space race

    July 10, 2026 · 13 min

    Cinematographer Brendan Uegama discusses how he and his teammates created a fictional world for "Star City," an Apple TV series that traces a dramatically different version of the U.S.-Soviet space race.

  • The facts and fiction of UFO 'Disclosure Day'

    June 12, 2026 · 52 min

    A podcast double-feature delves into scientific and social issues raised by the "Disclosure Day" movie. Our guests are Adam Kirsch, author of "We Want to Believe"; and Meg Charlton, author of an alien-abduction novel titled "Voyagers."

  • Sci-fi pioneer's final novel bridges cultures

    May 15, 2026 · 22 min

    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 finished writing just before her death in…

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

    March 10, 2026 · 23 min

    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.

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  • Occupy Mars? Or the moon? Get a reality check

    February 17, 2026 · 43 min

    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 anywhere that's beyond Earth.

  • Why NASA is going nuclear on the moon

    January 30, 2026 · 46 min

    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

    October 31, 2025 · 34 min

    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 revelations from NASA's New Horizons mission.

  • Native American legends are woven into a UFO tale

    October 13, 2025 · 33 min

    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

    September 26, 2025 · 40 min

    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

    August 11, 2025 · 30 min

    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'

    July 4, 2025 · 60 min

    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.

Full episode archive on Apple Podcasts →

About the show

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.