Star Warsologies: A Podcast About Science and Star Wars

The latest episode of Star Warsologies focuses on managing air (and space) traffic in Star Wars!   Brendan Conboy, a designer of air traffic control systems, joins us for a discussion about how coordinating space traffic might work and not work in the galaxy far, far away. How do aircraft interact with the controllers at an airport? How did the shuttle Tydirium manage to land in the forest without the Empire noticing? What redundant systems might keep the system working even when Anakin clips the tower while crash landing on Coruscant? What is that lonely guy up in the little tower on Yaving IV really doing? We also talk about traffic management on Coruscant and even why air traffic control systems still look like they did in the 70s! Tune in to this episode on Star Wars air traffic control and find out!   In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic, scientific, or technological by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars!   Or listen on YouTube with relevant screen shots and photos!   https://youtu.be/NqN4SOcj3BM   Show Links   The Federal Aviation Administration's Collegiate Training Initiative for Air Traffic:   https://www.faa.gov/jobs/students/schools/       Video link: That One Rebel Guy You Briefly See On Yavin IV: A Star Wars Story   https://youtu.be/vVJbmQgt2kc   Got follow up questions for us or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at [email protected]   Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.   Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter.   

We have a special episode of Star Warsologies! This episode is our "Science of Star Wars" panel at San Diego Comic-Con: Special Edition, from November 27, 2021.   Our "Science of Star Wars" panel at Comic-Con: Special Edition 2021 had several awesome guests! Fon Davis (creative director, Fonco Studios) shared behind-the-scenes knowledge from working on over 40 feature films, including the Star Wars prequels. Scientists included Lisa M. Will, PhD (astrophysics professor, San Diego City College), Frank Santana (herpetologist, San Diego Natural History Museum), Amit K. Patel, PhD (ophthalmologist, University of California San Diego), and Melissa Miller (science writer, Star Wars Insider magazine, Nerdist). The panel was moderated by James Floyd (freelance writer, Star Wars Insider and podcast host, Star Warsologies) and sponsored by the Fleet Science Center.   In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars!   Or watch on YouTube with the relevant slides from our panel and other photos!   https://youtu.be/5mgN8Bg2Nks   Show Links   Our panelists and where to find them on social media: Fon Davis, Fonco Studios - @fonhdavis on Twitter and @fonhdavis on Instagram Lisa Will, PhD, astrophysics professor - @dustchick on Twitter. She was also a guest on Star Warsologies episode 9: Astronomy Frank Santana, herpetologist - @bobafrank on Instagram Amit K. Patel, PhD, ophthalmologist   Got follow up questions for us or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at [email protected]   Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.   Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter.    Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here!         Interested in more Star Warsologies?  

  The latest episode of Star Warsologies focuses on limb replacement and prosthetics in Star Wars!   Dr. Gerald Stark, senior clinical specialist and prosthetician for Ottobock, joins us for a discussion about bionic limbs, exoskeletons, and other prosthetics and orthotics. How close are we to Luke's bionic hand in real life? How is the work of a prosthetician much more than just fitting a replacement body part? How do Paralympians go for designs that exceed human functionality? We also talk about General Grievous, clonetrooper Echo and even prosthetics for llamas and other animals! Tune in to this episode on Star Wars prosthetics and find out!   In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars!   Or listen on YouTube with relevant screen shots and photos!   https://youtu.be/QZJ_YpaE2vQ   Show Links   Follow Dr. Stark on TikTok and check out Ottobock, where Dr. Stark works.   Got follow up questions for us or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at [email protected]   Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.   Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter.   

The latest episode of Star Warsologies focuses on astrophysics in Star Wars!   Astrophysics professor Dr. Lisa Will joins us for a discussion about planets, moons, and asteroids. She breaks down just what the phrase "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" actually means in terms of space and time as we know it. We also learn about real-life planets and moons with mono-climates, but there's still plenty that's fantasy! What would Lisa do if she had one fandom wish? Tune in to find out!   Lisa also joined us for our Comic Con @Home panel (episode 5), so definitely check that out too! She will join us again as we host an in-person panel at the upcoming Comic Con Special Edition.   In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars!   Show Links   Follow Lisa on Twitter and check out "The Sky Tonight" virtual planetarium shows she's hosted at the Fleet Science Center.   Got follow up questions for us or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at [email protected]   Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.   Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter.    Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here!  

The latest episode of Star Warsologies focuses on recording history in Star Wars! Join us for a discussion with journalist and historian Chelsea Tatham Zukowski. Learn about the important role of journalism in a just society and how the Empire managed to erase the history of the Jedi. Chelsea talks about what beat she would like to work, and why Anakin would be on any good journalist's speed dial.   In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars!   Chelsea enjoyed reading the story of journalist Rhil Dairo.   Chelsea on a visit to Galaxy's Edge.   Show Links   Follow Chelsea on Twitter and Instagram and check out her writing projects on her website.   And check out this fan film on The Skywalking Network about what news might look like in Star Wars! TPZ - A Star Wars Fan Film for fuzzballs who want to laugh it up. TMZ in the Star Wars Universe!   Got follow up questions for us or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at [email protected]   Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.   Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter.    Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here!    

The latest episode of Star Warsologies focuses on alcohol and brewing in Star Wars!   Join us for a discussion with Reed Miller about brewing, fermentation, and distilling. What we see in cantinas and casinos isn't the full story.   In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars!   Listen to Star Warsologies 6: Brewing     Show Links   Got follow up questions for us or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at [email protected]   Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Spotify.   Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter.    Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here!  

  The latest episode of Star Warsologies focuses on psychology in Star Wars!   Join us for a discussion with Dr. Drea Letamendi about the psychology of our favorite characters in Star Wars. How is The Mandalorian coping with the knowledge that he was raised in a cult? How does Leia handle her grief? And why is Kylo Ren so emo? Drea's thoughts on pop culture characters is endless and insightful.   In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars!   BB-8 made a special appearance at Drea's wedding!   Listen to Star Warsologies 6: Psychology     Coming Soon to YouTube with relevant screen shots and photos!   Show Links   Check out Dr. Drea Letamendi's website and follow her on Instagram @arkhamasylumdoc!   Got follow up questions for us or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at [email protected]   Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Spotify.   Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter.    Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here!  

A special bonus episode of Star Warsologies is up! Star Warsologies comes to Comic Con At Home 2021! Thanks to The Fleet Science Center in San Diego for hosting this great panel, The Science of Star Wars. James and Melissa moderate a panel of three scientists (geologist, biologist, and astronomer, oh my!) plus a concept designer who has worked on all five of the recent Star Wars films! Come for the insights into the salt flats of Crait, the mysteries of Kessel, and the scientific method itself, stay for the porg recipes and a discussion of the morality of eating sentient creatures.   Concept art by Jake Lunt Davies for Star Wars: The Last Jedi   Concept art by Jake Lunt Davies for Star Wars: The Force Awakens   Check out the YouTube version of this episode for more amazing concept art from Jake Lunt Davies, some of which is making its public debut! You can also view the Comic-Con@Home Panel here.   In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars!    Listen to Star Warsologies 5: Comic Con At Home, The Science of Star Wars     Or listen on YouTube with relevant screen shots and photos!   https://youtu.be/nw5_fttq-Wc   Show Links   Follow our experts on social media!   Jake Lunt Davies on Twitter and Instagram.   Angela Zoumplis on Twitter and Instagram.   Lisa Will on Twitter.   Jim Lehane on Twitter and Instagram.   The Fleet Science Center is on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.   Got follow up questions for us or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at [email protected]   Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Spotify.   Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter.    Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here!    

The latest episode of Star Warsologies is up! Electrical engineer Justin Gagne joins us to chat about designing technology to go into space. What starts as a discussion of real-life ion engines also covers radiation exposure, landing telemetry, and even quantum entanglement. Justin worked on the Mars helicopter Ingenuity and does a great job helping all us non-physicists and engineers understand these concepts.   More info about ion engines and small satellites.   More info about how Perseverance landed on Mars.   More info about space radiation.   Check out the YouTube version of this episode for more graphics.   Curiosity Rover, launched in 2011. In contrast to this older technology, only 1/10,000th of the launch weight for Perseverance was science equipment.   The Perseverance Rover landed on Mars using new telemetry technology, as described by Justin Gagne in this episode   In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars!    Listen to Star Warsologies 4: Engineering for Space Travel     Or listen on YouTube with relevant screen shots and photos!     Show Links   Follow the NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars, on Twitter at @NASAPerseverance and the helicopter using #MarsHelicopter.   Got follow up questions for Justin or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at [email protected]   Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Spotify.   Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.    Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here!

Polar biologist Angela Zoumplis joins us for an episode all about life at the extremes. What do tauntauns eat to maintain their large size? How is life adapted to the heat of Mustafar? And how does that space slug survive in an asteroid when ships aren't flying right down its throat? It turns out there are similarities to bacterial life here on Earth in each of these cases. Our guest astrobiologist is an expert and a huge Star Wars fan so we geek out about these topics and more!   In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It's a monthly podcast about science and Star Wars!    Purrgils in Star Wars: Rebels   Angela Zoumplis in the dry valleys of Antarctica.   Listen to Star Warsologies 3: Life at the Extremes     Or listen on YouTube with relevant screen shots and photos!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0awxZjBiAII   Show Links   Follow our guest expert, Angela Zoumplis, on Twitter at @angelazoumplis and Instagram @angelazoumplis.   Got follow up questions for Angela or a suggestion for an -ology or expert? Email us at [email protected]   Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Spotify.   Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.    Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here!