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John E Moores

@arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social
376 followers 73 following 78 posts

Planetary Scientist & Professor at York University, Co-author of Daydreaming in the Solar System (he/him) www.johnemoores.com popcornscience.ca

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Dr. Catherine Neish @planetneish.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
For the last episode of Season 2, Popcorn Science discusses the earliest sci-fi movie ever made - “Le Voyage dans la Lune” (1902). Listen to us talk for 55 minutes about this 15 minute silent film, touching on space cannons, Jules Verne, and the many, many ways you can die on the Moon.
popcornscience.ca
Le Voyage dans la Lune
The moon landing was faked on a soundstage (in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis in 1902)!
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
This morning, MSc student Izzy Marincic recaps our June visit to the Scotty Creek Research Station in the Northwest Territories to measure methane emission in a complex environment: york-pvl.blogspot.com/2026/09/fiel...
york-pvl.blogspot.com
Field Work Ahead: "Uh, I Sure Hope It Does"
Ahh, remote fieldwork! Though we are not a field-focused group, we have participated in several campaigns over the years (mostly to the Cana...
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Dr. Catherine Neish @planetneish.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Today on Popcorn Science, we celebrate our “Independence Day”. We journey back to 1996 to discuss how to hack an alien spaceship with a Macintosh Powerbook, why the aliens chose an inefficient strategy to destroy humanity, and how much we loved Fruitopia.
podcasts.apple.com
Independence Day
Podcast Episode · Popcorn Science Podcast · September 13 · 1h
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Time for a throwback to 2019 - did you know that the PVL has a board-game you can download, print out and play with family and friends? Our former postdoc Dr. Christina Smith explains Rover Exploration Challenge here: york-pvl.blogspot.com/2019/09/rove...
york-pvl.blogspot.com
Rover Exploration Challenge: The Boardgame for Outreach
As part of our work under my Early Career Researcher Award grant from the Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science, we have ...
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
There's a great opportunity coming up to contribute to NASA's planetary protection protocols for Mars and applications are being accepted from all over the world! Read more about it here: sma.nasa.gov/news/article... Applications due September 11
sma.nasa.gov
NASA Establishes M-FORCE Tiger Team to Shape Mars Planetary Protection Protocols
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Congrats to MSc Student Isabelle Marincic on her first paper! In her research note, she describes how close methanogens can get to the surface before UV light inhibits their production of methane. However, it's likely that other factors will stop them first... iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3...
iopscience.iop.org
Estimating the Depth at Which UV Irradiation Suppresses Methanogenic Activity in the Martian Subsurface
Estimating the Depth at Which UV Irradiation Suppresses Methanogenic Activity in the Martian Subsurface, Marincic, I. K., Moores, J. E.
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
If you find Gravity to be intense, @planetneish.bsky.social and I have you covered with our fundamental force-defying semiquincentennial special in 2 weeks. This classic 90s romp has everything - aliens, flying saucers, flannel, even Jeff Goldblum! Surely, the whole world will want to celebrate.
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Dr. Catherine Neish @planetneish.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
After a short hiatus, Popcorn Science returns this week with the 2013 movie “Gravity.” This movie is a spectacle with many unrealistic elements, such as overlapping satellite orbits, space suit attire, and George Clooney being interested in a woman his own age.
popcornscience.ca
Gravity
If you decide to listen, then you gotta just get on with it. Sit back, enjoy the ride. You gotta plant both your feet on the ground and start livin' life.
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
In PVL's second post of the month, undergraduate student Ella talks about her first international conference at COSPAR which was held in Florence, Italy. Somehow, it was my first COSPAR meeting too. Read more about her experience here: york-pvl.blogspot.com/2026/08/the-...
york-pvl.blogspot.com
The Horrors Persist, But So Do I: Ella’s First Conference
In a way there were two firsts at this conference. Not only was it Ella's first major international conference (she had previously presented...
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
This week, new PVL Postdoc @transmartian.bsky.social talks about studying widely (as opposed to narrowly) in planetary science. Make sure to read through to the bottom for a deep dive into the saying "A jack of all trades is a master of none..." york-pvl.blogspot.com/2026/08/jack...
york-pvl.blogspot.com
Jack of All Trades, Doctor of Some
This week, our newly minted Doctor Innanen presents an essay in defence of the generalist. Once upon a time, all scientists were generalists...
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
You now can catch @planetneish.bsky.social and me on the radio! We dropped by London Morning with Andrew Brown yesterday to talk all about scientific accuracy in movies: www.cbc.ca/listen/live-... To hear more of our conversations, check out Popcorn Science Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!
cbc.ca
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
This week, Elisa makes up for lost time on the PVL blog with a longread about the joys of pen and paper in academia. Find the article here: york-pvl.blogspot.com/2026/07/a-pe... What are your favorite materials or techniques for accomplishing your science?
york-pvl.blogspot.com
A Perspective on Analog Writing Implements
The motto of my favorite journal brand, Leuchtterm1917, is "Denken mit der hand" or thinking with the hand. I'm not the only member of my gr...
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Congrats to newly minted MSc Abby Newton, PVL’s fifth and final successful thesis defence this summer!
A smiling new MSc graduate standing in front of the first slide of their thesis defence powerpoint deck
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Congrats to Dr. Elisa Dong (co-supervised student of myself and @planetneish.bsky.social ) who successfully defended her PhD dissertation this afternoon!
A new PhD graduate in front of a monitor displaying the first slide of their exceptional presentation
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Dr. Catherine Neish @planetneish.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
In this week’s episode of Popcorn Science, we cover the AppleTV series, “Pluribus”. For our first ever in-person recording, we cover virus transmission, exoplanets, and Vince Gilligan’s love of Albuquerque. Spoiler alert - this episode has the longest “science shine” section of any of our podcasts!
popcornscience.ca
Pluribus
You will never have to consume this podcast. Not unless you want to, which we assume is unlikely.
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Dr. Catherine Neish @planetneish.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
For the second part of our Andy Weir double feature, John and I discuss “Project Hail Mary.” In this episode, we talk about alien life, the fallacy of the “lone genius”, and why Andy Weir may be a bit too much of a “bro”.
popcornscience.ca
Project Hail Mary
Give us some words of encouragement because you are in for an episode which will amaze amaze amaze you so much that you'll want to fist my bump!
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Congrats to @transmartian.bsky.social who successfully defended their PhD Dissertation in Earth and Space Science at York University yesterday!
Zoom cover slide for a presentation entitled "Illuminating Martian Atmospheric Mysteries: Variability in Water-ice, Dust and Methane" with a smiling person wearing a rainbow-coloured shirt in the upper right
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Dr. Catherine Neish @planetneish.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
This week’s Popcorn Science kicks off our Andy Weir double header, starting with “The Martian.” We discuss wind on Mars, how hard it is to grow potatoes, and why sometimes a movie is better than a book. @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social
popcornscience.ca
The Martian
We don't want to come off as arrogant here, but Catherine and John are the greatest scientists on this podcast.
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Dr. Catherine Neish @planetneish.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
This week on Popcorn Science, John and I take a deep dive into the 1989 film “The Abyss.” We discuss the science of scuba diving, oxygenated breathing fluid, and why no one wants to work with James Cameron.
popcornscience.ca
The Abyss
It's not easy being a cast-iron bitch. It takes discipline, and years of training... A lot of people don't appreciate that.
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
As I start work on my second book, I paid a visit to cannery row for some inspiration!
Bust of John Steinbeck with sculpture of Cannery Row in the background
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Dr. Catherine Neish @planetneish.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
This week, Popcorn Science goes back to 1977 to critique one of Spielberg’s early hits, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” We discuss the cultural phenomena of alien abductions, music as a universal language, and the hopping tourist industry in Wyoming.
popcornscience.ca
Close Encounters
I know this sounds crazy, but ever since yesterday on the road, Catherine and John have been seeing this shape. Shaving cream, pillows... This means something. This is important.
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
End of an era - demolition on the long derelict McLaughlin Planetarium begins here in Toronto
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Congrats also to Milena Markovich who successfully defended her MSc thesis this afternoon!! Milena will be continuing with my lab at York for her PhD as we dive deeper into ice deposits on the moon (you’ve got to love her title for the public lecture!)
A young woman standing in front of a tv screen on which is written “A song of ice and dust: vacuum ultraviolet and visible reflectance in lunar permanently shadowed regions”
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Congrats to my student Grace Bischof who successfully defended her PhD today at York University!! Next for her will be a postdoc at U of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Lab, a place near and dear to my heart
Grace Bischof standing in front of a tv screen showing the title slide of her dissertation public presentation
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Dr. Catherine Neish @planetneish.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Inyalowdas! In our longest Popcorn Science to date, we take an “Expansive” look at a genre defining series. We ponder what it would be like to die of radiation exposure, realistic ways of living in zero-g, and why James Holden is so darn boring. www.popcornscience.ca/the-expanse/...
popcornscience.ca
The Expanse
Wrecking things is what Earthers do best.
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
To engage more deeply with the best of Science Fiction, as we do on Popcorn Science, allow me to recommend a WSFS Membership: www.lacon.org/register/ You get a packet with great stories and art + you can nominate and vote your favourites. For our Canadian listeners, next year will be in Montréal!!
lacon.org
LAcon V Registration – LAcon V
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Thank-you to everyone who is enjoying Popcorn Science! We've recently passed 250 plays over on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. @planetneish.bsky.social and I are looking forward to our next milestone. Next time we'll be talking about an Expansive series that you suggested! Keep those ideas flowing
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Dr. Catherine Neish @planetneish.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
In this week’s episode of Popcorn Science, John and I are joined by physiologist Dr. Ann Revill to discuss the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park. Hop on the Mr. DNA ride as we discuss ancient mosquitoes, cloning, and a very sexy Jeff Goldblum. Life, uh, finds a way! @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social
popcornscience.ca
Jurassic Park
God creates dinosaurs, God destroys dinosaurs. God creates Man, Man destroys God. Man creates podcasts. Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Don't forget that you can also listen to our latest episode over on Apple Podcasts podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t... and on Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/6ohP... Stick with @planetneish.bsky.social and I and you will come to realize that The Fifth Element is anything but Boron
podcasts.apple.com
The Fifth Element
Podcast Episode · Popcorn Science Podcast · April 5 · 1h 2m
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Dr. Catherine Neish @planetneish.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
On this week’s episode of Popcorn Science, we travel back to 1997’s “The Fifth Element”. In this bright and vibrant vision of the future, we discuss what makes a “perfect being”, the vocal range of aliens, and why NYC in the 23rd century looks so much like the 90s.
popcornscience.ca
The Fifth Element
Y'know we've got a show to run here, and it must pop POP POP!
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
This week, PVL masters student Isabelle Marincic reflects on their first year in graduate school. You can read about the highs, the lows, the challenges overcome and yet to come here: york-pvl.blogspot.com/2026/04/one-...
york-pvl.blogspot.com
One Year In
It's an adjustment, starting grad school. Even if you've already done research work, becoming a teaching assistant, taking on more respons...
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Dr. Catherine Neish @planetneish.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
Excited about Season 5 of ‘For All Mankind‘? Join us as we discuss the science behind this “space soap opera”. Could humans really live on Mars? What does Russian sound like with a southern accent? Join us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. www.popcornscience.ca/for-all-mank...
popcornscience.ca
For All Mankind
Hi, Bob!
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Kevin Olsen @drksolsen.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Little slow to post, but @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social (John Moores, York University) was in the department last week for some meeting and gave us a seminar about his work. Totally #Plutonic On the slide, the image of #Pluto says: I'm glad you finally found me, I hope we can be friends 🧪🔭 #planetsci
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
Are you missing the Popcorn Science podcast? Not to worry, @planetneish.bsky.social and I will be back for a 2nd season on March 21st! Our first episode is a deep dive on "For All Mankind." Enjoy it in the lead up to the March 27 season 5 premiere. popcornscience.ca
popcornscience.ca
Popcorn Science Podcast
Popcorn Science is a podcast that takes a critical look at the science portrayed in our favourite movies and television shows.
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
This week, PhD Student @dchayes.ca sheds some light on how we talk to spacecraft on and around other planets: york-pvl.blogspot.com/2026/02/talk... The situation on the red planet is particularly complex and therefore particularly interesting! Like any infrastructure, maintenance is critical
york-pvl.blogspot.com
Talking to Mars
This week, PhD student Diana Hayes takes a look at how we communicate with spacecraft dispersed throughout the solar system. Given the numbe...
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
This week, first year MSc student Izzy Marincic recounts her first big conference at EPSC in Helsinki, Finland last fall: york-pvl.blogspot.com/2026/02/dpse... From an advisor's perspective it is always so great to see these moments of growth in my students. It really takes me back...
york-pvl.blogspot.com
DPS/EPSC 2025: Izzy’s First Masters Conference
One of the best parts about being an advisor is that you get to see moments of growth in your trainees. Not only is is satisfying to see t...
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
A neat new result from the Curiosity mission about the persistence of liquid lakes on the surface of early Mars, protected beneath ice. Press release here: news.rice.edu/news/2026/th... paper here: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
news.rice.edu
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
In the final blog post of 2025, @transmartian.bsky.social reflects on their writing journey as a graduate student. york-pvl.blogspot.com/2025/12/inse... This is a key skill: it's not science until it has been shared!
york-pvl.blogspot.com
[Insert Title Here]
Writing is a key part of being a researcher of any kind. It's not enough to do the work, take the data or make the discovery. It's not scien...
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
You only get one first conference presentation. It can be a stressful experience, but ultimately it's rewarding too: a big step along the pathway to becoming a scientist. This week, MSc Abigail Newton describes her experience at the IPM Workshop last summer york-pvl.blogspot.com/2025/11/baby...
york-pvl.blogspot.com
Baby’s First Conference Talk
Public speaking: it's a critical part of communicating your science. But, apocryphally, most people would rather do almost anything else, ev...
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
With graduate school application season coming up quickly, MSc student Milena Markovich offers some advice to those trying to select a program, lab group and project. Read more over on the PVL Blog: york-pvl.blogspot.com/2025/10/say-...
york-pvl.blogspot.com
Say Yes to the Lab Group
It's an interesting exercise to look back from time to time. Can you make out the pathway that brought you to where you are today? No matter...
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
New research from PhD student Elisa Dong! Could Dragonfly detect airbursts on Titan? To find out more: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... This is Elisa's 2nd paper published this year - @planetneish.bsky.social and I are very proud advisors!! If you're looking for a postdoc, consider reaching out
sciencedirect.com
Signal characteristics of potential airbursts in Titan’s atmosphere
We investigate the possibility of detecting airbursts in Titan’s atmosphere by considering their burst characteristics (height and energy release) and…
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
We'll be back with a whole new season in 2026! In the meantime, why not respond to this message and tell us which of your favorite films and TV shows we should review next? Until then, you can catch up on Spotify open.spotify.com/show/3TARKhL... and Apple Podcasts podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/p...
open.spotify.com
Spotify – Web Player
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
The booth is set up!
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
Join me and Jesse at Word on the Street toronto.thewordonthestreet.ca today from 11-6 and tomorrow 10-5 in David Pecaut Square in downtown Toronto! We’ll have copies of Daydreaming, art from the book, stickers and other merch. Come and say hi!
toronto.thewordonthestreet.ca
The Word On The Street Toronto – Canada's Largest Literary Festival
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
This week on the PVL blog, undergrad Ella talks about her second summer in research: york-pvl.blogspot.com/2025/09/anot... Kudos to her for a banner term in which she published her first paper: iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3... and had her first media interview!! www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ4k...
york-pvl.blogspot.com
Another Summer at PVL!
Ahh, summertime! You'd be surprised by the number of people who think us academics just get four months of vacation. Instead, it's the busi...
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Don't forget that you can catch Deep Impact (Ep 11) and all of our other episodes over on Apple Podcasts and Spotify too! In two weeks we will be back with our Season 1 Finale. We wanted to do something special so we reached back to the 1960s for a classic, reviewing it only 24 years too late
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Dr. Catherine Neish @planetneish.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
This week on Popcorn Science, we go back to the summer of the killer asteroids. In 1998, both “Deep Impact” and “Armageddon” hit the big screens. We cover the lesser known (but better) movie as we discuss comets, impacts, and Elijah Wood’s obsession with rings. popcornscience.ca/deep-impact/...
popcornscience.ca
Deep Impact
Cities fall, but they are rebuilt. And heroes die, but they are remembered. We honor them with every podcast we record. Our planet, our home.
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John E Moores @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social · 24/08/2025
If you're looking for more EJO after listening to us this week on Apple podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/p... or Spotify open.spotify.com/show/3TARKhL... , don't fret! Next time on PSP we'll review a film that features Olmos' early career as an origami-enthusiast detective in dystopian 2019 Los Angeles
podcasts.apple.com
Popcorn Science Podcast
Astronomy Podcast · Updated Biweekly · Popcorn Science is a podcast that takes a critical look at the science portrayed in our favourite movies and television shows.
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Dr. Catherine Neish @planetneish.bsky.social · 23/08/2025
This week on Popcorn Science, John and I discuss the 2003 Battlestar Galactica Miniseries. Could Cylons really kill everyone with nuclear bombs alone? What kind of crazy solar system do the colonists live in? Grab your gun and bring this podcast in! popcornscience.ca/battlestar-g...
popcornscience.ca
Battlestar Galactica
John and Catherine hear nothing but the rain while discussing the 2003 Battlestar Galactica miniseries. So grab your gun and bring the cat in.
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Michael Battalio @battalio.com · 21/08/2025
Warnica apologizes to the Canadian Space Agency for having a Mars rover bumper sticker, but I work with plenty of great Canadians on MSL, like @conorwhayes.bsky.social @transmartian.bsky.social @arcticsaxifrage.bsky.social who manage the cloud observations @martianclouds.bsky.social.
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