Science Fact, Science Fiction and Everything Inbetween
Episodes
Thursday Jul 01, 2021
Thursday Jul 01, 2021
Catriona Silvey is an author whose new book Meet Me in Another Life has been optioned for a new film starring Gal Gadot...even before the book came out... Catriona joins Dr. Hannah Little for this episode of The Cosmic Shed.
Gal (left) will produce and star in the film of the novel by Catriona's (right)
Meet Me in Another Life is a story of love and connection in every possible form that will captivate fans of Stuart Turton, Claire North, and Audrey Niffenegger. Gal Gadot says it is "Beautifully explored and deeply complex".
The book is released on July 8th 2021. You can get it here but you can listen to Catriona right now on this episode. Download to your favourite podcast app or simply press play.
show notes
Dr Hannah Little is a Senior Lecturer in Science Communication at UWE Bristol
Catriona Silvey has a website here
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
Sunday May 16, 2021
Sunday May 16, 2021
Kate Winslet plays legendary fossil hunter Mary Anning in Ammonite, the new film (in cinemas now) from Francis Lee, the director of God's Own Country. For this episode, Kate Winslet makes her debut on The Cosmic Shed podcast and we are also joined by Anya Pearson of Mary Anning Rocks.
Kate Winslet tells us about working with Saoirse Ronan in Ammonite
Mary Anning Rocks is the hugely successful campaign to get a statue of Mary Anning in Lyme Regis, where she made her name finding all those wonderful fossils. It was started by Evie Swire three years ago and Evie's mum Anya joins us to discuss the film and tell us all about the wonderful campaign.
Evie and Anya from Mary Anning Rocks
Download to your favourite podcast app or simply press play.
show notes
You can support Mary Anning Rocks here
Anya mentions this film about Mary Anning by Natasha Mattocks
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
Monday May 10, 2021
Monday May 10, 2021
We're joined by Andy Weir to talk about his latest, and quite possibly greatest (so far) novel Project Hail Mary. One lone astronaut holds the future of humanity in his hands. If you've read it, you know what happens next. Either way, download and listen now to this interview with, friend of The Cosmic Shed podcast, Andy Weir.
Andy Weir, Andrew, Ti and Steve chat about Project Hail Mary
There are some spoilers later in the episode so do feel free to read the book first. You won't regret it and you can buy it from all good book shops including here.
show notes
Project Hail Mary is published by Penguin Random House
You can listen to our live event with Andy Weir here
You can listen to our episode on the Martian (book) here
You can listen to our episode on the Martian (film) here
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
Tuesday May 04, 2021
Tuesday May 04, 2021
May the Fourth be with you. It's Star Wars Day and we have something of a special guest for you today. You'll have to listen to find out who it is.
This episode is all about Chaos Walking, the new film starring Daisy Ridley, who you may know as Rey from Star Wars.
We've got a surprise guest for you this May 4th...
Andrew, Steve, Tushna and Russell are joined by Hannah Little, a senior lecturer at UWE Bristol with a PhD in linguistics. In the film, everyone can hear all the men's thoughts and conversation in the podcast swiftly moves to discuss the science behind such ideas. Ti also pops in to tell us about the chaos of making Chaos Walking.
What is the dog thinking?
The film also stars Spiderman himself, Tom Holland, and is based on the books by Patrick Ness. Download and listen now and find out who that surprise guest is this May 4th...
show notes
You can find out more about Neuralink here
You can find out more about how people think here
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
Wednesday Apr 07, 2021
Wednesday Apr 07, 2021
Seaspiracy is, sadly, not about Seas Piracy but about an alleged conspiracy in the fisheries sector which is trying to conceal the damage done to our oceans by fisheries. It's available on Netflix and is a film by Ali Tabrizi, following on from Cowspiracy.
Conspirasea?
Andrew is joined in "the shed" by Marine Cusa, Natalie Dyer, Emma Brisdion and Russell Arnott to discuss the film, the science of the film and the film making practices employed. Just how much can we trust it?
Andrew, Marine, Natalie, Emma and Russell.
Scientists involved in the protection of our oceans, even those interviewed for the film have spoken out against the film's accuracy.
Prof Christina Hicks speaking out on Twitter
Marine has dived even deeper into the science in her two part YouTube review of Seaspiracy which we urge you all to watch here but, before you do, download and listen to this episode of The Cosmic Shed podcast.
Marine Cusa's review is excellent and on YouTube.
show notes
You can follow Marine, Natalie, Emma and Russell on Twitter.
Marine is speaking in her own capacity and her opinions do not necessarily reflect that of her employers.
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
The Marine Conservation Society provide a useful document on fish to avoid
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
ESA are looking for new astronauts and you can apply. Dr Jennifer Ngo-Anh is Team Leader in the Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration at the European Space Agency and joins Andrew for this episode of The Cosmic Shed.
Jennifer Ngo-Anh tells us about the science done in Space
Jennifer, a medical doctor with a PhD in neuroscience, joined ESA in 2006, and tells Andrew what ESA are looking for in the new astronaut candidates and what the new space faring recruits will have to look forward to...including ESA's plans to return people to the Moon.
ESA's missions for robots and humans in the near future
Jennifer and Andrew discuss the Lunar Gateway, a space station planned to go in orbit around the Moon, which the successful candidates for this round of astronaut recruitment may well find themselves on one day.
Strap in and download this episode of The Cosmic Shed.
show notes
You can apply to become one of the new crop of astronauts here
Image credits ESA/NASA and pictured is Luca Parmitano
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Jon Boden has won 11 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. His new album Last Mile Home, from Hudson Records, is the final instalment in his trilogy of concept albums set in a post-climate change future. You might also know him as the lead singer and arranger of the legendary folk band Bellowhead. He joins Andrew for this special episode of The Cosmic Shed podcast.
Jon Boden, in his Potting Shed, talking to Andrew of The Cosmic Shed
Jon's trilogy of post-apocalyptic albums began with Songs from the Floodplain in 2009, followed by Afterglow in 2017 and, this month, Last Mile Home. You can get your own copies of them here.
Jon and Andrew talk about science in folk music, the process of songwriting, quite how you make a concept album that is actually really brilliant and a whole lot more besides.
Download and listen now.
show notes
Jon Boden's Last Mile Home is available from Hudson Records
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
Saturday Mar 06, 2021
Saturday Mar 06, 2021
S.B. Divya is a Hugo nominated science fiction author, an A.I. engineer and an editor of Escapepod. She joins Andrew for this episode of The Cosmic Shed.
Machinehood builds upon S.B. Divya's love of science fiction and experience and knowledge of Artificial Intelligence from her extensive experience as an engineer in the field.
Download and listen to S.B.Divya on The Cosmic Shed.
show notes
Machinehood is from Saga Press
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
George Clooney's The Midnight Sky, currently showing on Netflix, comes to The Cosmic Shed podcast.
We're joined by legendary production designer Jim Bissell to discuss his work on The Midnight Sky. You might know his work from E.T.
Jim Bissell, Production Designer of The Midnight Sky and our Steve
Our Steve got a teensy bit excited about the engineering in the film and we've indulged him big time in this episode. Happily, he's the kind of guy you want to indulge and he's come up with something rather special.
Not only does he bring you an interview with Jim Bissell, who designed the spacecraft (the Aether) in The Midnight Sky, but he got in touch with Professor Ben Hicks of the Design and Manufacturing Futures Lab at the University of Bristol.
Steve and Prof Ben hatch a plan to work out the engineering of the Aether if it were a real life space craft...You can see a video of what Prof Ben and colleagues came up with on our Twitter account here
Prof Ben Hicks found that the optimum design for the booms is actually straight hollow tubes as in this image: 
The Aether - could it really work? Prof Ben Hicks worked it out
Meanwhile, in "the shed" opinions are mixed but all found something to love in The Midnight Sky.
Download and listen now.
show notes
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
Friday Jan 15, 2021
Friday Jan 15, 2021
Abigail Harrison is also known as Astronaut Abby. Since the age of 13, her eyes have firmly set on the red planet. Abby is an aspiring astronaut who dreams of becoming the first astronaut to set foot on Mars and the co-founder of the international non-profit organization The Mars Generation.
Abby joins Andrew for this episode of The Cosmic Shed podcast. 
Abby Harrison is aiming to be the first person to set foot on Mars
Dream Big! How to Reach for Your Stars is Abby's first book and it "provides helpful advice and practical tips to help readers on the path toward finding, reaching for, and achieving their goals."
Abby's book is out this month.
It turns out Abby is a bit of a science fiction fan too. Obviously, Andrew and Abby chatted about that and we find out which book and film she'll be taking with her when she sets off for Mars.
Download and listen now.
show notes
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
Wednesday Dec 30, 2020
Wednesday Dec 30, 2020
This is the episode. Disney have announced 10 new films and series in the Star Wars Universe. The Mandalorian Season 2 has just finished. The Arecibo Observatory just collapsed. We're in.
"Your name will be legendary" Ming-Na Wen as Fennec Shand
Andrew, Ti and Steve settle in to talk all things Mandalorian and Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute joins us to talk about the latest in the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence and the collapse of the Arecibo.
Baby Yoda stole our hearts. Mando stole our Friday nights.
Fair warning, this is a spoiler laden episode so make sure you watch all of the first two seasons of the Mandalorian first. Once you have done that, settle in for our last episode of 2020.
The Arecibo (as featured in Contact) has collapsed
You have two choices. You can download and listen at home or your can can download and listen outside. We can bring in 2021 warm or we can bring it in cold. It's up to you.
We have spoken.
show notes
Seth Shostak has written a lovely tribute to Arecibo
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
Our episode featuring Joonas Suatamo (Chewbacca) is here
Our episode with Warwick Davis is here
Our episode on the Physics of Star Wars is here
Our previous episode featuring Cavan Scott (Star Wars author) is here
Our episode on some rather interesting Star Wars research is here
Saturday Nov 28, 2020
Saturday Nov 28, 2020
Andrew is joined by Pippa Ehrlich, Director/Producer of the wonderful documentary My Octopus Teacher now streaming on Netflix for this special episode of The Cosmic Shed.
It's been stealing hearts and winning awards across the world, including winning The Golden Panda at Wildscreen Festival which leads us to be able to type the following, deeply wonderful sentence:
My Octopus Teacher won the Golden Panda.
Pippa Ehrlich is Director/Producer of My Octopus Teacher
Pippa tells Andrew just what goes into making such a stunning film in a wide ranging conversation including diving in the kelp forests and making a film for Netflix.
Pippa and Andrew in conversation.
Put on your warmest wetsuit and dive in. Alternatively, wear whatever you like and download the latest episode of The Cosmic Shed podcast.
show notes
Pippa is also part of the Sea Change Project. Find out about their wonderful work here.
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
Saturday Nov 21, 2020
Saturday Nov 21, 2020
Kellie Gerardi joins Andrew to talk about life in the Space Age and her work in the commercial space industry. Kellie is something of a social media star with over 200,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok and has set her sights firmly on reaching Space for herself.
Her new book, "Not Necessarily Rocket Science - A Beginners Guide to Life in the Space Age" is out on November 24th 2020
Kellie and Andrew talk about life in the Space Age and Kellie's new book
Kellie researches bioastronautics and has flown on the Vomit Comet (a plane which enables passengers to experience weightlessness) on a number of occasions as part of her research.
Kellie Gerardi and Andrew talking for The Cosmic Shed podcast
This being The Cosmic Shed, the conversation turns to Science Fiction and we learn of Kellie's links to a galaxy far, far away.
Download, sit back and listen to this episode of The Cosmic Shed with Kellie Gerardi.
show notes
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
You can buy Kellie's excellent book here
You can buy Kellie's merchandise here
Wednesday Sep 23, 2020
Wednesday Sep 23, 2020
Next up on The Cosmic Shed, we explore Alice Winocour's fascinating new film, Proxima starring Eva Green and we hear from Alice Winocour herself.
Eva Green's character is surrounded by men
Andrew, Ti, Tushna and Achintya gather in the virtual shed, wishing they were next to each other and not separated by a lockdown and virus. All rather fitting for the film which you'll know if you've seen it and you should.
Achintya, Andrew, Ti and Tushna discuss Proxima
Strap in, escape under a fence or blast off into space. Do what you need to do but make sure you download this first.
show notes
You can read Andrew's review of Proxima in Physics World
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
Very special thanks to Achtintya Rao for editing this episode.
Monday Aug 31, 2020
Monday Aug 31, 2020
In this long in development episode, we look back at the ground-breaking, record-breaking and undeniably beautiful Avatar.
We see you, Cosmic Shed listeners.
Andrew, Ti and Steve are joined by the hosts of the For What it's Earth podcast Emma Brisdion and Lloyd Hopkins to discuss the science and storytelling of Avatar.
Steve, Andrew, Ti, Emma and Lloyd
You'll also hear from Christopher Conselice whose research revealed the likely number of alien civilisations out there. Christopher is an American astrophysicist who is currently a Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Manchester.
The floating mountain of the Valley of Mo'ara is an inspiration for Avatar's Pandora.
Settle in under your favourite tree and listen to this brand new episode of the Cosmic Shed podcast. Oh and you might as well watch Avatar again too. It's been too long.
show notes
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
Very special thanks to Achtintya Rao for his help in editing this episode.
Steve and Lloyd mention this