The Unforgiving Sea: OceanGate, Titan, and Unforgiven Hubris
The thing about exploring the depths of the ocean is that it is a lot like exploring space: the environment is brutally unforgiving of error and hubris.
Author: Michael Siegel
Mini-Throughput: Debate Me, Bro Edition
In order for a scientific debate to work, it needs honest brokers, willing to admit when they’re wrong. Not “debate me, bro” gish gallopers.
Thursday Throughput: Chat GPT Is Not Your Research Assistant
A running theme with Chat GPT: It has a tendency to very confidently say things that are not true and cite sources that are fictional.
Ten Takeaways from the Trump Indictment
Here are ten thoughts on the Trump indictment, always with the caveat that I Am Not A Lawyer. Plus, who puts a chandelier in the bathroom?
Video Thoughput: Don’t Beam Me Up
In this episode, I take my first look at the classic Star Trek TV series. In particular, would it be possible to beam people through space?
Throughput: Poop Pill Edition
The FDA has approved the first “poop pill” that would transplant bacteria from on person’s digestive system into another.
Thursday Throughput: Vaccines Vs Cancer Edition
On Wednesday, the scientists reported results that defied the long odds. The vaccine provoked an immune response in half of the patients treated
Video Throughput: The Eye of Aldhani and May the Fourth Be With You
I take a look back at Disney+’s spectacular Andor series and the episode The Eye. Would something like the Eye of Aldhani be possible?
Video Throughput: Serenity and Firefly
In this week’s video, I react to the 2005 film Serenity and the Firefly series that preceded it. What did it get right? What did it get wrong?
Rapidly Scheduled Assembly Throughput
Summoning up all the knowledge of my 30 in astrophysics and fourteen years in spacecraft operations, I can explain it thusly: Sh*t ‘sploded.
Dominion Settles With Fox News
It would seem this trial is not going to be the Great Reckoning many were hoping for regarding the 2020 Election and the falsehoods heaped thereupon.
The Throughput: RSV Vaccine Edition
Respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV, has been one of those murderous viruses we’ve just accepted as a part of life.
Throughput: Mifepristone Edition
If making the case a judge can unilaterally ban a drug that has been safely used for 23 years…you’re going to need to do better than this.
Video Throughput: An Astronomer Reacts to Spaceballs
In this video, Dr Michael Siegel reacts to the 1986 sci-fi epic Spaceballs such as ludicrous speed, vacuuming planets, the Swartz, and more!
Throughput: Politicization Edition
When you attempt to merge science and politics, the results is not to scientize the politics but to politicize the science
Video Throughput: Science Fiction From Fritz Lang to the Daniels
Everything Everywhere All At Once won the Oscar for Best Picture, arguably the first science fiction film to do so. How have science fiction movies fared at the Oscars over the years? Are we...
Mini-Throughput: Why “Natural Immunity” Isn’t All That Hot
There is a tendency in our society to favor “natural” things over artificial things.
Trump-Biden II Will Bulldoze the Doubters
It’s fairly obvious to me that, barring a major health catastrophe for one of them, it will be Biden v. Trump, Round 2
Thursday Throughput: Masked Astronomer Edition
Lots of evidence that the people telling you masks are useless either have an agenda or don’t know what they’re talking about. Or both.
Video Thoughput: The Science of Contact
Contact digs deep into the weeds on SETI and radio astronomy and I go in with it to see what it got right and what it got wrong.
