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Unobtainium Podcast

Unobtainium Podcast

By: Adam Sigel & Dr. Amy Mainzer
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The Unobtainium Podcast is hosted by Adam Sigel, a Hollywood writer-producer, and Dr. Amy Mainzer, an astrophysicist. Together, they explore the science in science fiction. Each episode unpacks the Unobtainium behind movies—what’s real, what’s cinematic, and why filmmakers bend reality. This is for the nerds, sci-fi fans, film junkies, and anyone curious about the science behind the story.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2026 Cognito Entertainment. All rights reserved. Art Science Science Fiction
Episodes
  • Can Robots Feel? Roboticist Hiro Ono joins us to explore consciousness, mortality, AI Robots, and what it means to be human as we discuss Ridley Scott’s thought-provoking sci-fi film Blade Runner.

    Can Robots Feel? Roboticist Hiro Ono joins us to explore consciousness, mortality, AI Robots, and what it means to be human as we discuss Ridley Scott’s thought-provoking sci-fi film Blade Runner.
    Jun 23 2026
    Episode DescriptionBlade Runner is famous for its flying cars, neon cyberpunk skylines, and bioengineered replicants—but its most enduring questions are about what it means to be human. In this episode of the Unobtainium podcast, hosts Adam and Amy are joined by renowned roboticist Hiro Ono to explore the cutting-edge science and philosophy behind Ridley Scott's sci-fi masterpiece. How close is modern technology to creating truly humanoid robots? Can Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) or large language models (LLMs) achieve actual machine consciousness? What role do memory, emotion, and mortality play in shaping identity? From artificial intelligence and robotics to Roy Batty's famous "Tears in Rain" monologue, this conversation examines why Blade Runner remains the ultimate exploration of what it means to be human—and why its warnings feel more relevant in today's era of generative AI than ever before. Full Episode SummaryWhat makes us human? More than forty years after its release, Blade Runner (1982) remains one of the most influential and thought-provoking science fiction films ever made. Ridley Scott's cyberpunk Neo-Noir masterpiece continues to trend today, shaping critical conversations around artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, consciousness, memory, identity, and the future relationship between humans and machines. In this episode of Unobtainium, Adam and Amy sit down with roboticist Hiro Ono (Georgia Tech, formerly NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory) to explore the real-world science behind Blade Runner, its iconic replicants, and the core themes first posed by Philip K. Dick's novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The Science of AI and Humanoid RobotsHow close are modern autonomous systems and machine learning models to the human-like replicants imagined in the film? Could true Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) ever emerge from neural networks? Together, the hosts and Hiro dive into whether an advanced machine can possess true sentience, or if it is simply simulating human behavior. If memories can be implanted, edited, or manufactured by code, what does that mean for personal identity? Drawing on his background developing autonomous systems for space exploration and Mars rovers, Hiro explains the current state of robotics technology, machine learning algorithms, and the future of AI. The conversation tackles major scientific hurdles, including:The "hard problem" of consciousness and qualia.Emotion, neuroscience, and memory formation.The ultimate question in tech: Can a machine ever have a subjective experience? Why Blade Runner Matters in the Age of ChatGPTThe hosts also unpack why Blade Runner is widely considered one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. They discuss the ethics of synthetic humans, AI ethics, robot rights, and the growing societal fear that tech may someday blur the line between artificial and human intelligence. Along the way, they break down the "Tears in Rain" monologue and why Roy Batty's final moments remain cinema's most powerful meditation on mortality, free will, and meaning.Whether you are looking for a deep Blade Runner explanation, researching AI consciousness, or fascinated by the philosophy of mind, this episode explores the enduring questions at the intersection of science fiction and modern AI research. Follow Unobtainium Podcast! Website: unobtainiumpodcast.comWatch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod Stay connected: Instagram: @unobtainiumpod TikTok: @unobtainiumpod Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social X: @unobtainiumpod For Dr. Hiro Ono:https://hiroono.com/en/https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiroono/ #BladeRunner # RidleyScott # HiroOno #Robot #Replicant #RoyBatty #scifi #unobtainiumpodcast #physics #space Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    39 mins
  • Alien Intelligence, Physics of Space, a Homicidal AI, and More with UCLA planetary scientist (and discoverer of the Kuiper Belt) Dave Jewitt on Kubrick’s Masterpiece

    Alien Intelligence, Physics of Space, a Homicidal AI, and More with UCLA planetary scientist (and discoverer of the Kuiper Belt) Dave Jewitt on Kubrick’s Masterpiece
    Jun 16 2026

    In this episode of Unobtainium, Amy, Adam, and UCLA planetary scientist Dave Jewitt (discoverer of the Kuiper Belt) explore Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey—a film that remains one of the most scientifically realistic depictions of humans in space and a transformational moment for sci-fi cinema. From the physics of artificial gravity and existing in vacuum to HAL 9000, human evolution (what’s the story with those actors playing the apes?), and the search for alien intelligence, the conversation examines what the movie gets right and where it bends the rules. And incredibly, why its mysteries continue to captivate scientists and audiences nearly sixty years later. Along the way, they discuss the possibility of advanced civilizations (plus the reason why the Monolith is black), the dangers of technology (poor Hal, are humans are the real problem?), the purpose of exploration, and the profound question at the heart of Kubrick's vision: what comes next for humanity?


    Follow Unobtainium Podcast!

    Website: unobtainiumpodcast.com

    Watch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod

    Stay connected:

    Instagram: @unobtainiumpod

    TikTok: @unobtainiumpod

    Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social

    X: @unobtainiumpod

    For Dave Jewitt:

    https://faculty.epss.ucla.edu/~jewitt/David_Jewitt.html

    https://www.kavliprize.org/david-jewitt-autobiography

    #Kubrick #2001aspaceodyssey #science #scifi #starchild #unobtainiumpodcast #physics #Kuiperbelt

    #space #hal9000 #film #moviescience

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    47 mins
  • Is the Force real? From hyperspace to parsecs, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson joins us to discuss the science of Star Wars.

    Is the Force real? From hyperspace to parsecs, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson joins us to discuss the science of Star Wars.
    Jun 9 2026

    In this episode of Unobtainium Podcast, hosts Adam and Amy sit down with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to unpack the science and mythology of Star Wars. Together, they explore whether the Force resembles anything in real-world physics, from gravity and electromagnetism to quantum mechanics and multiple dimensions. The conversation dives into hyperspace travel, wormholes, faster-than-light storytelling shortcuts, and the infamous“12 parsecs” controversy, while also examining why Star Wars resonates so deeply on a human level. Along the way, they discuss the Star Wars canon, good versus evil, selflessness versus selfishness, the psychology of belief, and why the Force endures as a timeless metaphor for power, destiny, and transformation. Funny, philosophical, and deeply nerdy, the episode explores why Star Wars continues to shape modern culture nearly 50 years after its release.



    Follow Unobtainium Podcast!

    Website: unobtainiumpodcast.com

    Watch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod

    Stay connected:

    Instagram: @unobtainiumpod

    TikTok: @unobtainiumpod

    Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social

    X: @unobtainiumpod

    For Neil deGrasse Tyson:

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neildegrassetyson

    Youtube: https://youtube.com/@startalk

    Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neildegrassetyson?_r=1&_t=ZT-9736KZJtaIA

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
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