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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.

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Episodes
  • Is Godzilla Fission or Fusion? From Radiation Mutation to Blue Atomic Breath, Nuclear Physicist Stephanie Diem Unpacks This Superb Homage Monster Movie.

    Is Godzilla Fission or Fusion? From Radiation Mutation to Blue Atomic Breath, Nuclear Physicist Stephanie Diem Unpacks This Superb Homage Monster Movie.
    Jun 30 2026
    Episode Description Is Godzilla Minus One just a wonderful homage to the classic monster movies or is it the ultimate warning about nuclear energy? 🦖⚛️ In this episode of Unobtainium, Adam and Amy break down the real science, historical context, and emotional power of Godzilla Minus One. Joining the conversation is Professor Stephanie Diem, a nuclear physicist and engineer, and Professor of Engineering Physics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, to separate nuclear facts from the King of the Monsters science fiction. Along the way, they discuss the difference between fission and fusion, the realities of radiation, and the challenges of communicating complex science to the public. But the episode also digs into the film's deeper themes: postwar trauma, guilt, sacrifice, resilience, and humanity's complicated relationship with powerful technologies. The result is a fascinating look at how a giant radioactive lizard (or maybe a wayward dinosaur?) became cinema's most enduring metaphor for the atomic age. And why Godzilla Minus One resonated with audiences around the world. From the history of postwar Japan to the cutting-edge future of clean energy, they’re unpacking it all! Full SymmaryWhat makes Godzilla such an enduring pop culture icon? Godzilla Minus One took the world by storm, returning the King of Monsters to his terrifying roots as a symbol of nuclear destruction while delivering a deeply human story about trauma, survivor's guilt, and rebuilding after World War II. In this episode of Unobtainium, Adam and Amy dive into the Godzilla science, history, and emotional power of the film with Professor Stephanie Diem, a nuclear engineer and professor of Engineering Physics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. They break down the realities of nuclear engineering, including the fundamental differences between nuclear fission vs. fusion, how real-world nuclear reactors work, and whether Godzilla's devastating atomic breath is scientifically closer to a fission reactor or fusion reactions (hint: the blue color tells a lot).The conversation goes deep into the real science behind Godzilla's radioactive origins, including the differences between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, how nuclear reactors work, and why fusion energy remains one of humanity's greatest technological challenges. Along the way, Stephanie explains the workings of a reactor, from control rods to Cherenkov radiation, and fusion experiments. And how the world has moved beyond the fear of nuclear weapons to look at how nuclear technology is used for clean energy solutions, medical treatments, and space exploration. And they also touch on the challenges of modern science communication. But the episode goes far beyond monster science. Amy, Adam, and Stephanie examine the historical context that gave birth to Godzilla in postwar Japan, the legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the promise and peril of nuclear technology, and the role of science diplomacy in addressing global challenges. They also discuss why Godzilla Minus One resonates so powerfully with audiences today: beneath the spectacle of a giant radioactive monster lies a moving story about family, sacrifice, resilience, and the value of human life. Topics include: Godzilla Minus One, radiation, nuclear weapons, fission, fusion, reactor design, atomic breath, Cherenkov radiation, clean energy, science communication, postwar Japan, nuclear ethics, science diplomacy, and why one giant monster continues to embody humanity's hopes and fears about technology. 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 Stephanie Diem https://engineering.wisc.edu/directory/profile/stephanie-diem/https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffi-diem/#godzillaminusone #godzilla #moviescience #stephaniediem #scifi #unobtainiumpodcast #physics Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    41 mins
  • 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.
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
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