Doctor Who – FULL CONTACT NERD

Game of Thrones science – “Fire, Ice, and Physics” (MIT Press, 2019) – Rebecca Thompson interview

Rebecca Thompson is a physicist who loves to teach and write about science. She spoke once about the science of Game of Thrones and then turned the idea into a really, cool book. We spoke about the book and what it took to research very different fields of science. Check out the book here.

0:31 – Rebecca mentions that the book is about the Game of Thrones books and movies and she explains how she got into writing it.

2:10 – Rebecca talks about how she applied science to the show but she didn’t want to ruin the story for anyone.

4:00 – Rebecca talks about how she laid the book out in themes.

5:38 – We talk about the power of ranged weapons. Rebecca then talks about the various scientific issues she looks at.

8:34 – Rebecca wanted to talk to someone who knows what it’s like to be athletic in the cold. She spoke to a marathoner about this.

10:14 – Rebecca talks about how much the book is about Game of Thrones versus the science.

11:48 – Rebecca compares the show to the books. The books mention a second moon that was destroyed in the past and that would have changed the weather.

15:30 – Rebecca talks about the genetic mixing issues with brother and sister incest.

23:07 – Rebecca talks about the science behind weaponry and swords.

25:12 – Rebecca talks about Valyrian steel and Damascus steel.

28:27 – Rebecca talks about the buildings in King’s Landing.

30:12 – Rebecca talks about uncovering the methods of making Damascus steel.

33:02 – Rebecca talks about how she researched the strange seasons in GoT.

35:39 – Rebecca talks about navigation at sea versus learning about scurvy.

38:38 – Rebecca mentions guillotine use and what she learned about dinosaurs and dragonflight.

41:54 – Rebecca talks about wild fire and investigating if it could be real.

46:35 – Rebecca talks about researching Shireen’s death.

49:34 – Rebecca talks about how she hopes that people feel okay with asking weird science questions.

54:33 – Rebecca talks about how Matt Smith’s Doctor Who broke his own rules all the time.

58:10 – Rebecca talks about a series of science-focused comics she wrote for young readers.

59:03 – Rebecca is mathlete79 on instagram and twitter.

Links of interest

Check out the book here.

https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/fire-ice-and-physics

https://twitter.com/mathlete79?lang=en

https://www.instagram.com/mathlete79/

For more “Full Contact Nerd” please follow me at crisalvarez.com, on Facebook at CrisAlvarezFCN, on youtube at Cris Alvarez on twitter @CrisAlvarezFCN, on Instagram @crisalvarezscifi, and on Apple / Stitcher / Spotify for the podcast

Guests: Rebecca Thompson

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: science fiction, fantasy, game of thrones, physics, dragons, seasons, icewall, marathon, cold, zombies, white walkers, GRR Martin, skulls, weapons, swords, bronze age, iron age, damascus steel, valyrian steel, King’s landing, rabies, dinosaurs, ice fisherman, greek fire, wild fire, napalm, bergship, jon snow, doctor who

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Sci-Fi and Science – “Exploring Science Through Science Fiction” 2nd ed (Springer, 2019) – Barry Luokkala interview

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Barry Luokkala is a physicist and physics professor with Carnegie Mellon. He wrote a book on science and science fiction after he found that students enjoyed the class so much and he had enough material to write a book on the subject. We discussed the book. Check out the book here.

0:39 – Barry talks about how he developed this book.

2:24 – Barry talks about the focus of the book and how it introduces students

to science through science fiction movies and shows.

5:04 – Barry talks about how he approaches science fiction versus science fantasy.

8:37 – Barry talks about what movies and filsm most inspire aspiring scientists.

11:39 – Barry talks about Asimov’s robot novels.

12:54 – Barry talks about HAL 9000.

14:33 – Barry says Transcendence is the best movie right now that explores quantum computing.

19:47 – Barry has tried to avoid zombies and biology in his book. There isn’t enough science behind the idea. He also discusses Frankenstein as a science fiction novel. He then discusses a Kepler book that was science fiction.

22:24 – Barry discusses other writers who wrote science fiction in the 1600s.

24:48 – Barry talks about the giant ships in Indepedence Day and the science behind their hovering.

31:32 – Barry has a page on the Carnegie Mellon physics department webpage.

Links of interest

Check out the book here.

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4614-7891-1

https://www.cmu.edu/physics/people/faculty/luokkala.html

For more “Full Contact Nerd” please find me at http://crisalvarez.com, follow me on Facebook at crisalvarezwlc, on youtube at Cris Alvarez and on Instagram @crisalvarezscifi

Guests: Barry Luokkala

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: science fiction, science, carnegie mellom, zachary quinto, physics, singularity, time, space, matter, universe, extraterrestrial, biology, biotechnology, star trek, planet of the apes, artificial intelligence, robotics, doctor who, isaac asimov, forbidden planet, i robot, 2001, HAL 9000, Transcendence, Interstellar, frankenstein, zombies, Kepler, Die Another Day, Independence day, Jurassic Park

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Game of Thrones actor – Ian Beattie (Meryn Trant) interview – Great Philadelphia Comic Con 2018 – youtube

Actor Ian Beattie has been on stage, film and television for over 20 years. He’s best known for his roles on Game of Thrones as Meryn Trant and on the movie Alexander as Antigonus. I spoke to him at the Great Philadelphia Comic Con.

1:51 – Ian Beattie started acting as a child in a Northern Ireland circus. He kept at that for a while and then went to law school to be a barrister. But then he went to acting school in 1989. He spent a few years in LA doing theater but then went to Belfast and did stage and tv work here and there.

3:03 – His big break was getting on the movie Alexander but his biggest success was getting the role of Ser Meryn Tranth in Game of Thrones. That was a game changer.

3:34 – Experience was what changed his way of acting. He learned a lot with Alexander. He’s always been an intense actor and has always researched his roles including the accents. He’s done a few real characters and that’s helped him with doing research. He really likes doing historical characters. He really enjoyed his work on Alexander as Antigonus.

6:45 – He loves film and television and he loves being on set. He considers himself a good director’s actor and loves to be on the same page. Gabriel Burnham said that when you’re playing a role it’s vital to find the truth and make it your truth.

8:03 – He’s loved wearing the costumes in Vikings and in the Tudors. He’s inspired by fellow directors and actors. But he doesn’t have favorite actors or actresses that he loves watching.

9:22 – He’s most moved by strong scripts and stories. He likes the to find the realism of the time he’s in. he also likes to take in what others around him teach him.

11:24 – He’s always wanted to fly but then he figured out he was afraid of heights. He’s most inspired by people who have changed the world for the better.

12:03 – As a kid he loved Batman. As a teenager he loved Judge Dredd. He loved seeing Karl Urban and would have loved that role. But there are a million roles he’d love to play. He was down to the last two in a role and didn’t make it but anytime things could change. He was down to final selection in a Justice League role but they decided to go younger.

13:50 – If the audience spots you acting then you’re in trouble.

14:16 – On the last day of Alexander they were praying to a statue. He was on a two hundred foot ledge without railing and it freaked him out since he had only vision out of one eye.

15:03 – Everyone should always maintain their belief and stay hungry. Persistence pays and always practice while you’re waiting for a role.

For more “Creating Sci-Fi and Fantasy – An Inside Look” please follow me on Facebook at crisalvarezwlc, on youtube at Cris Alvarez and on Instagram @crisalvarezscifi

Guests: Ian Beattie

Host: Cris Alvarez