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The Science of Sci-Fi
- From Warp Speed to Interstellar Travel
- Narrated by: Erin Macdonald
- Length: 3 hrs and 59 mins
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Publisher's summary
Science fiction allows us to go places we can only dream of seeing - other worlds, distant stars, entirely different galaxies. While not every story is concerned with the hard science behind space travel and other futuristic ventures, fiction can give us amazing insight into what we could be capable of and what we dream of doing.
In the 10 lectures of The Science of Sci-Fi: From Warp Speed to Interstellar Travel, Professor Erin Macdonald interweaves real science and the achievements of the imagination to reveal the truth that underlies our favorite stories and sheds light on what the future may hold. From faster-than-light travel to journeys through time itself, science fiction makes humanity seem limitless. So, what scientific boundaries are we pushing against as we seek to fly among the stars?
Beginning with an overview of the physics of time and space as we know them, Professor Macdonald shows how stories extrapolate current knowledge to create visions of the future and how likely - or unlikely - these fictional journeys could be. What would happen if a spaceship flew into a wormhole, as it does in the film Galaxy Quest? Or, if you prefer video games, what would happen if you fired a rocket launcher on the Moon like the soldiers of Mass Effect? Could we ever break the bounds of light speed as they do in Star Wars and move across the universe without spending decades trying to make it to a distant exoplanet? Is the transporter technology of Star Trek really possible?
As you look closely at artificial gravity, inertial dampeners, tachyons, red matter, time dilation, and other sci-fi mainstays through the theories of some of science’s greatest thinkers, you will find that your favorite science fiction stories become even more astonishing.
Our favorite moments from The Science of Sci-Fi
About the Professor
Dr. Erin Macdonald is an astrophysicist, science fiction consultant, aerospace engineer, and host of the online series, Dr. Erin Explains the Universe. Her specialty is in general relativity, having previously worked in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration searching for gravitational waves. She has since found her home in science fiction, consulting with writers, teaching STEM through popular culture, and fulfilling her life goal of becoming a warp drive expert.
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Only Got 5 Minutes In…
- By Shayla on 04-06-20
By: Carol Ann Lloyd, and others
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No Calculator? No Problem!
- Mastering Mental Math
- By: Art Benjamin, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Art Benjamin
- Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins
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No Calculator? No Problem! Mastering Mental Math , award-winning professor of mathematics and celebrated “mathemagician” Arthur T. Benjamin delivers 10 fun-filled lessons on how to do math in your head with confidence, accuracy, and speed - sometimes faster than a calculator. By the end of Professor Benjamin’s lessons, you’ll be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers faster than ever before. And with your newfound skills, you’ll soon find yourself amazing other people and, perhaps more important, yourself.
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Excellent but need PDF
- By Majeed on 10-15-19
By: Art Benjamin, and others
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The Search for Exoplanets: What Astronomers Know
- By: The Great Courses, Joshua N. Winn
- Narrated by: Professor Joshua N. Winn
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
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As recently as 1990, it seemed plausible that the solar system was a unique phenomenon in our galaxy. Thanks to advances in technology and clever new uses of existing data, now we know that planetary systems and possibly even a new Earth can be found throughout galaxies near and far.
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Fun across the universe
- By Mark on 01-08-16
By: The Great Courses, and others
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The Life and Times of Prince Albert
- By: Patrick Allitt, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Patrick Allitt
- Length: 4 hrs and 28 mins
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In 10 lectures, award-winning historian Patrick N. Allitt transports listeners to England in the 1840s and 1850s. During those two decades, Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, became one of the most influential people in the country and remains a figure of fascination even today. In fact, the British royal family as we know it wouldn't exist without the private and public actions of this detached, impartial, and upright political figure.
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A Master Storyteller
- By tru britty on 04-18-20
By: Patrick Allitt, and others
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The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 24 hrs and 28 mins
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Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.
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Tantalizing time trip
- By Mark on 08-21-13
By: Robert Garland, and others
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The Joy of Numbers
- By: Dr. Arthur Benjamin, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Art Benjamin
- Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins
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Numbers. Like the alphabet, they’re one of the most elementary of concepts learned and memorized at a young age; but outside of figuring out tips and taxes, you probably haven’t given much thought to them since then. To a mathematician, every number has its own unique properties and personality - and when studied, played with, and manipulated, numbers can actually be tons of fun.
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Very entertaining
- By Mariam on 03-19-22
By: Dr. Arthur Benjamin, and others
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Sherlock Holmes: Beyond the Elementary
- By: James Krasner, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: James Krasner
- Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins
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Every hero works to soothe the fears of the people during their period in history. Heroes are not only brave, but they’re also able to navigate the convoluted corridors of society, and to see through the respectable pretense of others to detect the evil that lies within. So, who better to take on the foggy, crime-ridden streets and strict social mores of Victorian London than the iconic literary detective Sherlock Holmes? In Sherlock Holmes: Beyond the Elementary, you’ll investigate the history behind Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s whip-smart, charismatic detective.
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Very dry and academic
- By Buretto on 05-29-21
By: James Krasner, and others
What listeners say about The Science of Sci-Fi
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- John Sestak
- 04-02-20
Take The Course
Erin does a fantastic job matching the reality of current science to the science we take for granted in our favorite science fiction stories, movies, TV shows. She is very knowledgeable, plus a serious Sci-Fi fan!! And that marriage makes this book a great listen!
I learned a great deal about basic physics and was retaught things that I had learned years ago in high school and college. Erin explained things in a very straight forward manner which isn't always easy to do with Physics. And when she applied our current knowledge to how the Sci-Fi science might actually work, she did a great job in offering possibilities and explanations.
I thoroughly enjoyed the listen and I believe anyone else would that has any interest in these areas!!
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- Abdullah
- 05-22-20
Interesting
Very interesting and informative. The only issue with this book is the overuse of the word „Fun“.
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- Alex B.
- 07-20-21
Incredible!!
This was am amazing reading that I will never forget or erase from my device! I absolutely loved the meshing of sci-fi to science fact and I thought it was done very well. Thank you so much for creating this. I would be very interested in reading/listening to more like it!
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- Amazon Customer
- 02-03-21
Such an unexpected pleasure!
I happened onto this title and am now sharing it with many.
I’ve little experience with Sci-Fi or much science education. However, blessed with a curious mind, this book can be a portal to both.
What an imaginative and practical way to explain many high level scientific topics!
I now actually want to check out many of the movies and programs referenced and keep Googling some of the topics.
It could take several ‘listens’ just to recall some of the terms she used.
Entertaining and time well spent. A+++
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- Amazon Customer
- 08-06-20
Geek Like Me
This series is wonderful and inspiring. As a practical scientist (engineer) I know enough to go "Yeah, knew that" but I also thought "wow" when learning about the new advances and all of the thought experiments used to develop and grow the science. Erin teaches the state of current physics with all or our beloved science fiction technobable connected (and not connected) in the stars.
Erin's voice work is warm, friendly and inviting. While her presentation is fun, playful and inspiring.
Definitely on my list to relisten.
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- Brion
- 01-15-20
Just right for my taste
A good amount of current physics described at an appropriate level for most who are SciFi buffs. You still will not be able to find any way to make a Warp drive, but this provides some insight into how SciFi shows attempt to make things sound plausible.
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- Jeff M
- 03-18-20
Science explanation mixed with humor
How could I not like a great course where the author sprinkles in examples from my favorite shows like Babylon 5, Star Trek, and the Expanse? I wish that I listened this to great course lecture before embarking on Einstein His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson because I struggled with the science. Professor MacDonald's lecture imparted a better understanding of Einstein's basic theories.
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- Anonymous User
- 05-28-20
perfect narrator
I could listen to this book over and over she was great. I picture her quite beautiful but nerdy big bang nerdy though so cool lol
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- S. De La Torre
- 09-14-20
Great fun, both for science nerds and scifi geeks!
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I appreciated Dr Erin's enthusiasm for the topic. She explained complex topics will with perfect examples from tv shows we've all seen.
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- Kevin J. Bouffard
- 03-29-20
Don’ need to be a scientist
Pretty clear explanations for a non-scientist with no background in the topics. It merits repeated listening.
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