Robert J. Sawyer is one of the world’s science fiction luminaries, and a great source of Canadian pride as one of our most prolific, successful and decorated science fiction authors. In the following conversation Rob discusses his book 'Quantum Night', which explores the social and philosophical consequences of an empirical test for consciousness, self-awareness and conscience. He tells us about the science of evil i.e. the science of psychopathy, and we discuss philosophical zombies as well as the very timely political consequences of blind followers and psychopathic demagogues. We also talk about the disappointing and negative effects of artificial intelligence, the multi-dimensional landscape of the human psyche, and the use of science fiction as an early warning system for the future.

https://www.sfwriter.com/

Buzzsprout (podcast host):
https://thescienceinthefiction.buzzsprout.com

Email:
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Daniel H. Wilson has a PhD in robotics and is the author of the non-fiction books ‘How to Survive a Robot Uprising’, ‘How to Build a Robot Army’ and ‘Where’s my Jetpack’, as well as the bestselling science fiction novels ‘Robopocalypse’ and its sequel ‘Robogenesis’, ‘The Clockwork Dynasty’, and most recently ‘The Andromeda Evolution’ - the authorized sequel to Michael Crichton’s 'The Andromeda Strain'. We talk about how he came to inherit Michael Crichton's mantle and be chosen to write 'The Andromeda Evolution', discussing Planetary Protection as well as the biotech/nanotech crossover in material science in this book. We also consider Artificial Intelligence, First Contact, and the more human and cultural themes in his recent work, especially in his short story ‘The Blue Afternoon That Lasted Forever’ and his upcoming book ‘Heliopause’, which gives an indigenous perspective on First Contact with an alien intelligence. Finally, we talk about the Western reductionist perspective compared with a more indigenous approach to science, with biomimetic strategies of studying systems embedded in their natural context, as well as developing respect and comfort with the unknown.

Buzzsprout (podcast host):
https://thescienceinthefiction.buzzsprout.com

Email:
thescienceinthefiction@gmail.com

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https://twitter.com/MartyK5463

This is our fourth and final episode on the theme of Sci-Fi Fungi, where we dig a little deeper into the current science and future science of mycology with Dr. Alex Moskaluk, a mycologist and professor of biology at the University of Guelph. She specializes in zoonotic fungi, fungal pathogens that can jump from animals to humans and vice versa. We discuss how fungi are evolving resistance to antifungal treatments in much the same way as bacteria are developing antibiotic resistance, developing mechanisms for evading the human immune system, and learning to specialize in human infection. So basically continuing along our apocalyptic sci-fi themes… did you know that some fungi can kill you by growing abscesses into your brain!? But on the brighter side, we also talk about some cool science fictional possibilities these organisms may offer us in the future: some fungi can absorb radiation and could be used to shield space ships and extraterrestrial colonies from space radiation! They can break down moon regolith or rock on other planets to make soil and building materials. And it seems we are just scratching the surface of even more amazing capabilities – like actually reducing the radioactivity of disaster sites like Chernobyl by… well, you can’t do that with plain old chemistry so, are they somehow capable of inducing nuclear reactions? Can we create future super-materials one day, like fungal Kevlar or a fungal cable for space elevators? Just a few of the crazy ideas that came out of this conversation, in the finest tradition of digging deeper into the science in the fiction.

https://ovc.uoguelph.ca/pathobiology/people/faculty/alex-moskaluk/

Buzzsprout (podcast host):
https://thescienceinthefiction.buzzsprout.com

Email:
thescienceinthefiction@gmail.com

Facebook:
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