Episode 505: Now We’re Getting Off Topic…

The Science Faction Podcast

This episode contains: Ben and Steven have record so as to not ruin Mother’s Day. We don’t understand morning people, ugh. Especially when those morning people have too many mods in their video games. Steven has finally started painting his Star Wars Shatterpoint mini models. Ben talks about his kit-bashed X-wing pilot and Hello Kitty. We also somehow talk about Frisbee Golf (Frolf?) and Ultimate Frisbee. Ben gives us a review of the board game Azul.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/230802/azul

This Week in Space: Possible atmosphere surrounding rocky exoplanet. Atmospheric gasses have been detected surrounding 55 Cancri e, a hot rocky exoplanet 41 light-years from Earth. This super earth should have a temperature around 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit, but instead it’s only around 2,800 degrees. This is a very strong indication that energy is being distributed from the dayside to the nightside, most likely by a volatile-rich atmosphere.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508121127.htm

https://science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/nasas-webb-hints-at-possible-atmosphere-surrounding-rocky-exoplanet

You want thingamabobs? I’ve got twenty: Underwater bicycle propels swimmers forward at superhuman speed. French company Seabike has developed a swimming device that uses your own leg power to accelerate you through the water. It is strapped to the waist, your feet find the pedals and the 15 in propeller help you glide through the water. Best of all, you can instantly charge the device by eating a hot dog. Ha.

https://newatlas.com/marine/seabike-swimming-propeller

Water bike 2.0 Seabike

Science Fiction: No Devon this week, our book club will continue next week with Stephen King’s The Jaunt. Out patrons recommend From a Certain Point of View, the Star Wars books that fill in some gaps. We chat quite a bit about X-Men ’97 episode 9, and what it means for our favorite mutie (spoilers, Wolverine isn’t dead!). Steven talks about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, an amazing story by original and new creators. Plus, a video game is coming to PS5??