Science/Technology


Science Saturday: Meteor Shower Tonight + Solar Flare + Asteroid Mining + Popocatépetl Erupting

This week in Science Saturday, watch the peak of tonight’s Lyrid meteor shower, watch an explosion on the sun, look forward to asteroid mining becoming a reality in the near future, and feel the volcanic tremors of Popocatépetl volcano. All this and more, plus our gadget of the week: the high-speed evacuated tube transport system.



Science Saturday: Really Real Tricorder + Apollo 11 Salvage + Feeling Robot Skin + Inside Out Star + More

Welcome back to another knowledge-packed edition of Science Saturday! This week: see the realest “real” tricorder ever, hoist huge Apollo 11 engines from the sea floor, give an android skin that can feel, and witness a star explode and then turn itself inside out! All this and more, plus our gadget of the week: the Marshall mini fridge.


Science Saturday: Real Universal Translator + Io Moon Map + Solar Storms on the Rise + How to Blow Up Stars + More

Hello and welcome back to another exciting (and long overdue) edition of Science Saturday! This week: hear Microsoft’s real-life universal translator, map out the volcanic moon Io, feel the heat from increased solar activity, and make stars blow up with the help of NASA. All this and more, plus our gadget of the week: the indoor cloud machine.


Trek Meets Science: $10 Mil Tricorder Prize + Star Trek TNG Guest Star To Lead Starship Project

This week brings a couple of interesting intersections of real science and Star Trek. First up the X Prize Foundation has launched a new $10 million competition for the development of a real "Tricorder," like those seen on Star Trek. Plus DARPA is continuing with its 100 Starship project and this week has awarded a contract to lead the project to a foundation headed by a former astronaut (and former Star Trek guest star).


Watch: Leonard Nimoy Talks To Steve Wozniak About Universal Translators

Earlier this week Star Trek’s original Mr. Spock attended the IDG DEMO Enterprise event in San Franciso, where he sat down on stage with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. At one point during the discussion, Nimoy asked where are the universal translators, like the ones he used on Star Trek. See video of that exchange and more below.



Google Developing Star Trek-inspired Voice Assistant Code-named “Majel”

The real world seems to continue to get closer to the technological future envisioned by Star Trek, and apparently some of the people working to make that happen are inspired by Star Trek. A new report says that Google is working on a secret project to develop a voice controlled personal assistant, and they named the project "Majel" after Majel Roddenberry Barrett.


Watch: Stephen Colbert and Neil DeGrasse Tyson Debate Science Of Star Trek 2009’s Red Matter

On his Comedy Central show Stephen Colbert often makes Star Trek references so it isn’t a surprise that when he sat down for a chat about science with astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson the subject turned to Trek. See below for a video where Tyson and Colbert opine on the scientific accuracy of the "red matter" from the 2009 Star Trek movie.


Science Saturday: Mars Mission Launch Today + Underwater Brinicle + Botched Russian Spacecraft + More

Welcome back to Science Saturday! This week: watch the launch of Mars Science Laboratory today, live on NASA TV, witness the underwater “icicle of death” caught on film for the first time, and duck and cover from falling botched Russian Mars mission. All this and more, plus our gadget of the week: NeverWet superhydrophobic spray.



Science Saturday: Roddenberry Research Center + Skeptic-Funded Climate Study + A Star is Born + Tractor Beam Tech + More

Bored during your late-night duty shift in Cargo Bay 2? Take a break and read about this week’s science news! This week: Roddenbery’s new stem cell research center, the results of a skeptic-funded climate change study, witness a star being born (literally), and try out the new astronaut tractor beam! All this and more, plus our gadget of the week: the Holodesk!





Science Monday: Backyard Supernova + Newborn Stars + Lunar Pizza + New Mars Crater + More

Ready for this week’s science fix? Welcome to Science Monday. This week: Spot a supernova from your own backyard (with nothing but a pair of binoculars!), watch a star being born, order pizza — on the moon, and discover Endeavor crater with Mars rover Opportunity! All this and more, plus our picture of the week: a look at Earth from Juno.







Science Saturday: Final Shuttle Launch + James Webb Telescope In Danger + New Holodeck Tech + Air Power + More

Say au revoir to the space shuttle program as Atlantis is the last ever shuttle to launch into space. The James Webb Space Telescope is in danger of being cut; What do we stand to loose? Plus, holodeck technology is in the making, and how to harness power from thin air. All this and more, plus our gadget of the week: Terrafugia flying car gets street legal!


Watch George Takei & Nichelle Nichols Talking Final Shuttle Launch On MSNBC

This morning Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off from Florida for what is the final launch of the Shuttle program. And tonight to commemorate the event Star Trek’s George Takei and Nichelle Nichols were guests on MSNBC’s The Last Word to talk about the past and future of NASA’s manned space program. Watch the segment below. 




Science Saturday: $1/2 Mil Starship Design + Curiousity Ready + Transparent Plane + Deep Space DIY

This week in a very spacey edition of Science Saturday, wave bon voyage to Mars rover Curiosity, win $500k for sending humans to another star, tour the universe and help scientists discover new objects in our galaxy, and see Star Trek on This Week @ NASA. All this and more plus our gadget of the week: Futuristic transparent airplane!


Science Saturday: Goodbye Spirit + Hello Osiris REx & Orion + Mars Rumor Debunk + Jetpacks!

This week in Science Saturday, hear all the latest NASA news, say thanks and give a teary goodbye to Mars Rover Spirit, collect asteroid samples, send humans into deep space, and get a great view of Earth from orbit. All this plus our resident Mars expert’s take on “Bio Station Alpha”, a rumored new tricorder, personal jetpacks, and more!


Science Saturday: Rogue Planets + Pope Phones ISS + Saturn Super Storm + LCARS-like Laptop + more

This week in Science Saturday: It’s getting crowded in here! Galaxy may contain billions of starless wandering planets; Hear the first ever papal call to the ISS; Track tornado destruction from space; and witness the growth of Saturn’s super storm. All this and more plus our gadget of the week: LCARS-style laptop concept.