Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast

On this solo episode, Mike reads his essay, originally published in Sequencer Magazine, titled "Pluto Isn't a Planet for the Same Reason Whales Aren't Fish."

Read the essay: https://www.sequencermag.com/pluto-isnt-a-planet-for-the-same-reason-whales-arent-fish/

Guests: Abigail Alling & Amelia Lee

We check in with Abigail Alling and Amelia Lee on the second-to-last day of their summer internship at Carnegie Science. What have they learned about exploring strange new worlds and seeking out new life and new civilizations over the past 10 weeks? And what do they think of the most recent episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds?

Register now for Carnegie Science's next Neighborhood Lecture, "Strange New Worlds: The Science of Star Trek," on September 9, 2026: https://carnegiescience.edu/strange-new-worlds-science-star-trek

Learn more about the EPIIC internship at Carnegie Science: carnegiescience.edu/about/working/i…terns/epiic-reu

Guest: Professor Tyler Perez

Come for the laser experiments, stay for the lens flares. Prof. Tyler Perez—who studies the material properties of rock at high pressures and temperatures, and who delves into movie visual effects as a hobby—beams aboard to discuss his research on planetary interiors and the visual style of Star Trek.

Guests: Abigail Alling & Amelia Lee

How do you introduce Star Trek to a new fan? How is Star Trek continuing to inspire young scientists? How are Carnegie Science interns exploring strange new worlds and seeking out new life and new civilizations? Abigail Alling and Amelia Lee beam aboard to chat about how they've added Star Trek to their educational experience in Carnegie Science's 2026 EPIIC summer internship program!

Learn more about the EPIIC internship at Carnegie Science: carnegiescience.edu/about/working/i…terns/epiic-reu

Guest: Em Dobberfuhl

Mike's former Carnegie Science intern Em Dobberfuhl beams aboard to share how Project Hail Mary inspired them to pursue astrobiology.

"Are we alone in the universe? Five times we thought we found extraterrestrial life" by Em Dobberfuhl: https://www.sequencermag.com/are-we-alone-in-the-universe-five-times-we-thought-we-found-extraterrestrial-life/

Learn more about the EPIIC internship at Carnegie Science: https://carnegiescience.edu/about/working/interns/epiic-reu