Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast
Michael L. Wong
Hosted by planetary scientist and astrobiologist Dr. Michael L. Wong, Strange New Worlds examines science, technology, and culture through the lens of Star Trek!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 24, 2023 • 28min
Episode 164: Data as a Strategist, Part III
Guests: Jason von Stietz & David Smith
Sport psychologists Jason von Stietz and David Smith return for the final installment of our trilogy about Data as a strategist. In this episode, we analyze how Data defeats Lore in PIC: "Surrender" and saves the galaxy with his gut instinct in PIC: "The Last Generation."
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Strange New Worlds: twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: twitter.com/miquai
Jason: twitter.com/CBTSportPsych
David: twitter.com/StonewallFit

Nov 19, 2023 • 33min
Episode 163: Data as a Strategist, Part II
Guests: Jason von Stietz & David Smith
Sport psychologists Jason von Stietz and David Smith return for part two of our trilogy about Data as a strategist. In this episode, we examine how Data deals with prejudice from his subordinates while commanding of the U.S.S. Sutherland in TNG: "Redemption, Part 2." Then, we talk about how Data foils the Borg Queen's plans in "Star Trek: First Contact."
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Strange New Worlds: twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: twitter.com/miquai
Jason: twitter.com/CBTSportPsych
David: twitter.com/StonewallFit

Nov 4, 2023 • 38min
Episode 162: Data as a Strategist, Part I
Guests: Jason von Stietz & David Smith
Sport psychologists Jason von Stietz and David Smith join Mike to explore Data's evolution as a strategist. In Part I of this conversation, they focus on TNG: "Peak Performance," where Data faces off against Strategema master Sirna Kolrami and learns how to deal with defeat.
Follow us on Twitter!
Strange New Worlds: https://twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: https://twitter.com/miquai
Jason: https://twitter.com/CBTSportPsych
David: https://twitter.com/StonewallFit

Oct 3, 2023 • 59min
Episode 161: Nationalism & Star Trek
Guest: Desun Oka
Historian Desun Oka beams aboard to talk about the intersection of nationalism and Star Trek. The United Federation of Planets is often likened to the United States of America, but in space. In what ways is the Federation like a modern nation state? In what ways is it not? And how might Star Trek reflect, examine, and critique what nationalism is all about?
"Imagined Communities" by Benedict Anderson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagined_Communities
"Ancient Earth" from PBS NOVA—featuring Mike! https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/ancient-earth-birth-of-the-sky/
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Strange New Worlds: https://twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: https://twitter.com/miquai

Sep 1, 2023 • 18min
Episode 160: An ALife Address
On this short solo episode, Mike shares his address to the students of the 2023 International Society for Artificial Life summer school.
Read more about the concept of "lyfe": https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/10/4/42
Read more about the concept of "genesity": https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/6/783
"Life Evolves. Can Attempts to Create ‘Artificial Life’ Evolve, Too?" by Shi En Kim for Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/life-evolves-can-attempts-to-create-artificial-life-evolve-too/
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Strange New Worlds: twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: twitter.com/miquai

Aug 20, 2023 • 59min
Episode 159: Hailing Frequencies Open with Tim Russ & Kayla Iacovino
Guests: Tim Russ & Dr. Kayla Iacovino
On this episode of Strange New Worlds, we're bringing you a panel that Mike hosted for the Nichelle Nichols Foundation's "Hailing Frequencies Open!" speaker series. This panel features Star Trek actor and citizen scientist Tim Russ as well as NASA volcanologist and TrekMovie.com editor Dr. Kayla Iacovino. Together, they explore strange new worlds and seek out new life!
Watch the YouTube version of this panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29NtHNVuGwY&ab_channel=NichelleNicholsFoundation
The Nichelle Nichols Foundation: https://nichellenichols.foundation/
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Strange New Worlds: https://twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: https://twitter.com/miquai
Kayla: https://twitter.com/kaylai
Tim: https://twitter.com/timruss2

Aug 12, 2023 • 16min
Episode 158: Oxygen Reflections
On this short solo episode, Mike reflects on his trip to the "Oxygen in Planetary Biospheres" workshop at Green Bank Observatory.
"Can You Decode an Alien Message?" by Shi En Kim: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-you-decode-an-alien-message/
A Sign in Space: https://asignin.space/
Follow us on Twitter!
Strange New Worlds: twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: twitter.com/miquai

Jul 20, 2023 • 18min
Episode 157: Cosmic Visions Reflections
On this short solo episode, Mike reflects on his trip to the "Cosmic Visions" conference at Johns Hopkins University.
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Strange New Worlds: twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: twitter.com/miquai

Jul 13, 2023 • 50min
Episode 156: Walter Koenig Remembers Nichelle Nichols
Guest: Walter Koenig
Star Trek actor Walter Koenig joins Mike to reflect upon his friendship with Nichelle Nichols and her boundary-breaking legacy. Both Walter and Mike are on the advisory board for the Nichelle Nichols Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase diversity and inclusion in STEAM fields. Find out more about the organization and consider donating at: https://nichellenichols.foundation/.
Follow us on Twitter!
Strange New Worlds: https://twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: https://twitter.com/miquai
Walter: https://twitter.com/GineokwKoenig

Jul 2, 2023 • 54min
Episode 155: The High Country
Guest: John Jackson Miller
New York Times bestselling author John Jackson Miller joins Mike to discuss his Star Trek: Strange New Worlds novel "The High Country"—the first piece of the Star Trek Universe that features Mike's name in it!
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: The High Country, by John Jackson Miller: https://farawaypress.com/2022/04/08/strange-new-worlds-high-country/
Follow us on Twitter!
Strange New Worlds: https://twitter.com/scienceoftrek
Mike: https://twitter.com/miquai
John: https://twitter.com/jjmfaraway


