Andy Weir and Aliens

 Hello Readers! 

Thank you for following this journey with me of interviewing some of the world's most creative and unique science writers. This week marks the last week for these blog cast interviews, HOWEVER, all of the interviews will be released as podcast episodes in my new podcast under the same name, From the Biblio-Files. If listening to podcasts is easier for you, this blogcast will become a treat to revisit old interviews from some of the most talented writers the world has to offer. 

Before switching this blogcast over to a podcast, there is one more interview I want to highlight, one with extremely popular science fiction writer Andy Weir. Andy is the author of The Martian, a science fiction book about an astronaut who gets trapped on Mars and has to survive there for fourish years before he can be rescued. Andy's writing not only highlights the science behind what it would take to survive on an alien planet but also the incredible detail and struggle for human survival. Since its publication, The Martian has become a best-seller and was even turned into a movie, starring Matt Damon! You can get a copy of the book here, for your own reading! 

In having a pseudo-interview with Andy (over email), I was struck by how detail-oriented he was, as well as passionate about his work. The Martian began as a serial blog, where Andy would publish bits of the story sequentially until it was published as a book. The book helped to shift the way science fiction was being read, as Andy's work was extremely realistic and contained actual science, not just fictional tropes such as aliens. The Martian helped to change how science fiction was seen and enjoyed by the public. You can read his full interview below for more information about how Andy worked on this piece of incredible science fiction. 

K: When did you first become interested in Science Fiction? 

A: I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t into sci-fi. I guess it comes from being raised by a physicist and an electrical engineer. I was doomed to be a nerd from day one.

K: Did any early studies in the science in childhood, high school, or college influence the direction of your writing? 

A: I’m sure they did. Though the interest was already there. I never had to be nudged toward science. I went running to it from the beginning.

K: In the Martian, there are a lot of mathematical principles, ideas, and equations used to forward the plot as well as give credence to the science within the book. Did you use a mathematical background to write these mathematical ideas, or was your process of infusing math into the book more amateur-research-based?

A: Well, I’m certainly not a professional mathematician. But I have more than a layman’s knowledge. I definitely did a ton of research for the novel. Though the math itself wasn’t that hard for me. The other disciplines – especially chemistry – were the hardest for me.

K: What writers influenced the most you as you were beginning your writing career?

A: Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke.

K: What inspired you to begin writing The Martian? And why a serial blog? 

A: I was imagining a manned Mars mission, putting it together in my mind. Naturally, you have to account for failure scenarios and have plans for what the crew could do. I realized those failure scenarios made for a pretty interesting story.

I did it as a serial blog because I had given up on being a professional writer by that time. I was just writing for fun, and I liked getting feedback on every chapter.

K: What was the process like for researching the science behind The Martian? Did you speak to any scientists? 

A: The research effort ended up being tons and tons of Google searches and a bunch of math. I didn’t know anyone in aerospace at the time I wrote the novel, so I was on my own. But I like researching, it’s fun for me. So it wasn’t a problem.

K: Did you think your work would have this much impact on the science fiction genre or how people view science fiction in general?

A: Not at all. When I wrote “The Martian”, I thought I was writing it for a very tiny niche audience of hardcore nerds who wanted to see all the math and science completely described. I had no idea it would have mainstream appeal.

K: How do you think The Martian has impacted how people see astronomy, astrophysics, NASA, or other space-related science fields and ideas? 

A: Oh, I don’t think it impacted the sciences at all. It’s just a (hopefully fun) fictional story.

K: What was the process like of developing your book into a popular film? 

A: Mostly my job was just to cash the check. Though they did send me the screenplay to get my opinion. They weren't required to listen to anything I had to say. They kept me updated on the production because they’re cool. And in the end, the film is very true to the book, so I'm happy.

K: How do you feel about how science is communicated to the general public in the media?

A: Any communication is better than none. But I do often feel like the media doesn’t quite report things correctly. Not because of bias, but because they don’t do enough to understand the subject material or they don’t consult scientists with opposing opinions to the scientific claim that is the news story.

Carl Zimmer and the Impact of Genetics

 Hello Readers! 

This week I have a real treat of presenting the work of one of the most popular science journalists and writers in our current written world. Carl Zimmer has been a writer for some time, and his reputation for being a thorough investigator and storyteller has brought him much success. 

In the interview below, I focus on Carl's giant book (and I do mean giant) She has Her Mother's Laugh. In this book, Carl gives a long history of genetics and its current implications. From eugenics with Galton to evolution with Darwin to genetic testing using 23andMe, Carl discusses it all. His research is profound and his arguments, compelling. In reading this book, you better understand how technology has improved to where we can understand more about genetics than ever before. From its secrets and scandals to struggles and successes, Carl discusses all of it. It's no wonder the book is a lengthy read, as he covers almost every topic imaginable under the umbrella of genetics. I'd highly recommend this read if you're interested in understanding human genetics or medicine better. It is a well-researched and well-written book. You can find your own copy here. 

Carl is continuing to work on some future books, covering varying topics. In taking a break from writing, he has launched his own podcast, called What is Life? where he interviews some of our leading thinkers to answer this question. His episodes are engaging and taped before a live audience, so it's easy to feel you're right there in the room. Have a listen at this link. 

I'd recommend listening to the interview with Carl below, as he shares more on his research processes, including being part of various human experiments. 

Cody Cassidy and the Physics of Weird Deaths

 Hello Readers! 

This week's blog is a bit morbid, as I interviewed the popular author Cody Cassidy, about his book And Then You're Dead, which focuses on the physics of weird deaths. And by weird deaths, I'm talking about jumping into a volcano or black hole, or getting swallowed by a whale or shot out of a cannon. While Cody's book focuses on a bleak topic, it's far from bleak, and rather is quite humorous and interesting. 

I wanted to interview Cody for some time, and when I finally had the privilege to, I was amazed by how fascinated he was with this topic. He co-wrote this book with physicist Paul Doherty, and together they write fascinating stories about how you die in certain weird situations. In speaking with Cody, he told me that he had multiple other "deaths" on his laptop that he didn't include in the book, but that he is hoping to expand on at some future point. 

When I asked him about his "favorite" death that he researched, I was half-expecting something totally random, like jumping into a black hole. Cody surprised me by talking about being swallowed by a whale, and how the end result is you being turned into whale spit, which is used in the perfumery industry. Who knew!? 

You can find Cody's book here if you'd like your own copy. Currently, Cody works as a science journalist for Wired magazine. I recommend listening to the interview below as Cody explains his writing process. 

Brian Jones and Curiosity

 Hello readers, and Happy New Year! 

I thought it would only be appropriate to kick the new year off to a good start by showcasing the work of someone I greatly respect and admire. Brian Jones is a professor at Colorado State University (CSU) who teaches physics. I was privileged enough to take two of his classes. As you'll hear from the interview below, Brian is the type of teacher focusing on students who put-off by physics, either by thinking it's too math-y or too scary. Brian makes his classes interactive, bringing in real-life examples of different physics ideas. I remember one day he brought in a giant Tesla coil, then had all of us stand around the room to observe the effects of the coil. To say I was absolutely mesmerized would be an understatement. 

As much as I'd love to continue bragging on Brian for the rest of this post, I instead want to talk about Brian's traveling science exhibition called Little Shop of Physics (LSOP). Brian inherited this project when he first began teaching at CSU and has transformed it into a world-traveling exhibition. You can find LSOP's website here. LSOP gives a series of hands-on activities for students of all ages to try, to learn more about physics specifically, but also about science in general. Brian has found great success with this project, as students have asked their own teachers to teach science in a similar way to Brian's exhibition. Brian's goal with LSOP is not only to encourage the curiosity of young minds, but also the curiosity of teachers' as well. Brian shows teachers how to teach science in more interactive ways, as well as using low-budget materials. 

In our interview, Brian emphasized the importance of starting to nurture curiosity at a young age. From fourth to sixth grade is when the student really solidifies their views on science. Having an environment that encourages creativity and curiosity in young people will result in a more positive outlook toward the sciences. But, Brian added, this also needs to happen in the teachers as well. If teachers show timidity or confusion in teaching the sciences, their students will reflect these emotions. LSOP helps both students and teachers to see science in a more positive light, and to understand that physics does not have to be scary. 

Brian also told me about his world travels with LSOP, from going to inner-city Denver to Ethiopia and Namibia. One of Brian's goals with LSOP was to show teachers how to teach interactive science on a budget, especially for lower-income schools. From these efforts, Brian was invited to teach in Africa, showing how to teach science there. Brian, however, didn't just teach science but wanted to understand how other cultures taught science as well, and instead made LSOP more of an exchange program. He discusses in the interview the importance of sharing knowledge systems with other cultures. 

With COVID-19, things have been difficult for LSOP, but Brian has been able to continue the learning processes via zoom and other methods. He discusses it more in the interview below. I highly recommend listening to Brian's interview, as it gives wisdom for all of us to better understand not only physics but ourselves in general.