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Rabbit Hole of Research

Rabbit Hole of Research

De : Jotham Austin II PhD Nick Elizalde and Georgia Geis
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 Our goal is to have fun learning science through the lens of science fiction, fantasy, and pop-culture. We will start in one place and let the conversation lead us down the winding scenic road exploring the science in science fiction, separating the facts from the Handwavium. We’ll have a little fun and you’ll learn a few facts you can use to impress your friends at a party or use as a conversation starter to go down your own rabbit holes.

jothamaustin.substack.comJotham Austin, II PhD Science Science-fiction
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    Épisodes
    • Energy Directed Weapons: Who Turned Off the Lights?

      Energy Directed Weapons: Who Turned Off the Lights?
      Feb 18 2026
      In the 55th episode of Rabbit Hole of Research, Joe, Nick, Georgia, and new co-host Mary are joined by guest Bruce Landay, former US Air Force officer and author of the upcoming near-future military techno-thriller Electromagnetic Assault (out April 7th), for a deep dive into directed energy weapons, the science, the fiction, and everything in between.And this isn’t just science fiction Handwavium anymore. Days after recording the episode it was reported that, a military anti-drone laser system deployed by Customs and Border Protection in El Paso, Texas forced the FAA to temporarily shut down airspace over the city, a real-world reminder that directed energy weapons have quietly moved from fiction to reality.The crew explores the real science behind directed energy weapons across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from sound and microwave to shipboard lasers and how susceptible the infrastructure we all depend on are to these weapons.They dig into the real weapons that exist today, the ones that are almost real, and the ones that are pure handwavium. How close is the Active Denial System to a Star Trek phaser on stun? What would an EMP actually do to modern society, and is it as catastrophic as One Second After suggests? And what happens when the clean electromagnetic war fantasy meets ethics and the very messy reality of physics?Plus they go down the rabbit hole of plasma bugs, the brown note myth, Havana Syndrome theories, wetware vulnerabilities, the ethics of laser blinding conventions, and why the Death Star’s power requirements are thermodynamically absurd (and you know they couldn’t resist talking about the Handwavium of green lasers and cinematic noises in space).Where to find Bruce Landay:Author WebsiteSubstack column – Future Trends and Science Fiction:Electromagnetic Assault goes on sale April 7th. Pre-Order Electromagnetic Assault on AmazonElectromagnetic Assault DescriptionCheck out what the RHR crew is creatingJoe:Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories Anthology featuring a new story by Joe!Joe’s Sci-fi physiological thriller Novel: Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?Essay by Joe: From Beyond Press: Specific Knowledge: Jotham Austin, II, PhD on Transformations in FictionIt’s Science for WeirdosWant to support the show? Tell your friends. Follow us on social media, Discord, share the podcast, and let us know what topics you are excited about. Leave a Comment. And for email alerts sign-up for the Substack newsletter and never miss an episode, exciting updates or the bonus images we talk about on the episodes.We want to Hear From You (leave a comment):1) A military laser just shut down airspace over a US city. Does that surprise you, or did you see this coming?2) If you could design a real-world version of a Star Trek phaser, what extra Handwavium thing would it actually do?3) What’s your favorite fictional energy weapon and how badly does it violate the laws of physics? Let us know your ideas and we'll try to make it work on the mini-recap episode!Drop your thoughts in the comments. We read them all, and your ideas often shape future episodes.Future Episodes & EventsEpisode 56 – Medicine of the Future: From Fantasy to Patient CareGuest: Davis AshuraExploring how science fiction inspires real medical innovation and what the future of patient care might look like.Episode 57 – The Science of Chatbots & Human ConnectionGuests: Lily & GenerosoDiving into AI communication, computational science, and how chatbots are reshaping human interaction with MIT scientist-turned-writer Lily and illustrator/filmmaker Generoso.For more stuff (Images, Episode Highlights, Notes and Fun Facts, events, etc), subscribe to our Substack newsletter!Join Rabbit Hole of Research on Discord: https://discord.gg/2nnmKgguFVDon’t forget to give us 5 stars or a like! Get full access to The Rabbit Hole of Research at jothamaustin.substack.com/subscribe
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      1 h et 6 min
    • Mini Recap of EP54 Love: What's Smell Got to Do With It?

      Mini Recap of EP54 Love: What's Smell Got to Do With It?
      Feb 11 2026
      In this mini recap of Episode 54: What’s Love Got to Do With It?, Joe, Nick, and Georgia recap their conversation with guest Joe Compton about the science and magic of love.Joe, as promised in the Episode 54, discusses human pheromones, the challenges of researching sex pheromones in humans, and the McClintock effect (menstrual cycle synchronization among women. The crew discusses the cultural obsession with masking natural body odors, and why aphrodisiacs might be more folklore than fact.Beyond the science, the team shares updates: Georgia reveals pages from her Kevin Bacon scrapbook, and finding the Geena Davis’ quote from The Accidental Tourist. Joe appeared on Joe Compton’s 21 Grams YouTube show to discuss villains and the dark side of storytelling. And the RHR crew will be at an upcoming DIY Podcast Workshop at Lake County Public Library on May 23rd as part of the Creative Arts Summit.Plus media the crew is checking out: WonderMan, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Cabin in the Woods (finally!), The Monkey, comic book finds from the final Northwest Indiana Comic-Con.Follow Joe Compton on InstagramWatch Joe on Joe Compton’s YouTube channel 21GramsCheck out what the RHR crew is creating:Joe:Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories Anthology featuring a new story by Joe!Joe’s Sci-fi physiological thriller Novel: Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?Essay by Joe: From Beyond Press: Specific Knowledge: Jotham Austin, II, PhD on Transformations in FictionJoe explores how many calories it would take to transform into monsters across sci-fi and horror—think 222 Big Macs and tubs of Cherry Garcia.Podcast Cross-AppearancesRHR Crew on This Podcast Will Change Your Life with Ben TanzerJoe on GoIndieNow: 21grams with Joe ComptonEvents & Conventions:Creative Arts Summit: DIY Podcast Workshop at Lake County Public Library on May 23rd 2026ConCarolinas - Charlotte, NC (May 29 – May 31, 2026 ) - Joe attending as GuestDragon Con - Atlanta, GA (September 3-7, 2026) - Joe attending as ProfessionalUpcoming EpisodesEpisode 55 – Medicine of the Future: From Fantasy to Patient CareGuest: Davis AshuraExploring how science fiction inspires real medical innovation and what the future of patient care might look like.Episode 56 – The Science of Chatbots & Human ConnectionGuests: Lily & GenerosoDiving into AI communication, computational science, and how chatbots are reshaping human interaction with MIT scientist-turned-writer Lily and illustrator/filmmaker Generoso.Episode 57 – Planetary Defense: Saving Earth from Other Worldly ImpactGuest: Charles BlueExamining the science and strategies behind protecting Earth from asteroids, comets, and cosmic threats.It’s science for WeirdosWant to support the show? Tell your friends. Follow us on social media, Discord, share the podcast, and let us know what topics you are excited about. And to see all the content (studio images and artwork) subscribe to the Rabbit Hole of Research newsletter!Stay curious, stay speculative, stay safe, and we’ll catch you in the next rabbit hole. Love Y'all! Get full access to The Rabbit Hole of Research at jothamaustin.substack.com/subscribe
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      20 min
    • What’s Love Got To Do With It?

      What’s Love Got To Do With It?
      Feb 4 2026
      In the 54th episode of Rabbit Hole of Research, a special Valentine’s episode, Joe, Nick, and Georgia are joined by guest Joe Compton, independent author, filmmaker, and creator of Go Indie Now, for an exploration of love in all its forms.What is love, really? Strip away the poetry and you’re left with chemistry: dopamine, oxytocin, vasopressin, and endorphins firing neural circuits in predictable patterns. But if love is just biology, why does it feel transcendent? Why does it reorganize our priorities, rewrite our memories, and convince otherwise rational minds to abandon safety and logic?The conversation journeys through the evolutionary roots of attachment behavior, the ancient Greek’s categories of love, and the murky intersection of love and consent. From the honeymoon phase to long-term bonding, from fandoms and idol worship to AI companions and body horror.Along the way, they discuss indie artists’ authentic connections with fans versus the detachment of stadium-filling superstars, debate whether we could bottle love like a drug, and share their favorite love stories in film (spoiler: tissues recommended). They also tackle the darker side: obsessive love, one-sided attachments, and why horror might understand love better than rom-coms.Perfect for Valentine’s season, or any time you want to question what love’s really got to do with it.Follow Joe ComptonGo Indie NowLink to Joe on Joe Compton’s 21 Grams:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Kzg2O7wDSMCheck out what the RHR crew is creatingJoe:Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories Anthology featuring a new story by Joe!Joe’s Sci-fi physiological thriller Novel: Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?Essay by Joe: From Beyond Press: Specific Knowledge: Jotham Austin, II, PhD on Transformations in FictionIt’s Science for WeirdosWant to support the show? Tell your friends. Follow us on social media, Discord, share the podcast, and let us know what topics you are excited about. Leave a Comment. And for email alerts sign-up for the Substack newsletter and never miss an episode, exciting updates or the bonus images we talk about on the episodes.We want to Hear From You (leave a comment):If you were selected for a space ark mission, would you go, knowing you’d never return to Earth or see your loved ones again?What two personal items would you bring with you on the journey? (Roland’s bringing My Chemical Romance, what’s on your playlist?)If you had to build the crew, what essential profession do you think gets overlooked? How many scientists vs. farmers vs. artists would you take?Can humanity survive the journey to the stars without destroying itself, or will we become something unrecognizable by the time we arrive?Drop your thoughts in the comments. We read them all, and your ideas often shape future episodes.Future Episodes & EventsEpisode 55 – Medicine of the Future: From Fantasy to Patient CareGuest: Davis AshuraExploring how science fiction inspires real medical innovation and what the future of patient care might look like.Episode 56 – The Science of Chatbots & Human ConnectionGuests: Lily & GenerosoDiving into AI communication, computational science, and how chatbots are reshaping human interaction with MIT scientist-turned-writer Lily and illustrator/filmmaker Generoso.Episode 57 – Planetary Defense: Saving Earth from Other Worldly ImpactGuest: Charles BlueExamining the science and strategies behind protecting Earth from asteroids, comets, and cosmic threats.For more stuff (Images, Episode Highlights, Notes and Fun Facts, events, etc), subscribe to our Substack newsletter!Join Rabbit Hole of Research on Discord: https://discord.gg/2nnmKgguFVDon’t forget to give us 5 stars or a like! Get full access to The Rabbit Hole of Research at jothamaustin.substack.com/subscribe
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      57 min
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