Le podcast « Est-ce que ça vole ? » distingue réalité scientifique et fiction

Picture yourself at a bar with friends, sipping beers, when the conversation shifts to Star Trek. Suddenly, the topic of teleporters comes up. How could they possibly work? And what about the TARDIS from Doctor Who? Does that even make sense? This engaging premise sets the stage for the podcast Does It Fly?, hosted by astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi and actress, writer, and pop culture expert Tamara Krinsky. Kicking off in April, the show releases episodes approximately once a week, each focusing on a scientific or technological concept inspired by popular sci-fi films and shows. The hosts spend around 45 minutes pondering whether each concept is feasible in the real world—essentially asking, does it “fly”? Discussions about the plausibility of science fiction technologies have captivated fans for decades.

Does It Fly? openly acknowledges its place in this tradition. Both Oluseyi and Krinsky define themselves as self-proclaimed nerds and geeks, approaching these subjects with joy and enthusiasm. At times, their banter might feel reminiscent of online fan forums, leading listeners to fast-forward to the more serious discussions.

However, the podcast also features genuinely intriguing insights. Oluseyi’s astrophysics background shines when he explores the challenges of realistically implementing Star Trek’s teleportation technology or considers the possibility of creating lightsabers from Star Wars, using magnetic fields to contain plasma. As for lightsabers actually « flying, » Oluseyi is quick to squash that notion—probably never, he concludes.

Let’s talk about teleporters, which Krinsky describes as “one of the most iconic concepts in all of science fiction.” In Star Trek, the device can transport objects over vast distances by converting them into energy and reassembling them at their destination. In reality, the closest we have is quantum teleportation, which transmits quantum states of particles without moving the particles themselves. The biggest hurdle to making a teleporter operational today is figuring out how to break down an object into its fundamental components—what exactly are those? Molecules? Atoms? Electrons? Even if we solve that, the storage needs for such vast amounts of data far exceed current technological capabilities. And even if we could manage that in centuries to come, Oluseyi points out another challenge: accurately recording and recreating all the dynamic data, such as memories, that define a person at any moment. Krinsky notes that in terms of storytelling, teleportation has been central to many memorable Star Trek episodes, propelling narratives that range from cloning to “transporter psychosis.” The evolution of transporter technology in the various series and films also showcases its advancements, including the transport of organic materials.

The bottom line: scientifically speaking, teleporters don’t “fly.” But as for their place in storytelling, Krinsky quips, “I’d say yes!”

The lively and often unstructured dialogue between the hosts proves effective as they exchange ideas on time travel physics, analyze the silver balls detecting tornadoes in the 1996 film Twister, or touch on neurotechnology in 3 Body Problem on Netflix.

However, not every beloved series or film lends itself well to the podcast’s format. An episode centered on the demonic possession in Beetlejuice feels disjointed, primarily due to the lack of substantial scientific discussion.

Listeners might not always agree with the hosts’ evaluations, yet therein lies part of the appeal. Each episode immerses you in an ongoing discussion, leaving you eagerly anticipating what comes next.

This was precisely my experience during a recent road trip. I tuned in to the episode about the TARDIS with my sister, a devoted Doctor Who fan. We both enjoyed the mind-bending comparison between the blue police box and black holes: both manipulate space and time, and the TARDIS is larger on the inside—much like a hypothetical wormhole that serves as a portal through space. “Everything that black holes do, the TARDIS does too,” Oluseyi noted, giving the phone booth a science-backed boost.

Yet, Krinsky argued that the TARDIS narratively falters due to instances where the series seems to ignore its own established rules—violation of a golden rule in science fiction. My sister, however, disagreed, claiming that those logical leaps were entirely justified.

Let’s