The Cosmic Companion

For our Earth Day 2024 episode, we'll be exploring how fiction and storytelling have inspired environmental movements throughout history. Later in the show, we will be joined by Ann E. Burg, talking about her new book, Force of Nature, a free-verse novel inspired by Rachel Carson. 

Let's begin by traveling back in time! [beep beep beep] [ROAR] What? Dinosaurs? No, no, far too far back in time… [beep beep beep] [Good Day, good Sir. By what manner do you appear before me?] Ben Franklin? Nope. Too recent. [beep beep beep]. Ah. Gilgamesh. Here we go.

One of the oldest-known stories, The Epic of Gilgamesh, is in part a warning of the dangers posed by over-exploitation of the land. Written nearly 40 centuries ago, The Epic of Gilgamesh was basically the first screw-around-and-find-out story.

How to view the 2024 solar eclipse happening over much of North America.

What you need to know about this celestial dance of the Sun and Moon.

Starring James G. Maynard in a double role as The Sun and The Moon.

Explore the thrilling world of 12th-century England in The Wizard and The Scholar (or, a Rapscallion Runs Amok in Rye)!

This captivating film follows the journey of two extraordinary women – a wizard without power and a scholar without a home – who join forces with the legendary Robin Hood to solve a mass murder and save the town of Rye from a mysterious threat.

Dive into a tale of resilience, justice, and the search for belonging as you witness the trio uncover secrets, confront danger, and learn the true meaning of courage and friendship. With stunning visuals and a compelling storyline, The Wizard and The Scholar is an epic adventure that blends action and heart, immersing you in a rich historical tapestry.

Watch the exclusive trailer now and join us on this unforgettable journey. Don't forget to share your excitement with friends and family – after all, who doesn't love a good Robin Hood story?

Get ready to experience the magic and mystery of The Wizard and The Scholar (or, a Rapscallion Runs Amok in Rye) – coming soon from The Cosmic Companion!

Today, we are Unraveling Mysteries of the Universe with our special guest, Harry Cliff, physicist from CERN and author of Space Oddities. Let's dive in!

Once upon a time, astronomers gazed upon Mercury and scratched their heads in wonder.

This tiny planet had an undeniably wonky orbit, zipping around the Sun in a way that didn't quite add up. Some scientists were convinced that a hidden planet, aptly named Vulcan, was hiding on the opposite side of the Sun from Mercury.

But, alas, Vulcan remained elusive. Instead, a hero emerged in the form of Albert Einstein and his groundbreaking theory of relativity. Einstein's genius laid the mystery of Mercury's weird orbit to rest, revealing that the planet's strange behavior was a result of spacetime curvature around the massive Sun.

Although the search for Vulcan ultimately led to a dead end, it paved the way for exciting discoveries in our cosmic neighborhood. During the quest for the phantom planet, astronomers stumbled upon numerous unknown asteroids - the rocky remnants from the formation of our solar system...

This week, we take the first of two looks at the upcoming solar eclipse coming on 8 April. Later in the show, we will be talking with noted physicist, mathematician, and developer Stephen Wolfram about his new book, Predicting the Eclipse. 

From ancient fears and superstitions to modern-day scientific predictions, the history of eclipse forecasting is a captivating tale of human curiosity and ingenuity.

Have you ever looked up at the sky during an eclipse and wondered how people in the past reacted to this awe-inspiring sight? Admit it. I know you have!

Explore the thrilling world of 12th-century England in "The Wizard and The Scholar (or, a Rapscallion Runs Amok in Rye)"!

This captivating film follows the journey of two extraordinary women – a wizard without power and a scholar without a home – who join forces with the legendary Robin Hood to solve a mass murder and save the town of Rye from a mysterious threat.

Dive into a tale of resilience, justice, and the search for belonging as you witness the trio uncover secrets, confront danger, and learn the true meaning of courage and friendship. With stunning visuals and a compelling storyline, "The Wizard and The Scholar" is an epic adventure that blends action and heart, immersing you in a rich historical tapestry.

Watch the exclusive trailer now and join us on this unforgettable journey! Don't forget to share your excitement with friends and family – after all, who doesn't love a good Robin Hood story?

Get ready to experience the magic and mystery of "The Wizard and The Scholar (or, a Rapscallion Runs Amok in Rye)" – coming soon from The Cosmic Companion!

The cold, hard truth about ice giants. Talking with Yoni Brande, planetary physicist at the University of Kansas
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This week, we're venturing into the chilly outskirts of our solar system and beyond, exploring the mysterious worlds of ice giants. Later in the show, we're going to talk with Yoni Brande, PhD candidate at the University of Kansas, talking about these chilly worlds.

So - what are ice giants, I hear you ask. 

[What are ice giants?] Thanks… 

Ice giants are like the cool cousins in our solar system family. They're not as flashy as the gas giants, Jupiter and Saturn, but they've got a charm all their own. You likely know about Uranus and Neptune, our resident ice giants!

Building bridges to great science learning through humor, entertainment, and the occasional puppet - talking with Paul Zaloom from Beakman's World!
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Welcome back to The Cosmic Companion. I'm James G. Maynard. This week, we talk about Making Science (Even More!) Fun. We will look at how we build bridges to great science learning through storytelling, entertainment, and the occasional puppet. 

Later in the show, we will talk with puppeteer, satirist, and actor who starred in Beakman's World, Paul Zaloom...

What survival strategies of life on Earth teach us about living in space. With Jennifer Szymanski, Deadliest Animals on the Planet, Nat Geo Kids!
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This week, we're talking about Jaws, Claws, Life and Death, and what they can teach us about staying alive in space! In a little bit, we're going to be talking with Jennifer Szymanski from Nat Geo Kids about their new book, Deadliest Animals on the Planet. 

But first, the boring bit of the show with me in it...

or, The Earth and Moon: our lives together. Talking with Rebecca Boyle, author of Our Moon.
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More than four-and-a-half billion years in the past, Earth 1.0 - the first version of our home world, was on a collision course with Theia, a celestial body as big as Mars. It would be a date with destiny.

This cosmic dance resulted in a spectacular crash, ripping both worlds apart. The aftermath? A molten mess which quickly cooled down, giving birth to two celestial bodies we now call home - Earth and our loyal sidekick, the Moon...

Two astronauts on the Moon try to make life on our planetary companion a little more like home.

Filmmakers James G. Maynard and Darion D'Anjou discuss the future of film and education in the age of generative artificial intelligence.

(or, Why millions of more people are about to become filmmakers)

Darion's amazing channel: @DarionDAnjou
The Cape Town Squad: @capetownsquad248

The Cosmic Companion is flying back with the 8th season premiere on 27 January.

Here's a sneak preview: This season, we’re kicking off with an episode titled “Moonstruck: Tales of Earth’s Lunar Love Affair”.

Join us as we delve into the fascinating relationship between our planet and our solitary moon. We’re thrilled to have Rebecca Boyle, the acclaimed author of “Our Moon”, as our special guest. Rebecca will share her insights and tales about our planetary companion.

Don’t miss out on this cosmic adventure! Subscribe and stay tuned for the premiere and full interview coming 27 January.

Hey there, I’m Ana Luisa Cortez. Welcome to a glimpse of our future, a world reshaped by climate change. ‘Gaia Rising’ is our story - three lives intertwined in the late 21st Century, navigating the challenges of a changing world. It’s about resilience, adaptation, and finding hope in the most unlikely places.

So, buckle up and join us on this journey. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe. Welcome to 'Gaia Rising.'

The AI Man is a charming short film that pays homage to the 1928 classic film, The Cameraman, which entered the public domain in 2024.

In this modern-day redux, Buster and Sally’s meet-cute is reimagined with a twist of artificial intelligence. Buster, now an AI enthusiast, navigates the complexities of modern technology and the world, while internet-savvy Sally becomes intrigued by Buster’s old-world charm.

Their paths cross in a series of humorous and heartwarming encounters, mirroring the original’s slapstick comedy. The film cleverly juxtaposes the simplicity of the past with today’s high-tech world, offering a fresh perspective on love and connection in the digital age.

The AI Man a delightful blend of nostalgia and innovation, capturing the essence of the original while making it relevant for contemporary audiences, becoming a testament to the timeless nature of human connection, irrespective of the era or technology.

SANCTUARY

[Verse]
Huddled inside, here in our home
Darkness outside, clouds encroach
A refuge within, where we can hide
From the chaos outside, we let it subside

[Chorus]
Sanctuary, our haven from the world's despair
In its solitude, we find my peace, if we might dare
As the world grows mad, we find release
Within these walls, a sigh of relief

[Verse]
At home at home.... (you're not all alone)
While the world grows mad (a danger zone)
I'm not all alone, with you at home, renegades alone
A tempest outside, a mad Prospero, a deranged cyclone.

[Chorus]
Sanctuary, our haven from the world's despair
In its solitude, we find our peace, if we might dare
As the world grows mad, we find release
Within these walls, a sigh of relief

Sanctuary, give me peace
Sanctuary (if it's not out of reach)
Sanctuary, give me peace
Sanctuary (if it's not out of reach)
Sanctuary, give me peace
Sanctuary (if it's not out of reach)

James G. Maynard

Just your average musical parody Christmas science-fiction comedy involving Santa Claus and a couple of aliens...

What makes up the planets of our Solar System? We dig into the story with Sabine Stanley from Johns Hopkins University, as well as talking to the planets of our Solar System!
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NARRATOR: Famed space reporter James G. Maynard sits at his desk, a twinkle in his eye [TWINKLE], waiting for a break in his quest to get The Inside Story on Planets. It was becoming clear he would need to get some leads for this story. But where?

JGM: Hmm. It's becoming clear I'm going to need to get some leads for this story. But where?

Sneak Preview: The Inside Story on Planets w/ Sabine Stanley, Johns Hopkins University
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We are SO excited for this week’s upcoming episode of the Cosmic Companion! (I mean, sure, we are always excited, but this one is something special.)

The Inside Story on Planets w/ Sabine Stanley, Johns Hopkins University features:

The greatest number of animated characters yet in a single episode - nine!
10 original musical compositions

Our first all-jazz soundtrack

Our first leitmotifs (pieces of music which accompany a particular character)

Our first-ever episode with selective colors (backgrounds are black-and-white while the characters are in color).

And we welcome Dr. Sabine Stanley, planetary physicist at Johns Hopkins University, back to the show!

Check out the sneak preview below! Full episode premieres on Saturday!

There goes The Cosmic Companion, making science cool again!

First contact with extraterrestrials happened in a way NO ONE saw coming...

The first artificial stable wormhole sees its first visitor - a cat named Schrödinger.

Why do humans explore? We explore exploration with Jon Waterman, creator of Atlas of Wild America from National Geographic.

This week on The Cosmic Companion, we explore exploration, exploring the human need to… explore. Later in the show, we’ll be talking with Jon Waterman, creator of Atlas of Wild America from National Geographic.

From the dawn of time, humans have been driven by a primal urge: the need to explore. This innate curiosity has shaped our history, propelling us from the confines of caves to the vast expanse of our planet, and beyond.

Let’s take a detour down memory lane. Somewhere between 75,000 and 50,000 years ago, a group of mobile Homo sapiens decided to take humankind’s first road trip out of Africa. Even without roads. Talk about wanderlust! This migration wasn’t just a change of scenery — it resulted in a monumental shift for our species, shaping human evolution...

Jon Waterman from National Geographic talks about his adventures in Atlas of Wild America.

Full interview drops 4 November on The Cosmic Companion, with our new episode, Exploring Exploration.

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