
Hosted by planetary scientist and astrobiologist Dr. Michael L. Wong, Strange New Worlds examines science, technology, and culture through the lens of Star Trek!
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 241 | Founded | 9 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | Science | |||

Guest: Dr. Bob Hazen Mike is joined by his Carnegie Science colleague Dr. Bob Hazen. Together, they have written a new popular science book titled "Time's Second Arrow: Evolution, Order, and a New Law of Nature," which launches on February 10, 2026. ... more
Guest: Dr. Caleb Scharf Becoming a spacefaring civilization is a major transition in the story of life on Earth. Senior scientist for astrobiology at NASA Ames Dr. Caleb Scharf beams aboard to discuss the themes in his latest book, "The Giant Leap: W... more
Guest: Dr. Kristina Ĺ ekrst Philosopher, linguist, and AI researcher Kristina Ĺ ekrst beams aboard to discuss the TNG episode "Darmok," where Picard and crew encounter the Tamarians, a species who only speak in metaphor. Why do we use metaphors? How wo... more
Guest: Dr. Anirudh Prabhu Mike brings aboard Dr. Anirudh Prabhu to discuss an exciting new study of theirs that uses machine learning trained on organic chemical data to detect the "whispers" of life—including photosynthetic life—in ancient rocks. Th... more
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I absolutely love this show. It filled a great little niche in the Star Trek podcasting world and never fails to bring interesting science and topics to the fold. Dr. Mike Wong has such a fun energy and always comes through with some amazing guests. There’s always fun to be had on Strange New Worlds! 🖖🏻
I love the enthusiasm, mixed with intelligence, empathy and science!!
I love this! Thank you so much, look forward to listening to it all!
Do you like Star Trek? Do you like science? If yes to both, just stop reading this and start listening!
What a wonderful way to engage so many talented people. The podcast is inclusive of all topics Star Trek, and individuals of different backgrounds, scientists and non-scientists alike. Listening to it conjures up images of a fertile garden (Star Trek) with thriving plants (host and invited guests) sharing their beautiful colors (thoughts) and reciprocating one another with their delicious fruits (stories). Look forward to many more episodes. đź––
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #221 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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This podcast examines the intersection of science, technology, and culture through the beloved lens of a classic sci-fi universe. It covers a variety of topics including astrobiology, climate change, sustainable space exploration, and the cultural impact of science fiction, particularly as it relates to Star Trek lore. Engaging discussions with experts and noteworthy guests provide insightful perspectives on both contemporary scientific issues and timeless philosophical questions inspired by the Star Trek franchise. The unique blend of accessible science communication and fandom creates an engaging space for listeners who appreciate the nuances of both fields.
With an emphasis on real scientific advancements and their connections to the i... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:
1. Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science
2. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
3. The Quanta Podcast
4. Why This Universe?
5. Science Friday
this podcast launched 9 years ago and published 241 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on this podcast include:
1. Dr. Caleb Scharf
2. Dr. Kristina Ĺ ekrst
3. Anirudh Prabhu
4. Michael L. Wong
5. Bob Picardo
6. Dr. Una McCormack
7. Thomas White
8. Shi En Kim
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