STORY TIME

WRITING Ilya Mandel

Teaching physics to monks (p. 64)

“Cargo Cult Science” by Richard Feynman

Every couple of years, I re-read Richard Feynman’s 1974 Caltech commencement address, published as a short essay titled “Cargo Cult Science”. In it, Feynman talks about the crucial importance of scientific integrity – as he puts it, “a kind of leaning over backwards” to be maximally critical of your own results as a scientist, to be utterly honest about all of the possible flaws in your experiment or your model, to check that your theory really adds some prediction beyond just matching existing data, and to hold on to that honesty and integrity in the face of pressure to get funding or progress your career.

The exhortation seems, if anything, more pertinent now than half a century ago, and all of us can benefit from heeding Feynman’s advice.

Ashley Hay

Ode to green (p. 96) Nightfishing: Stingrays, Goya and the singular life by Vicki Hastrich

Vicki Hastrich’s beautiful book of essays could also be described as a collection of expeditions or explorations. From her starting point of one small patch of Brisbane Water, north of Sydney, she leans into science, art, philosophy, and nature, letting ideas and connections ebb and flow – sometimes gently, sometimes dramatically – from seaweed and rays to turtles and prawns, invasions and loves.

Hastrich calls herself an amateur – amateur marine biologist, amateur writer – but the scope and richness of the knowledge she pins down here and the existential shape it makes (for her own self and for the broader world) speak to consummate observational skills. When she writes that Galileo’s “great achievement was to show us what was already in plain view”, she could be describing her own work.

Natalie Parletta

Hook, line and thinker (p. 80) The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

I recently unearthed this gem. Based on events in depression-era America, the powerful zeitgeist of the story is as pertinent nearly a century later as it was then, if not more so. Assorted women battling their own tragedies and challenges bond while forming a community library against the backdrop of rampant ignorance, sexism, racism and a ruthless coal company destroying people’s health, homes and habitats. The women’s extraordinary courage and ultimate triumph against all odds inspire us – compel us – to rise up and tackle the planet’s unfolding climate catastrophe and mass extinctions.

At a time when many of us feel despairing and hopeless, stories like this are a vital reminder that the human spirit can prevail; that with the Greta Thunbergs of this world we can defeat Goliath.

PODCASTS Ivy Shih

Windows to the stars (page 32)

Brain on Nature by Sarah Allely

Recently I’ve rediscovered my love of experimenting and being braver with

different forms of narrative/science communication, which led me to discover Brain on Nature. It’s a narrative documentary podcast series produced by Sarah Allely about her experiences after recovering from a mild traumatic brain injury. It’s a lovingly produced six-part audio documentary. I blitzed through it all in a single night. Have a listen and let yourself sink into the sound design and Sarah’s story.

Nathan Byrne

Head in the clouds (p. 99)

Cautionary Tales by Tim Harford

I absolutely chew through podcasts. Right now, I’m particularly enjoying

Tim Harford’s Cautionary Tales – life lessons from history that show us why it’s important to learn from our past. Tim expertly weaves together scientifically rigorous analysis with a charming look at some of our greatest mistakes, to create a wonderful story that you probably haven’t ever heard before. Definitely check it out – season one was just eight episodes, so the back catalogue isn’t too daunting at all.

TV & MOVIES Katie Mack

Hubble trouble (p. 22)

TV show: The Expanse developed by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby

The one piece of media I won’t shut up about is The Expanse. It’s a science fiction TV series on Amazon Prime set in a future where humans have spread out through the Solar System and broken up into three separate factions based on Earth, Mars, and the asteroid belt.

It’s a great show for the drama and writing and plot but it also generally does a really great job with physics (with some exceptions around aliens, which I think is fine). It’s fun to see a show where the speed of light delay is an actual plot device, or where ships only have “gravity” when they’re accelerating or spinning. I’m generally pretty partial to media involving space travel, but The Expanse is definitely top of my list right now.

Drew Turney

Internet of Disposable things (p. 54)

Film: Joker, directed by Todd Phillips

If you’re sick of superhero movies, you might be tempted to give Todd Phillips’ Joker a wide berth. Don’t – it’s one of the best designed and well-written dramatic character studies of the last few years, and the best film of 2019. It just happens to be about a comic book character. Phillips’ brilliant direction is elevated by Joaquin Phoenix’s sublime performance and you’ll realise that superhero/comic book movies can be something very different and still thrilling.