Dr Erin Macdonald: Is there any science in Star Trek?

<p>This week we’re boldly going where no <em>Science Focus Podcast</em> has gone before.</p><p>Dr Erin Macdonald is the new science consultant for the <em>Star Trek</em> franchise. With the release of <em>Star Trek: Picard</em> on Amazon Prime, she takes us through the science of both the new and classic series.</p><p>She tells our production assistant and resident Trekkie Holly Spanner about supernovae, what a science consultant really does, and whether warp drive is possible.</p><ul><li><strong>Subscribe</strong>&nbsp;to the&nbsp;<em>Science Focus Podcast</em>&nbsp;on these services:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.acast.com/science-focus-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/science-focus-podcast/id1296673906?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">iTunes</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/immediate-media-2/science-focus-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://rss.acast.com/science-focus-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RSS</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://overcast.fm/itunes1296673906/science-focus-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Overcast</a></li></ul><p>Let us know what you think of the episode with a review or a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.</p><p><strong>Listen to more episodes of the&nbsp;<em>Science Focus Podcast</em>:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/what-if-the-earths-magnetic-field-died-jim-al-khalili/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">What if the Earth’s magnetic field died? – Jim Al-Khalili</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sciencefocus.com/space/building-a-base-on-the-moon-and-crafting-believable-sci-fi/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Building a base on the Moon, and crafting believable sci-fi – Andy Weir</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sciencefocus.com/space/dr-becky-smethurst-how-do-you-actually-find-a-black-hole/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"