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Called the eXtreme Deep Field, or XDF, the photo was assembled by combining 10 years of NASA Hubble Space Telescope photographs taken of a patch of sky at the center of the original Hubble Ultra Deep Field. The XDF is a small fraction of the angular diameter of the full moon.

Episode 12: Ethan Siegal

Photo of Ethan Siegal in a Star Trek Skant Uniform at Star Trek Las Vegas
Ethan Siegal, PhD

In this episode we speak with Dr. Ethan Siegal. He holds undergraduate degrees in Physics and Classics from Northwestern and a PhD in Physics from the University of Florida. He taught at the University of Wisconsin, the University of Portland, and Lewis & Clark College.

Currently, Ethan is a science blogger and writer and also a Star Trek fan.

We will talk about:

  • Whats a Knife Hand?
  • On becoming a scientist and only then a Star Trek fan
  • The optimistic view of the future
  • An unimpressive introduction to Star Trek and how it all got turned around
  • His favorite series & his rankings
  • A minimalist Star Trek collection
  • Marina Sirtis & Counselor Troi and how he connected to them
  • Tom Riker vs Will Riker
  • Lwaxana and Picard
  • Convention Experiences at Star Trek Las Vegas as a speaker
  • Does being a scientist get in the way of appreciating Star Trek?
  • Treknology, the book
  • On fundamental science
  • Visual re-design on Discovery
  • Is the past immutable?
  • The double-pendulum experiment
  • Even the smallest decisions we make can affect the larger world
  • Determinism in the Universe
  • The uniqueness of humanity
  • How should humanity treat the unknown?
  • The ethical implications of Artificial Intelligence
  • Quantum Uncertainty
  • The Many Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics
  • Being the best versions of ourselves
  • Sisko and his relationship with his Father
  • Violating your principles for no effect in ST
  • Confusing Earth for the entire Federation
  • The needs of the individual vs the community
  • The ability to dissent
  • The dangers of living in a technocratic society
  • Looking back on episodes made in the 90’s with a modern perspective
  • On the concept of the Borg Queen
  • The Interstellar Beacon
  • What it means to be alive
  • Virtual Reality and the Holodeck
  • The refusal to give in as a pivotal moment
  • Riker getting to play the Star Trek game on the “easy level”
  • The PoliTreks Debate on the topic of Is Jellico a Good Captain?
  • Looking to the future with Optimism
  • Harry Kim’s Clarinet
  • The representation of space-time – Patreon Version Only
  • The rate of galaxy acceleration – Patreon Version Only
  • Episodes discussed
    • Yesterday’s Enterprise (TNG S03E15)
    • Measure of a Man (TNG S02E09)
    • The Offspring (TNG S03E16)
    • Parallels (TNG S07E11)
    • Home Front (DS9 S04E11)
    • Paradise Lost (DS9 S04E12)
    • Best of Both Worlds (TNG E03E26)
    • Star Trek VIII: First Contact
    • The Inner Light (TNG S05E25)
    • Chain of Command (TNG S06E10 & E11)

Connect with Ethan at any of the following:

Honorary Star Trek title awarded: Chairman of the Cosmology Department at the Vulcan Science Academy

The featured image is of the NASA Deep Field Image.

Published in Episodes