Skeptacular!

Mark Maultby - 1 August 2015

Review: PODCAST

THE INFINITE MONKEY CAGE

When is a strawberry dead?

One of my favourite podcasts is this seasonal offering from British skeptical activists and science communicators Brian Cox and Robin Ince. This is a BBC Radio 4 production – oooh get me! – but the podcast version is 10 minutes longer. As Robin says, “this show contains extra material which wasn’t considered good enough for the radio.” In exactly that sort of way, Robin provides the banter and is the gleeful layman. Brian, on the other hand, brings it all back to reality, reining-in tangents and correcting any guest who dares oversimplify a bit of physics.

Their guests, who are usually a mix of scientists and comedians (or wizards*) are selected based on the week’s topic of choice e.g. forensic science. The mix of guests is always a bit of a risk though: mostly they gel but sometimes they don’t. And sometimes I wish it all didn’t feel so rushed, due probably to BBC scheduling.

As someone who’s married to someone who can’t quite abide Brian Cox, it is refreshing to hear him take a lot of good-natured ribbing regarding his high-profile documentaries. Robin’s banter returns often to Brian’s voice, his hair or documentary footage of him walking down a volcano. He always laughs it off.

By turns hilarious, skeptical and riddled with in-jokes, this podcast gives the impression of being both well-planned and off-the-rails at the same time. Highly recommended, but possibly an acquired taste for some. It is very British.

*Alan Moore

Review: FILM

EX MACHINA

Released 2015

Directed by Alex Garland

Starring Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac Running time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Directorial debut by Alex Garland (The Beach, 28 Days Later, Sunshine), this movie is a contemplative exploration into ideas around artificial intelligence and what it means to be human.

The movie follows Caleb, a young man who ostensibly wins a competition to visit the compound-like home of genius billionaire recluse, Nathan. Caleb is introduced to Nathan’s latest invention, Ava. To say much more about the plot would be a spoiler.

Whilst this movie is science-fiction, the world created in the film is very much today’s world, or the very near future. The only ‘futuristic’ element is Ava. This has the effect of drawing you into a world that seems very believable. You almost wouldn’t be surprised if something like this movie actually happens in three to five years.

Ex Machina is low-key and steady-paced, the plot driven on by the conversations between Caleb and Nathan, and Caleb and Ava. If you like your sci-fi more cerebral and true to reality (ie. not Terminator), then this movie might be your cup of tea.

This review was written by a human being.