S2 Ep 5. Upside Down Science: Stranger Things

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Revelling in 80’s nostalgia we embark on a curiosity voyage heading for Hawkins, Indiana, to explore the science behind Stranger Things.

Do any ‘Rightside Up’ plants and animals act like demodogs and demogorgons? Why do people believe in conspiracy theories? Why are groups like scientists and governments good villains of conspiracy theories? What is the difference between alternate dimensions and parallel universes? How can we be in the same dimension as the dinosaurs?

This week we are joined by two experts to help us wind our way through the ‘mindflayer’ science behind Stranger Things.

Come join us in the Upside Down…

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Meet our guests

Daniel Jolley

Dr Daniel Jolley is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Northumbria University in Newcastle, where he explores the psychology of conspiracy theories. He is a fellow science communicator and appears regularly in newspapers, on podcasts, radio and TV.

Who better to talk to about conspiracy theories!

T: @DrDanielJolley

Stranger Things Blogs

Episode Photo Gallery

Take a look at an ant colony raft, the parasitic flowering plant Rafflesia and a lovely yellow slime mold…

Episode References (if you fancy some extra reading)

• Brodwin, E. and Sundermier, A. (2016) A scientist explains parallel universes in Stranger Things. Insider [online]. Available from: https://www.insider.com/stranger-things-parallel-universe-science-2016-8

• Department of Energy (2017) The science hidden in Stranger Things’ science fiction. Available from: https://www.energy.gov/articles/searching-upside-down

• Fujimori, T., Nakajima, A., Shimada, N. and Sawai, S. (2019) Tissue self-organisation based on collective cell migration by contact activation of locomotion and chemotaxis. PNAS. 116(10) pp. 4291-4296

• Johnson, A., Torgerson, T. and Cooper, C. (2020) Public awareness of cleidocranial dysplasia after season releases of Stranger Things. JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. 146(4) pp. 377-378

• Keane, R. (2017) The parallel world in Stranger Things isn’t as crazy as it sounds - science explains. Vocal [online]. Available from: https://vocal.media/horror/the-parallel-world-in-stranger-things-isn-t-as-crazy-as-it-sounds-science-explains

• Meyer, B., Ansorge, C. and Nakagaki, T. (2017) The role of noise in self-organised decision making by the true slime mold Physarum polycephalum. PLOS [online]. Available from: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0172933

• Osborne, G. (2020) Don’t laugh off the rise of conspiracy theories - they threaten us all. Evening Standard [online]. Available from: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/don-t-laugh-off-the-rise-of-conspiracy-theories-they-threaten-us-all/ar-BB18MMbe?ocid=msedgdhp

• Purcell, J., Avril, A., Jaffuel, G., Bates, S. and Chapuisat, M. (2014) Ant brood function as life preservers during floods. PLOS ONE. 9(2) Available from: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0089211&type=printable

• Saunders, S. (2010) Many Worlds? An Introduction. In: Saunders, S., Barratt, J, Kent, A. and Wallace, D. (ed.) Many worlds? Oxford: OUP. Available from: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/12408/1/Everett%20introduction%20arXiv.pdf

• Steiefel, K. (2019) Planck’s Constant in Stranger Things. Science On [online]. Available from: https://scienceonblog.wordpress.com/2019/10/24/plancks-constant-in-stranger-things/

• Strickland, A. (2019) The weird Upside Down science behind Stranger Things. CNN [online]. Available from: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/04/world/stranger-things-science-scn-trnd/index.html

• Webb, R. (2020) Essential Guide 1: The Nature of Reality. London: New Scientist

• Williams, M. (2014) A universe of 10 dimensions. Phys.org [online]. Available from: https://phys.org/news/2014-12-universe-dimensions.html