How have fictional exoplanets changed over time?

In this episode of the PhD stories, I talk to Emma about her PhD at the University of St Andrews, studying how depictions of exoplanets have changed over time. Unfortunately, however, something got in the way of filming and we had to scramble to make this video work...

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Edited by Luke Negus

This video vlog is about Emma Puranen studying a PhD in exoplanets at the University of St Andrews. Emma Puranen is studying planets in Star Wars, planets in the MCU, planets in Mass Effect, and many more sci fi planets. This study vlog is about how you study a PhD looking at exoplanets, Bayesian inference networks, and Emma's original sci fi audio drama Roguemaker. If you like videos from Andrew Dotson, Papa Flammy, Simon Clark, or Holly Gabrielle, you will enjoy this study vlog about PhD student Emma.

Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon: Jimmy Lee, George Sharabidze, Simon Stelling, Gabriele Siino, Bjorn Bakker, Ieuan Williams, Candace H, Tom Malcolm, Marcus Bosshard, Andrew Knop, Shab Kumar, Brady Johnston, Liat Khitman, Jesper Norsted, Kent & Krista Halloran, Rapssack, Kevin O'Connor, Timo Kerremans, Thines Ganeshamoorthy, Ashley Wilkins, Michael Parmenter, Samuel Baumgartner, Dan Sherman, ST0RMW1NG 1, Adrian Sand, Morten Engsvang, Josh Schiager, Farsight101, K.L, poundedjam, Daan Sneep, Felix Freiberger, Chris Field, Robert Connell, ChemMentat, Kolbrandr, , Sebastain Graf, Dan Nelson, Shane O'Brien, Alex, Fujia Li, Harry Eakins, Will Tolley, Cody VanZandt, Jesper Koed, Jonathan Craske, Albrecht Striffler, Igor Francetic, Jack Troup, SexyCaveman , Sean Richards, Kedar , Omar Miranda, Alastair Fortune, bitreign33 , Mat Allen, Anne Smith, Rafaela Corrêa Pereira, Colin J. Brown, Princess Andromeda, Mach_D, BenDent, Thusto , Andy Hartley, Lachlan Woods, Dan Hanvey, Simon Donkers, Kodzo , James Bridges, Liam , Andrea De Mezzo, Wendover Productions, Kendra Johnson.

[vigilantcosmicpenguin]

"Too interdisciplinary to function" is the most I've related to anything. If someone like that is flourishing in academia then I think I'll love that in my future.

[DanielSuguwa]

A theoretical studies about fictional exoplanet sure an interesting topic to explore. The fact that you might upload more about story about different researchers with different studies other than this one peek my interest even more. Looking forward more of it, Simon! 👍

[TheNitram]

I love exploring the way our asumptions on what the future will look like are created. Fiction is much more connected to actual research paradigms than we think! This PHD topic is SO COOL!
My own deals with how our expectations on "promising technologies" such as self driving cars, 3d printing, IoT or 3D printing form and are manipulated to shape the future.

Thanks for sharing!

[coburn]

I grew up about 15 minutes outside of St Andrews, in a local fishing village. Very nice to see our wee corner of Fife get a minute in the limelight.

[DystopiaJunkie]

Another fantastic video, Simon, and such a fascinating PhD topic from Emma - such interdisciplinarity is mind-blowing. The literary angle makes me wonder if you'd ever fancy chatting with me about my PhD research, which brings together literary dystopias and post-truth... 🤔

[mydroid]

Man! Now I want to travel to Exeter and Saint Andrews!
You should do a "UK University's vacationing visitors guide" for vacationers that want to do University tours, listen to live public research presentations, and do some photography of the area.
Could be my ideal vacation!

[Hailfire]

If any more planets are needed/wanted, the Hyperion Cantos has a bunch of good ones. Pacem, TC^2, Hyperion, and Maui Covenant come to mind.

[ScottPaladin]

Very excited for Rougemaker. This was such a good profile!

[viralviper]

Simon, your videos are so well produced and professional, yet still feel intimate and 'youtube-y' - well done and keep it up!

(I also hope you submitted some Warhammer planets to Emma, perhaps a planet that broke before the guard did...)

[idraote]

I watched this video as one does a day trip, to have fun and learn something on the way.
I am impressed by Saint Andrews, it looks like a beautiful place to live, despite the cold. It also has the sea which is essential for me, although I seriously doubt I would be able to swim very often there.
Growing older, I tend to dislike big cities more and more. A university town might be a good compromise, being smaller but offering services a non university town of comparable size might not offer.

I am not a huge SF fan therefore I couldn't appreciate Emma's research fully, but I am happy she has found her own niche, proving that, if you're lucky enough, there is always the right academical setting for everyone.

A fun video, more of them, please.

[tams]

What an interesting and peculiar PhD!

As the University of St Andrews... I'm an alumnus and it really is pretty (if you avoid the brutalist architecture some parts have - the maths and physics (and astronomy) buildings being one of the worst offenders). For such a small university, it really has a lot! I can't say much good about the administration though and the student housing situation is an absolute mess (pissing off everyone, from the students to the locals).

[ekszentrik]

Holy artifacts of sci-fi just in sheer volume being more popular in the 2000s than the 1900s and thus opportunity for outliers being less (it's not some naive uniform distribution of planet traits), batman.

[rosetosan]

Great video. Her PhD research seems interesting and she looks like she enjoys her work. Good one Simon 👍

[FairbrookWingates]

Oh wow, in Emma I've found my academic muse! My two favorite subjects have always been History and Science, two favorite readings History and Science-Fiction. I have a degree in English (Brit lit emphasis) with history and science for all my electives. Only, instead of audio and computer science....I work in health care. XD

[atay]

Great idea for a series. Could even expand on the Old Course type shots with a few minutes on the cities famous sights, maybe even have the student show some of their favourite places.

[modernkennnern]

I love this series. It's such a good concept too

[alethearia]

So, this is essentially an analysis to how people in the creative arts react to scientific data. Which is pretty cool because it's a reflection of a broader idea of how the public reacts to scientific discoveries.

[elastichedgehog]

This is very interesting research. I hope Emma gets an interesting publication (or publications) out of it.

Good job, Simon! Keep up the good work :)

[quinnlee-newbury]

I'm a simple nerd. I see "exoplanets in science fiction" I click. Your planets in fiction videos are always so fun, no doubt this will be too!

[MariaFrancaSerrau]

Absolutely fascinating! Thank you Simon!! Your videos are always a pleasure to watch!