This episode of Rabbit Hole of Research finds hosts Joe, Nick, and Georgia joined by Todd Thyberg and Bill Halliar for a deep freeze descent into the paranoid world of The Thing. Together, they dissect the tangled origins of this iconic alien menace. Tracing its evolution from John W. Campbell’s 1938 novella Who Goes There?, through 1951’s The Thing from Another World, to John Carpenter’s bleak 1982 masterpiece and its 2011 prequel.
But this isn’t just film history. The crew drills into the speculative biology of The Thing itself: Could such a creature exist? What does it mean to mimic life so perfectly it erases identity? And how many Big Macs would it take to replicate a human from scratch? Along the way, they ponder the philosophical terror of losing the boundary between self and other, question whether The Thing ever left Antarctica, and even ask: What if it infected a Predator?
Part biology, part film theory, part sci-fi mindbender, this episode explores how The Thing has become cinema’s ultimate metaphor for contagion, trust, and the horror of not knowing who—or what—you really are.
Links To Todd and Bill
Todd’s Website Angelbomb.com, be sure to check out his amazing books.
Bill’s Instagram: give a follow to keep up with his amazing work.
Check out what the RHR crew is creating:
Joe:
Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories Anthology featuring a new story by Joe!
Chicago Writers Association Podcast: Talkin’ Science Fiction with Joe Austin
Essay by Joe: From Beyond Press: Specific Knowledge: Jotham Austin, II, PhD on Transformations in Fiction
Joe explores how many calories it would take to transform into monsters across sci-fi and horror—think 222 Big Macs and tubs of Cherry Garcia.
Georgia:
Printmaking Class at Promise You ArtHouse on November 11th. Click here for Details or scan the QR code in image to register!
It’s Science for Weirdos
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We want to Hear From You (leave a comment):
Who was The Thing at the end of Carpenter’s 1982 film?
Was it MacReady? Childs? Neither? Both?
If you could infect any alien species or fictional universe with The Thing—who would it be, and why?
What would you do if you were stranded at Outpost 31 and suspected someone was The Thing?
Would you isolate yourself? Run tests? Burn the whole place down?
If The Thing infected a real-world organism—animal, fungus, microbe—which would be the worst-case scenario for Earth?
Go wild: think ants, octopuses, mycelial networks… or even humans with influencer accounts.
Future Episodes & Events
Episodes:
Episode 48 – Perception vs. Perspective
Guest: Katie Lichte-Mullenix
Is your brain lying to you? An exploration of perception, illusion, and how the mind constructs reality.
Episode 49 – The Heart of a Superhero
Guest: Rengasayee (Sai) Veeraraghavan
We crack open the anatomy of heroism—how courage, biology, and myth shape our modern superheroes.
Episode 50 – Gremlins and Holiday Science
Guest: Chris Guzman
A festive foray into chaos theory, creature features, and the secret science behind cinematic holiday mayhem.
Episode 51 – Season 2 Recap: PJs and Holiday Movies
Guests: ???
Grab your pajamas and join the crew as we toast two seasons of curiosity, chaos, and science—plus a sneak peek at what’s coming in Season 3.
Events:
Joe will be reading with 5 other story tellers at the Printer’s Row Wine Shop and Bar on November 1st.
2pm-4pm
Joe will be reading with other story tellers at the Experimental Station in Hyde Park on November 1st.
5:30-8pm
For more stuff (Images, Episode Highlights, events, etc), subscribe to our Substack newsletter!
Stay curious, stay speculative, stay safe, and we’ll catch you in the next rabbit hole. Love Y'all!
Show Notes & Fun facts
Joe’s Favorite Quotes from The Thing:
“They’re not Swedish Mac, they’re Norwegian”
“Nobody trust anybody now and we are all very tired”
Fun Facts:
Antarctica was first sighted in 1820
The first permanent scientific base in Antarctica was established in 1903 by the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition
Rules/Assumptions About The Thing’s Capabilities (based on Carpenter’s film and Watts’ short story)
Any biomass can be assimilated, not just humans.
Each assimilated host becomes an independent replicator.
Replication is cellular—no need for full organism to act.
It can spread via blood, aerosol, or tissue contact.
Detection is difficult, especially early on.
Assimilation time ranges from ~10 minutes to a few hours, depending on proximity and complexity.
One fragment can start over—like a viral pandemic with perfect self-replication.
Can survive extreme cold temperatures for extended periods of time and heat (fire).
ORIGIN AND NARRATIVE HISTORY
1. WHO GOES THERE? BY JOHN W. CAMPBELL (1938)
• Published in Astounding Science Fiction.
• The original story of a shapeshifting alien in an isolated Antarctic research base.
• Key differences:
• Telepathy plays a major role.
• More philosophical: fear of identity and trust breakdown.
2. THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD (1951)
• Directed by Christian Nyby (produced by Howard Hawks).
• Plant-based alien; more Cold War paranoia than biological horror.
• Thematically less about paranoia of identity, more about fear of external invasion.
3. THE THING (1982) BY JOHN CARPENTER
• Heavily inspired by body horror, Cold War-era mistrust, and Lovecraftian unknowability.
• Iconic for Rob Bottin’s practical FX: grotesque, non-anthropomorphic transformations.
4. THE THING (2011 PREQUEL)
• Attempts continuity with Carpenter’s film.
• Features mimicry of FX style but with more CGI.
• Explores the Norwegian camp and their discovery of the ship.
5. THE THINGS BY PETER WATTS (2010)
• Short story from the alien’s POV.
• Hugo nominee.
• Crucial twist: The Thing sees itself as a benevolent, unifying force, not a monster.
• Portrays humans as horrifyingly non-assimilative, uniquely individualistic beings.
Books, Media, and References from the Episode
Books
Novellas & Short Stories
“Who Goes There?” by John W. Campbell (1938)
The original novella that inspired all versions of *The Thing*
“The Things” by Peter Watts (2010)
Hugo-nominated short story told from The Thing’s perspective
Films & Adaptations
The Thing from Another World (1951)
The first film adaptation; Cold War paranoia meets plant-based alien
John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982)
The iconic practical-effects masterpiece that became a cult classic
The Thing (2011)
Prequel to Carpenter’s film, exploring the Norwegian camp storyline
Comics & Expanded Universe
The Thing: The Northman Nightmare (Dark Horse Comics, 2011)
A prequel comic released alongside the 2011 film
The Thing from Another World (Dark Horse Comics, 1991–92)
Sequel to the 1982 film, picking up where it left off
Video Games
The Thing (Video Game) – PC/PS2/Xbox (2002)
An official sequel to Carpenter’s film where MacReady may have survived
Related Media & Bonus Mentionables
Predator (1987)
Referenced during speculative crossover discussion (“What if The Thing infected a Predator?”)
Slime Molds, Cordyceps, and Parasitic Wasps
Real-life biological analogs explored during the speculative biology segment
The Thing: Artbook, Concept Work, and Behind-the-Scenes FX
Books and documentaries (e.g., Terror Takes Shape) recommended during discussion of practical effects
Episode Highlights
00:00 – Welcome to the Month of Horror
The crew kicks off the final entry in the October horror series
00:42 – Introducing the Full Crew and Special Guests
Meet returning guests Todd Thyberg and Bill Halliar, diving deep into the cold.
01:38 – Diving into ‘The Thing’ and Its Origins
Exploring Who Goes There?, 1951’s The Thing from Another World, and Carpenter’s 1982 classic.
03:12 – Personal Stories and Early Experiences with ‘The Thing’
Guests share how this film infected their imaginations early on.
05:29 – Analyzing the Biology and Rules of ‘The Thing’
How does assimilation work? Could it survive on Earth? Would it eat Big Macs?
11:17 – Comparing Adaptations and Paranoia Themes
Paranoia as infection—how trust erodes under pressure across versions.
20:31 – Exploring Related Stories and Concepts
Including Peter Watts’ The Things, and speculative crossover ideas.
29:44 – Thematic Discussions and Final Thoughts
What The Thing tells us about identity, fear, and the self.
40:57 – The Lizard Brain and Humanity
Instinct vs intellect in high-stress survival scenarios.
41:51 – Paranoia and Cold War Secrets
The historical context shaping The Thing’s narrative tension.
42:12 – Weaponizing the Alien
Could The Thing be a bioweapon—or worse, an interstellar contagion?
42:44 – Antarctic Life and Alcohol Ban
Why you’d want MacReady’s whiskey stash if you were stationed there.
43:33 – Critique of The Thing’s Scenes
Practical effects, tension, and what still holds up.
44:54 – The Thing’s Survival Tactics
Hide, infect, adapt—what The Thing gets terrifyingly right.
46:35 – The Thing’s Evolution and Biology
Real-world parallels to fungal parasites, slime molds, and DNA piracy.
52:59 – Comparing The Thing Movies
From 1982 to 2011—strengths, misses, and retcons.
58:20 – The Thing’s Global Impact
How this creature concept influenced genre media worldwide.
01:07:08 – The Ambiguous Ending of The Thing
Was it MacReady, Childs… or both? We weigh the clues.
01:16:20 – Final Thoughts and Upcoming Projects
Teasers, shoutouts, and what’s lurking in the next episode.
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