The Rabbit Hole of Research
Rabbit Hole of Research
Episode 23: The Science and Handwavium of Shrinking
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Episode 23: The Science and Handwavium of Shrinking

Join us as we dig into the concept of shrinking, from the biology of shrinkage to the handwavium in movies like Ant Man and The Incredible Shrinking Woman.

In this episode of the Rabbit Hole of Research, hosts Joe, Nick, and Georgia dig into the concept of shrinking in both real life and fiction. They explore the phenomenon of shrinkage due to cold, as seen in popular culture, and discuss fictional portrayals of shrinking in movies like Ant-Man, The Incredible Shrinking Woman, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. They examine the scientific plausibility of shrinking objects or people, referencing various scientific principles and fictional technologies. Additionally, they touch on topics like the challenges of human cellular function and metabolism at a smaller scale, and the potential adaptations for such shrinkage. The episode also highlights the charm and narrative utility of shrinking in storytelling, referencing literature such as Gulliver's Travels and Alice in Wonderland.

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Incredible Shrinking Man print by Georgia Geis.

Artwork by Georgia Geis: See Georgia’s art on Instagram @atomic_number14


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To see how deep the rabbit hole goes, check out the (timestamped) expanded show notes.


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Don’t forget to give us 5 stars or a like! Leave 5 stars!

Fantastic Voyage print by Georgia Geis.


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Discussion about this podcast

The Rabbit Hole of Research
Rabbit Hole of Research
Our goal is to have fun learning science through the lens of science fiction, fantasy, and pop-culture. We will start in one place and let the conversation lead us down the winding scenic road exploring the science in science fiction, separating the facts from the Handwavium. We’ll have a little fun and you’ll learn a few facts you can use to impress your friends at a party or use as a conversation starter to go down your own rabbit holes.