I really appreciate how they didn’t try to use too much bullshit science. One of my biggest complaints with movies or shows is their use of science that is just completely wrong. Xenonite is quite flakey but I think that’s the worst thing

[–] SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Gosling's use of an unbalanced centrifuge made me exclaim "No!" aloud, though.

[–] Godric@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That one stuck in my craw too! I still loved the movie, but that was just sadly lazy

[–] SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 day ago

Even science majors and grads don't always get it at first.

I taught students and trained junior researchers during and after grad school. When I'd catch lab assistants doing lopsided centrifuge loads, especially in the big floor-standing centrifuges (I even caught one genius sitting on it to dampen the vibration), we'd take a trip to the physics department for a quick lecture on the amount of energy contained in their spinning samples compared to the amount of energy required for a plastic centrifuge tube to fracture and penetrate a human skull.

[–] SkaveRat@discuss.tchncs.de 12 points 2 days ago

It helps that Andy weir basically comes up with all the science before writing a story around it

[–] TachyonTele@piefed.social 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I felt like the author was winking at us when he namee it xenonite and made it a miracle material. "Heres the McGuffin!"