Our conceptual understanding of the world around us is shaped by our experiences, often in subtle ways. In this media-dominated world, the public's predominant exposure to science comes from science fiction in popular culture, especially TV and movies. In this course, we will examine the ways in which popular culture has influenced our collective knowledge about astronomy: the good, the bad, and the really bad. Wide-ranging topics will include asteroids and comets threatening the earth, travel through space and time, and life in the universe. Through lecture, discussion, and laboratory exercises, we will examine these topics through the lens of science to expose the reality of the universe that is our home. |