I wondered if it was possible to implant memories like in the movie Total Recall. So I talked to a neuroscientist to see how plausible it was. Join me as Dr. Kristina Wright takes me on a deep dive into the science of fiction. At the end of the episode, Dr. Wright will rank the plausibility of memory implantation in Total Recall on a 1-5 scale from…

I wondered if extreme time dilation was possible like in the movie Interstellar. So I talked to an astronomy educator to see how plausible it was. Join me as Athena Brensberger takes me on a deep dive into the science of fiction. At the end of the episode Astro Athens will rank the plausibility of time dilation portrayed in Interstellar on a 1-5 sc…

I wondered what George Washington would say if he were here today. Thankfully so did author Kim Megahee. (Sorry for the mispronunciation in the episode) Kim has written several time-traveling science fiction books and is the first-ever book and author I am featuring on Reality Check. Time Patriot uses history and the theory of time travel to explor…

I wondered if cyborg soldiers would fight future battles like in the movie Elysium. So I talked to Dr. Justin Clifford, a tactical physical therapist working with military special warfare operators to find out. Join me and Dr. Clifford as we dive deeply into the science of fiction. At the end of the episode, Dr. Clifford will rank the plausibility …

I wondered if human kinds inevitable future would have us looking and living like the people on Wall-E. So I talked to Steve Kamb, the founder of Nerd Fitness for his perspective on the plausibility of this potential future. Join me and Steve as we take a deep dive into the science of fiction. At the end of the episode Steve will rank the plausibil…

I wondered if the creation of a super soldier was possible outside the cinematic universe of "Captain America". So I talked to Dr. Guilermo Escalante, Assistant Dean and Professor of Kinesiology, who is also a leading researcher in PED’s to see how plausible it really was. Join me as Dr. Escalante takes me on a deep dive into the science of fiction…

The Day After Tomorrow Starring Dennis Quaid - Jake Gyllenhaal - Emmy Rossum Special Podcast Guest: Carly Cassady, meteorologist. I was intrigued by the rapid climate shifts depicted in "The Day After Tomorrow" when it came out. Could our planet really experience such drastic changes in a short period? To explore this fascinating topic, I invited C…

WarGames (1983) Starring Matthew Broderick, Ally Sheedy and John Wood. I wondered if AI could ever gain the decision-making capability to become powerful enough to decide the fate of humanity through nuclear warfare as depicted in the movie WarGames. So, I talked to Noah Healy, an expert in game theory, nuclear engineering, and economics to see how…

I talked to a geneticist about the plausibility of the genetic manipulation used by the Bene Gesserit order in the world of Dune. Please support my new podcast by subscribing through your favorite podcast app, liking, and commenting if you want me to keep doing more episodes of your favorite sci-fi concepts with experts: Watch on YouTube: https://w…

The Reality of Sci-Fi: I, Robot and the Future of AI" with Heidi Campo and Shon Harris** Hello, sci-fi enthusiasts! It's Heidi Campo here, and if you've ever been captivated by the futuristic world of I, Robot, you're in for a treat. Today, we dive deep into the realms of artificial intelligence, centralized systems, and the ethical implications of…

**Show Notes: "The Science Behind Jurassic Park" with Heidi Campo** Hello, fellow Sci-Fi enthusiasts! It's Heidi Campo, and today we're diving deep into the fascinating world of genetics, inspired by none other than the iconic movie, *Jurassic Park*. If you've ever sat on the edge of your seat, captivated by the idea of dinosaurs roaming the Earth …

SHOW NOTES: https://www.dplylemd.com/post/criminal-mischief-episode-55-victimology PAST SHOWS: https://www.dplylemd.com/podcasts THIS IS A COPYRIGHTED PODCAST SOLELY OWNED BY THE AUTHORS ON THE AIR GLOBAL RADIO NETWORK

Welcome to the official launch of Reality Check: The Science of Fiction. I'm your host, Heidi Campo, and I'm inviting you to join me on an exhilarating journey through space, time, science, and fiction. As a self-proclaimed sci-fi addict, I often find myself wondering about the plausibility of the concepts I see on screen. That curiosity sparked th…

SHOW NOTES: https://www.dplylemd.com/post/new-on-criminal-mischief-episode-54-15th-century-blood-transfusions

SHOW NOTES: https://www.dplylemd.com/post/criminal-mischief-episode-53-forensic-science-for-crime-writers-trace-evidence

An autopsy is a scientific procedure. Its purpose is to examine the corpse for evidence of the cause and manner of death. This is done through a gross and microscopic examination of the body as well as toxicological (drugs and poisons), serology (blood), and any other ancillary testing the ME deems necessary. SHOW NOTES: https://www.dplylemd.com/po…

SHOW NOTES: https://www.dplylemd.com/post/criminal-mischief-episode-51-forensic-science-for-crime-writers-evidence PAST SHOWS: https://www.dplylemd.com/podcasts Criminal Mischief on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Criminal-Mischief-The-Art-and-Science-of-Crime-Fiction-1796016797142678/ THIS IS A COPYRIGHTED PODCAST SOLELY OWNED BY THE AUTHORS ON…

This is a new series of podcasts that I’ve titled Forensics For Crime Writers. In it I will talk about various aspects of forensic science and how it might be used in crime fiction. The first episode deals with the coroner. Hope you find it useful. SHOW NOTES: https://www.dplylemd.com/post/criminal-mischief-episode-50-forensics-for-crime-writers-co…

SHOW NOTES: GOLDEN STATE KILLER: CBS News (4-22-17): https://www.cbsnews.com/news/golden-state-killer-connecting-the-dots-in-the-search-for-a-serial-predator/ Richmond University: https://jolt.richmond.edu/2019/10/30/familial-dna-testing-the-golden-state-killer-and-how-it-affects-you/ The Golden State Killer and DNA: https://dna-explained.com/2018/…

Poisons and drugs have been used as murder weapons for many centuries. Sometimes the poison itself does the killing and other times it simply facilities the use of another method. Here are three famous cases involving poisons and drugs. SHOW NOTES: http://www.dplylemd.com/criminal-mischief-notes/48-3-famous-poisoning-cases.html…

Amnesia has been a part of fiction for many years. Jason Bourne in The Bourne Identity is a classic example. The character was apparently based on the real-life case of Ansel Bourne, who in 1887 was likely the first documented case of amnesia. Even Agatha Christie suffered her own brush with amnesia—or maybe not. This one has been the source of arg…

Your opening scene carries a heavy load. It must hook the reader, introduce the story question—and often the protagonist/antagonist—-reveal the setting/story world, evoke emotion in the reader, and reveal the voice and tone of the story. That’s a lot of work, and pressure on the writer. Show Notes: http://www.dplylemd.com/criminal-mischief-notes/46…

SHOW NOTES:http://www.dplylemd.com/criminal-mischief-notes/45-carbon-monoxide.html PAST SHOWS: http://www.dplylemd.com/criminal-mischief.html From FORENSICS FOR DUMMIES: That Sneaky Carbon Monoxide Carbon monoxide is sneaky and deadly. When authorities find a suicide victim in her garage, sitting in a car with the engine running, they can usually c…

PAST SHOWS: http://www.dplylemd.com/criminal-mischief.html SHOW NOTES: http://www.dplylemd.com/criminal-mischief-notes/44-setting-as-character.html Can a story be set just anywhere? Some can, but most rely on the location and time period to underpin and amplify the story. In the best stories, setting becomes an essential character. Can you imagine …

In the criminal investigation or injuries or deaths from gunshot wounds (GWSs), the anatomy of the entry and exit wounds, particularly the former, can reveal the nature of the weapon, the bullet size and characteristics, and of great importance, the distance between the muzzle and the entry wound. This distance can be a game changer when distinguis…

“Prior bad acts predict future bad acts.”—Harper McCoy Fear grips an isolated mountain town after drug dealer Dalton Southwell kills a rogue dealer and his entire family. Score settled, message delivered. But, Dalton’s best-laid plans go awry when his brother Dennie takes a bullet in the gut. In a panic, Dr. Buck Buckner is kidnaped from the local …

My dear friend Gayle Lynds recently posted an excellent article on the Rogue Women Writers blog titled “10 Rules For Writing A Best-selling Thriller.” Gayle offers many useful insights every writer should take to heart. In this show I want to expand and offer my views on a few of her points. 10 Rules For Writing A Best-selling Thriller by Gayle Lyn…

Crime writers love poisons. Even those who write the more cozy variety. I mean, arsenic and old lace? Arsenic, the queen of poisons, is often used as are the opioids and amphetamines and a few others. But maybe you want to explore more uncommon, and deadly, options for your story. Some are easy to come by, others a bit more difficult but all have b…

Do Series Characters Change? A better question might be: Should series characters change? Go through some upheaval that arcs their life into uncharted waters? What is a character arc? Where does it come from? How do you create this in your fictional stories? More importantly, do you even need one?

Cops are cool, and memorable fictional characters, but P.I.s seem to come in more variable and quirkier flavors. From ex-military types to everyday folks with a knack for sniffing out wrongdoing to little old ladies with cats. The latter tend to be the smartest and toughest. This wide variety is what makes reading P.I. stories fun. Private investig…

Jake Longly is the protagonist of my series of comedic thrillers (DEEP SIX, A-LIST, SUNSHINE STATE, RIGGED).He’s an ex-professional baseball player. Pitcher for the Texas Rangers with an overpowering fastball. Until his rotator cuff injury ended his career. Then he purchased Captain Rocky’s, a bar/restaurant on the sand in Gulf Shores, Alabama. His…

Identifying skeletal remains is no easy task for the ME and the forensic anthropologist. SHOW NOTES: http://www.dplylemd.com/criminal-mischief-notes/36-identifying-skeletal.html PAST SHOWS: http://www.dplylemd.com/criminal-mischief.html

Most corpses that are the victims of foul play are easily identified because they’re found in familiar places and reported by folks who knew them. But those found in remote or odd places with no ID create problems for investigators. In these cases, identifying the corpse is a critical step in solving the case. SHOW NOTES: http://www.dplylemd.com/cr…

In the remote past, most poisoners favored botanical products such as hemlock, oleander, deadly nightshade, foxglove, hellebore, monkshood, opium, and many others. These were easily available and untraceable. More recently, various chemicals have been added to this long list of plant-based poisons, which has made the work of the toxicologist that m…

The biggest problem facing the toxicologist is that there are literally thousands of drugs and chemicals that are harmful, addictive, or lethal if ingested, injected, or inhaled. Some even absorb directly through the skin. Toxicological testing is time-consuming and expensive, and few, if any, labs can afford to perform such testing on every case. …

This is the first in a 3-part series on Forensic Toxicology LISTEN/SHOW NOTES: http://www.dplylemd.com/criminal-mischief-notes/32-toxicology-part-1.html Past Shows: http://www.dplylemd.com/criminal-mischief.html

Some criminals attempt to destroy corpses, the primary pieces of evidence in homicides. They think that if the police never find the body, they can’t be convicted. This isn’t true, since convictions have in many cases been obtained when no body is found. And destroying a body is no easy task.

If Locard’s Exchange Principle is the cornerstone of forensic science, evidence is the heart and soul of the crime lab. Indeed, evidence is the sole reason it exists. Without evidence, what would the lab do? Evidence is used to determine if a crime has been committed, to link a suspect to a scene, to corroborate or refute an alibi or statement, to …

SKIN IN THE GAME is the first story in my new Cain/Harper thriller series: Raised as siblings by an itinerant “gypsy” family, knife expert Bobby Cain, trained by the US military in the lethal art of covert eliminations, and Harper McCoy, nurtured by the US Navy and the CIA to run black ops and wage psychological warfare, are now civilians. Of a sor…

What is a MacGuffin? Since Alfred Hitchcock coined the term, his definition—such as it is—might be best: “The main thing I’ve learned over the years is that the MacGuffin is nothing. I’m convinced of this, but I find it difficult to prove it to others.”

By simply typing the blood at a crime scene, investigators narrow their suspect list and completely exonerate some suspects by using the population distribution information for the four ABO blood types.

Here’s the thing about the South—if you can’t tell a story, they won’t feed you. They’ll simply deposit you behind the barn and let you wither away. That doesn’t happen often because everyone down there can spin a yarn. Some better than others, but a story is a story. This is a rich tradition and congers up names like William Faulkner, James Dickey…

Let's take a stroll through the history of forensic science

Writers, particularly early in their careers, make mistakes. Often the same ones over and over. Here are a few pitfalls to avoid.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 50 years. Exactly 50 years. This show has nothing to do with crime writing or the science of crime. It is rather a step back in world history. And in my personal history. Yes, I was there. Inside the gates of the Cape Canaveral Space Center. July 16, 1969, 9:32 a.m. I remember it like it was yesterday. Please ind…

Too often, fiction writers commit medical malpractice in their stories. Unfortunately, these mistakes can sink an otherwise well-written story.

THE TERMINATOR just might be the perfect thriller. Here it is dissected scene by scene to see why.

What elements make a great thriller? Let's explore them.

From Publishers Weekly: In Lyle’s ingenious third mystery featuring retired major league pitcher Jake Longly (after 2017’s A-List), Jake, who runs a restaurant in Gulf Shores, Ala., is again roped into working for his father Ray’s PI firm. An attorney has contacted Ray on behalf of Billy Wayne Baker, a convicted serial killer. Though Baker pleaded …

Gunshot wounds (GSWs) come in many flavors and those to the chest can be particularly dicey. Yet, a chest GSW can be a minor flesh wound, a major traumatic event with significant damage, or deadly. If you have a character who suffers such an injury, this podcast is for you.