Paul Stamets
publication date: Wednesday, February 10, 2021 (part of Winter 2021)
category: 
Science
clue: This mycologist's input as a consultant was so invaluable to TV writers that wanted their ship to exceed warp speed by traversing an interstellar mycelial network that they named an astromycologist after him in gratitude.
explanation: Stamets inspired the name of Paul Stamets on Star Trek: Discovery. more…
intended difficulty: medium
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Erik Bates, Aaron Shurtleff, Ruth Cichoski, and Alexis Andino
Sci-Fi Namesakes: Science fiction is a genre of ideas, and the best ideas are the ones connected to reality. This two-week theme presents 14 real-life people who inspired the names of characters in sci-fi TV shows, including shows with fantastical elements not normally considered sci-fi. Dr. Who, I presume?Similar Goos
Albert Einstein
This physicist so profoundly advanced our understanding of the universe that it's possible to imagine aliens someday visiting our nation. Go »
Jack Parsons
A pioneer of rocket science, this loon was head of a cult church and had his money and girlfriend stolen by a Scientologist bigwig. Go »
Syd Barrett
Pink Floyd's original frontman shocked legions of fans when he was fired for the band for schizophrenic illness, a topic that might make for an interesting show set in the world of the X-Men. Go »
John Locke
This English philosopher is known for developing the theory of empiricism and connecting consciousness to the notion of self, not for getting lost on a mysterious tropical island with his wheelchair after a plane crash. Go »
John F. Kennedy
His assassination in November 1963 birthed many conspiracy theories about lone gunmen, and one lone gunman was literally birthed on the same day. Go »
