The new film Dune Part 2 takes us to the desert planet Aracas, but could a real planet

Iraqis exist somewhere?

I keep thinking to myself, huh, you know, is that real? What exactly is right here? What are they getting slightly off? But it's all in good fun.

It's Monday, March 11th. You're listening to Science Friday. I'm Scifry producer Charles Bergquist.

This weekend, Science won big at the Oscars,

with Oppenheimer taking home seven awards,

including Best Picture, and Best Actor for

Killian Murphy and his portrayal of The Father of the Atomic Bomb.

And even though Oscar's Weekend is over, we've still got movies on our minds.

So today a Cy-Fry triple feature.

First up, Dune Part 2, then a new documentary on The Mental Health of Astronauts.

And what, 65, the film starring Adam Driver got

right and wrong about finding life on alien worlds. Here's Ira Flato. Our first

feature though is the Block Dune part two and as you may know from the book and the movie the story takes place on the planet called Aracas.

My lord Duke, welcome to Aracis. A scorching hot world covered in what

else but dunes that are homes to giant deadly sandworms.

You wouldn't want to go down out there.

It's weren't territory.

Could there be a real planet that resembles Aracas? And if so, could it sustain life?

Here to talk about that is Dr. Mike Wong, astrobiologist and planetary sciences at the Carnegie Institute for Science in Washington, D.C.

Welcome back to Science Friday.

Hey, Ira, it's great to be here.

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