{"id":7028,"date":"2026-02-18T08:36:38","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T13:36:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chuckchat.com\/technorama\/?p=7028"},"modified":"2026-02-18T08:36:38","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T13:36:38","slug":"episode-798-phasers-on-maybe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chuckchat.com\/technorama\/2026\/02\/18\/episode-798-phasers-on-maybe\/","title":{"rendered":"Episode 798: Phasers on &#8216;Maybe&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Episode 798\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wpCoueolIZY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Listen below with the audio player or <a href=\"https:\/\/wp.me\/pe53l-1Pm\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/wp.me\/pe53l-1Pm\">Click Here<\/a> for complete show notes and video from the show.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_7422\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-7028-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/technorama\/www.chuckchat.com\/media\/technorama\/Tech_Ep798_260218.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/technorama\/www.chuckchat.com\/media\/technorama\/Tech_Ep798_260218.mp3\">https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/technorama\/www.chuckchat.com\/media\/technorama\/Tech_Ep798_260218.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1px !important;\">Podcast: <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/technorama\/www.chuckchat.com\/media\/technorama\/Tech_Ep798_260218.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"Tech_Ep798_260218.mp3\">Download<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Feedback<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>QOTW: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/technoramapodcast\/posts\/pfbid028ro6ekXGcZrxBCwbKANG1mmuEDZUgCEmY7jb5L3PKb8E3QNvRXkjSjAa1k7gDmdGl\">If you were one of the four astronauts on Artemis II, looking back at the Earth, what is the one thing from home you\u2019d realize you completely forgot to pack?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/discord.com\/channels\/455731709984636958\/1470413040225882184\">Question-of-the-week | Technorama Podcast<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>On This Day In History for February 18, 2026<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 323 days remaining in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was on this date in 1584, that a naval expedition led by Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa founded Nombre de Jes\u00fas, the first of two short-lived Spanish settlements in the Strait of Magellan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jesse Fell burned anthracite on an open grate as an experiment in heating homes with coal. on this date in 1808.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Also today in 1826, University College London was founded as University of London.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>BBC Television produced the world&#8217;s first ever science fiction television programme, an adaptation of a section of the Karel \u010capek play R.U.R., that coined the term &#8220;robot&#8221; on this date in 1938.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Also on February 11, 1963, The Beatles recorded their first album Please Please Me.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>That same date in 1997, Space Shuttle Discovery was launched on a mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was on this date in 1999, that Pluto crossed Neptune&#8217;s orbit, ending a nearly 20 -year period when it was closer to the Sun than the gas giant; Pluto is not expected to interact with Neptune&#8217;s orbit again until 2231.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>That same date in 2000, Space Shuttle Endeavour was launched on STS-99 to conduct the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was on this date in 2001, that A Dutch programmer launched the Anna Kournikova virus infecting millions of emails via a trick photo of the tennis star.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Also today in 2020, The World Health Organization officially names the coronavirus outbreak as COVID-19, with the virus being designated SARS-CoV-2.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Happy birthday goes out on this date to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Native American-French Canadian explorer, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, born on this date in 1805.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>American physicist, Josiah Willard Gibbs was born 187 years ago today.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thomas Edison, the American engineer and businessman, developed the light bulb and phonograph was born 179 years ago today.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Born February 11, 1864, French chemist Louis Bouveault.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hungarian-American physicist and academic, Leo Szilard was born 128 years ago today.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Born February 11, 1917, American author and screenwriter Sidney Sheldon.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>American actor and director, Burt Reynolds, born on this date in 1936.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The first CEO of Apple Inc., Michael Scott is 81 today.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>American engineer and astronaut, Richard Mastracchio, born on this date in 1960.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Listener Birthdays<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>18 &#8211; Hot John Miller of MegaPodTastic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>18 &#8211; Ray Insalaco<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>19 &#8211; Scooter in Connecticut<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>19 &#8211; Steve in Sumter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>19 &#8211; Steve Cody(Columbia, SC)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>23 &#8211; Zhadum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>23 &#8211; Keith Hughes(a.k.a. EdGizmo)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>25 &#8211; Norbert<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>25 &#8211; Sandi Sheppard (Mark&#8217;s lovely wife)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>28 &#8211; Wayne &#8220;Your Ad Here&#8221; Pittenger<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>29 &#8211; Paul Dove a.k.a Eilmer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And that\u2019s the way it was, on this day in history for February 18, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you want to get on the Technorama Birthday Calendar, visit our website and look for the <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSenNyl8MEsC_eVDvCerLe8wNvhgtjg2d7F0Yj0IFYl4dOU2uA\/viewform\">Birthday Calendar<\/a> link.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>News<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/14\/us-news\/obama-says-aliens-are-real-but-i-havent-seen-them-in-out-there-new-interview\/\">Barack Obama says aliens are &#8216;real, but I haven&#8217;t seen them&#8217; in out-there new interview<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kbtx.com\/2026\/02\/12\/woman-sentenced-accusing-her-estranged-spouse-illegally-accessing-bank-account-outer-space\/\">Woman sentenced for accusing her estranged spouse of illegally accessing bank account from outer space<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1973188\">Astronomers puzzle over \u2018inside out\u2019 planetary system &#8211; World &#8211; <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/dawn.com\">DAWN.COM<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/futurism.com\/space\/nasa-biological-explanations-rover-mars\">NASA Running Out of Non-Life Explanations for What Its Rover Found on Mars<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Hacks &amp; Strange Stories<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Chuck\u2019s new media controller<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Shout out to the chat room<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Watch us live every Sunday night at 8:30PM ET on Facebook. Go to Join our page and get notified automatically. Join us on the live chat!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Remember When<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/imagine5.com\/gallery\/the-future-as-seen-from-the-past\/\">Future predictionsb from the past | Did they remain fantasy?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Thank you Patrons!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This show is brought to you by\u2026 YOU! Thank you to our Patrons who enable us to keep the show running and bring you special episodes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Commander<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>Avner Braverman<\/td><td>Mark Kilfoil<\/td><td>Stewe Lundin<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chris Martinez<\/td><td>Gary Lindros<\/td><td>Jason Pollard<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sarah Rose<\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lieutenant<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>Kyle Nishioka<\/td><td>Ben Vaughan<\/td><td>John Noble<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>John Clifford<\/td><td>Denise Inglis<\/td><td>Steve Cody<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Tim Cook<\/td><td>Steve Webb<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ensign<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>Alexis Duran<\/td><td>Amber Elstad<\/td><td>Amy Bowen<\/td><td>Brad Miller<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Brian Brown<\/td><td>Chris Mc<\/td><td>DanDMan Coyer<\/td><td>Dean Jensen<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Jorge Schrauwen<\/td><td>Krazy Joe<\/td><td>Mike Wills<\/td><td>Leon<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>M<\/td><td>Saturday Morning Media<\/td><td>Stephen Wesche<\/td><td>Steve Therrien<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sylvain Racicot<\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to become a patron, visit our<a href=\"https:\/\/patreon.com\/technoramapodcast\"> Patreon Page<\/a>. We\u2019ve got various levels of donations and in return we have various patron packages including a special \u201cafter show\u201d we record just for the patrons!<a href=\"https:\/\/patreon.com\/technoramapodcast\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/chuckchat.com\/patreon\">chuckchat.com\/patreon<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pass me the remote<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Chuck\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection (Audible)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ocotillo Dreams (Hardcover)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RED (Plex)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jekyll and Hyde (Netflix)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kreg\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>E.T. (Roku)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Question of the week<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What is the most &#8216;high-tech&#8217; piece of equipment you own that you still have to &#8216;fix&#8217; by hitting it, shaking it, or blowing on it?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>End of Show Stuff<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>We appreciate your support. If you like the show, there are many ways to show your love:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visit our <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chuckchat.com\/technorama\/amazon\">Amazon page<\/a> for recommended books, toys, and other fun stuff!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Call the Listener Line: 707-530-CHAT(2428)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Email at technorama@chuckchat.com<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We are on the Social Interwebs\u2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Search for <strong>Technorama Podcast<\/strong> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/technoramapodcast\/\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/technorama\">Twitter<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/technorama.bsky.social\">Bsky<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/TechnoramaPodcast\">YouTube<\/a>, etc<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can also find us on <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/02YzW1N2Chu18SzZESlx77?si=Is-SiQtmRvmc6Boc2p4FeA\">Spotify<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/technorama\/id73801588\">Apple Podcasts<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Join our new Discord at <a href=\"https:\/\/chuckchat.com\/discord\">chuckchat.com\/discord<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You can help support us:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How about a donation to the tip jar: one time or monthly micropayment on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chuckchat.com\/patreon\">Patreon<\/a>!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Links to the articles and items referenced in the show can be found on our website<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chuckchat.com\/\">www.chuckchat.com<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Also Thanks to<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Everyone who sent us links during the week<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Those who joined us to watch live on Facebook!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You, for downloading and listening<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell a friend about Technorama and&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>binary high five<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen below with the audio player or Click Here for complete show notes and video from the show. https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/technorama\/www.chuckchat.com\/media\/technorama\/Tech_Ep798_260218.mp3 Podcast: Download<\/p>\n<div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_7424\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-7028-3\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/technorama\/www.chuckchat.com\/media\/technorama\/Tech_Ep798_260218.mp3?_=3\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/technorama\/www.chuckchat.com\/media\/technorama\/Tech_Ep798_260218.mp3\">https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/technorama\/www.chuckchat.com\/media\/technorama\/Tech_Ep798_260218.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1px !important;\">Podcast: <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/technorama\/www.chuckchat.com\/media\/technorama\/Tech_Ep798_260218.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"Tech_Ep798_260218.mp3\">Download<\/a><\/p><!--powerpress_player-->","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7028","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shows"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pe53l-1Pm","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chuckchat.com\/technorama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7028","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chuckchat.com\/technorama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chuckchat.com\/technorama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chuckchat.com\/technorama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chuckchat.com\/technorama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7028"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.chuckchat.com\/technorama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7028\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7029,"href":"https:\/\/www.chuckchat.com\/technorama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7028\/revisions\/7029"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chuckchat.com\/technorama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7028"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chuckchat.com\/technorama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7028"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chuckchat.com\/technorama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7028"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}