The Sonic Toolbox
- Description:
- Two hard core science fiction fans, the DW Geek Girls - Cheryl Lowe and Daisy Kaufman - talk about the science of Doctor Who, both real and fictional. Come along as we try to explain away the impossible physics and and bring you some relevant real world science, too. Not to mention the general Doctor Who love.
Homepage: http://thesonictoolbox.blogspot.com/
RSS Feed: http://sonictoolbox.libsyn.com/rss
- Episodes:
- 483
- Average Episode Duration:
- 0:1:04:34
- Longest Episode Duration:
- 0:3:06:41
- Total Duration of all Episodes:
- 21 days, 15 hours, 43 minutes and 31 seconds
- Earliest Episode:
- 30 April 2020 (11:55pm GMT)
- Latest Episode:
- 21 April 2019 (4:00pm GMT)
- Average Time Between Episodes:
- 5 days, 10 hours, 25 minutes and 38 seconds
The Sonic Toolbox Episodes
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Episode 49: Oh, Those Crazy Daleks
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds
Season/Series 7 has begun and we're reviewing the first episode "Asylum of the Daleks". We've also got a short review of it from our listener, Ian Kirk. Plus a tiny bit of news and some feedback.
Sorry this one's so long, we just got away from ourselves and became over excited about some points.
WARNING: May contain spoilers if you haven't seen this episode yet. So go watch it first.
Links:
Doctor Who in SFX
Pond Life (on BBC website, can be seen outside the UK)
Episode 49: Oh, Those Crazy Daleks
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Episode 48: Here There Be Dragons
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsWhile Cheryl is off to Atlanta and Dragon*Con,Daisy tries to hold down the fort. Cheryl has sent reports from the con and it sounds like she's having a great time.
Links:
Radio Times Doctor Who page
The Nerdist vs Doctor Who Bowling
Dragon*Con
Episode 48: Here There Be Dragons
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Epiode 47: So Much More Than Dancing
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsFinishing our two-parter, we review "The Doctor Dances". We also go off on all sorts of tangents examining the Doctor himself and his background and stuff. Plus a Gally guest announcement (with much wishing and hoping for other guests) and the answer to last week's trivia question.
Links:
Matt Smith was banned from dating his Doctor Who co-stars
Radio Times listing
Pond Life
WARNING: Rapid Rabbits
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Episode 46: It's All Jack's Fault
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsYep, if it wasn't for Captain Jack Harkness trying to pull a con on the Doctor "The Empty Child" would never have happened. Good thing he did, 'cause we're reviewing it this week. We've also got Dalaks in the news and John from North Bend gives us a really good trivia question.
All this and Moonlight Serenade!
WARNING: Rapid Rabids
Links:
Moonlight Serenade lyrics
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Episode 45: Quantum Quantum Quantum
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsDaisy aggravates Cheryl again by talking quantum physics as we discuss psychic paper, Ood translation spheres and transmat beams. And Gally is in our news with the second block of guests announced this past week.
Next week we're reviewing The Empty Child. This is a ninth Doctor story and can be streamed for free if you are an Amazon Prime member, or seen on DVD (buy it or rent it on Netflix).
WARNING: Rapid Rabbits
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Episode 44: It's Just a Fantasy
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsWe're reviewing the 2nd Doctor story "The Mind Robber" this week. There's also a little bit of news (it's been a slow week) and some feedback. And LOTS of rabbit chasing.
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Episode 43: Leggo my Opolis
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsBlock Transfer Computations, quantum particle theory and Mentats. The question of the week is "How is Logopolis doing what it does?" We also have lots of news and some feedback.
Next week we're reviewing the Second Doctor story "The Mind Robber". If you don't already own it it can be streamed on Amazon Instant Video (free for Prime Members) or at the following links:
The Mind Robber on YouTube
The Mind Robber on DailyMotion
Some other links we promised:
Sonic Screwdriver at ThinkGeek.com
Matt and Karen about the leaving of the Ponds
WARNING: Rapid Rabbits
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Episode 42: 42
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds42 42 42 We are reviewing the 10th Doctor episode "42". It's a Martha one, but a non-Martha-in-love-with-the-Doctor one.
There is also lots of news and we're introducing a new feature - feedback! Instead of waiting to read feedback (like we did for the last episode) we're going to have it at the end of every episode, so it doesn't go stale. Nothing worse than stale feedback...except maybe a stale bagel.
WARNING: Lots of Rapid Rabbits
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Episode 41: So You Say
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsCheryl couldn't be here this week, so Daisy tackles talking all by herself. So...FEEDBACK! We've had a little bit of feedback built up over the last few months which Daisy plays and reads for you.
Talk to us:
thesonictoolbox@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/thesonictoolbox
@thesonictoolbox
http://thesonictoolbox.blogspot.com/
Also, find us on iTunes (we really need reviews there).
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Episode 40: Happiness Will Prevail
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsKeep smiling, you don't want anyone to think you're a Killjoy, cause then the Kandy Man will come in the night and give you a Fondant Surprise. Ah, yes. This week we are reviewing that wonderful Seventh Doctor story "The Happiness Patrol".
We've also got some news. We forget to wish Jon Pertwee a Happy Birthday. And be warned, we talk about clowns.
That's Bertie Bassett pictured there. We can see why Bassett's Candy got upset. Here's some of the candy that actually made up the Kandy Man:
You can see his head there at the bottom, and his bottom in the middle.
"The Happiness Patrol" can be streamed on YouTube or DailyMotion. It's also out on DVD if you're a completionist.
WARNING: Rapid Rabits
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Episode 39: Like You, But More Silver
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsThis week we discuss the Fifth Doctor companion, Kameleon. We talk about both the on screen character and the actual robot. If you've never heard of Kameleon, check out the stories "The King's Daemons" and "Planet of Fire", the only two stories that Kameleon appears in.
We also have a non-spoilery review of the new movie "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" because we both loved the it so much.
All that and news, too!
Links:
"Kameleon - Metal Man" The featurette on "The King's Daemons"
Honda's page on ASIMO
WARNING: Rapid Rabbits
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Episode 38: Dining with Monsters
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsWelcome to Boom Town! No Bob Geldof here, just a funny, well written tying-up-of-ends for the Slitheen. And we talk about it! And we talk about other stuff (big surprise). Listen...enjoy.
Episode 38: Dining with Monsters
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Oops. Forgot this important link
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsSorry, forgot to post this important link that we talked about in the news segment in Ep. 37.
Not Another Happy Ending. A charming, romantic, indie comedy starring Karen Gillan.
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Episode 37: Whoa there, Bessie!
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsShe was the Doctor's first car. And like the tinkerer he is, he couldn't help but make some modifications. He called it her Super Drive. It was actually a minimum inertia hyperdrive. We're discussing it, and other interesting aspects of Bessie in this episode.
Links
Wikipedia: List of words having different meanings in British and American English: A-L
List of words having different meanings in British and American English: M-Z
Episode 37: Whoa there, Bessie!
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Episode 36: Watery Warriors
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsSilurians and Sea Devils, the Murka, Tegan and Turlough...we have something to say about them all. If you hadn't guessed, we're reviewing "Warriors of the Deep" this week. And if you haven't seen it yet, it is available to purchase on DVD or you can find it to stream on DailyMotion.
This is something we talk about in the episode:
Original Sea Devil gun
New version of old gun
Episode 36: Watery Warriors
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Episode 35: Let Zygons Be Zygons
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsZygons, Zygons everywhere and not a...well, never mind. Zygons are talked about here. Their evolution, their symbiotic relationship to things, their technology. And while we do refer "Terror of the Zygons" we don't give any spoilers as to plot or details into events. But, if you can, stream it online or get it when it comes on DVD. We're sure we'll be reviewing it eventually.
Speaking of reviewing stories, your assignment for this week is to watch "Waters of the Deep", the 5th Doctor story. We'll be reviewing it next week.
Warning: Big rabbits this week.
Episode 35: Let Zygons Be Zygons
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Episode 34: The Leadworth Affair
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsWherein we review Matt Smith's first foray as the Doctor in The Eleventh Hour. We also delve into those deep questions that arise within the story: what is it like to grow up in a small town, what did Prisoner Zero do to wind up in a maximum security prison, and what's up with Matt Smith's eye sockets?
All this and some timey wimey news for you to enjoy.
WARNING: Rapid Rabbits (and lots of them)
Episode 34: The Leadworth Affair
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Episode 33: The Man from Trion Affair
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsHe's ginger. He's cute. He shouldn't be trusted too far. Or so goes popular opinion. This week Cheryl and Daisy discuss the Doctor's last non-human companion, Vislor Turlough.
We'll post the Gotya video that Daisy mentions on our Facebook page.
Don't forget to go to DailyMotion to stream The Eleventh Hour (that we're reviewing next week) if you haven't any other way of watching it.
Warning: Glee spoilers (for those who watch Glee but haven't seen the last few episodes)
Also Warning: Rapid Rabbits
Episode 33: The Man from Trion Affair
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Episode 32: Cricket Anyone?
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsIt's the Doctor...playing Cricket! It's Adric...eating! It's us...reviewing "Black Orchid"! This week you find out why this story is Daisy's all time favorite.
If you haven't see it yet, go here to stream it:
Dailymotion: Black Orchid part 1
Warning: Contains yarn.
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Episode 31: What Did You Say?
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsIt's feedback time again! So we dug into our email and Facebook and blog comments and read or played them just for you.
And yet...we still managed to find a way to rabbit chase. Enjoy!
Taras's links about flat speakers:
Engadget
Audioholics
Leave feedback here or in the following places:
Facebook
thesonictoolbox@gmail.com
On Twitter as @thesonictoolbox
Don't for get to go to iTunes to leave a rating and a review! Help us get noticed!!
Episode 31: What Did You Say?
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Episode 30: Martha, Martha, Martha
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsOtherwise known as "Martha goes Stupid". We review the first Martha Jones episode "Smith and Jones" in which RTD takes what started out as an intelligent, independent, career minded woman and turns her into a husband seeking drone. And Judoon. A platoon of Judoon on the moon.
Note: The episode of M*A*S*H Daisy mentions is "Point of View".
Nicola Tesla invented AC current. Thomas Edison invented DC. See Links for a cool article on their rivalry.
Links:
Tesla unit of measurement
The Current War
Episode 30: Martha, Martha, Martha
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Episode 29: Adam and Jamie Aren't Here
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsTime windows. Time portals. Going from a spaceship in the 51st century to France in the 18th century. We're talking all about how we think this can be. And a whole lot of other stuff.
While we're talking about something from The Girl in the Fireplace, you don't need to have seen it to listen. There are no spoilers that weren't in the promos or the blurbs about this story. We give away no plot points or any real details about what goes on. Anything we do talk about is rather vague.
Next week, however, we will be reviewing Smith and Jones. It can be found for streaming on Amazon, free for Prime members and $1.99 for non-Prime. Link below.
WARNING: Contains rabbit chasing.
Links:
Amazon for "Smith and Jones"
Quantum Foam (Wikipedia entry)
Stephan Hawking on Quantum Foam and other spacetime stuff.
Musical Building
Episode 29: Adam and Jamie Aren't Here
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Episode 28: Cyber Revengers
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsSo we watched Revenge of the Cybermen, the 1977 return of the Cybermen. Now we review it. Just remember, it's Vogans not Vogons.
Spoilers abound if you haven't seen this one yet. It's on DVD, so go watch it first.
Warning: Contains rabbit chasing
Links:
TARDIS Index File pages
Voga, the Planet of Gold
Nerva Beacon
Wookey Hole Caves
Wookey Hole Caves official site
Episode 28: Cyber Revengers
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Episode 27: Chasing Rabbits thru Time
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsThere's a lot of time traveling going on out there. We're talking about lots of other shows that use a means of travel similar to the Time Vortex, and compare and contrast against those that use other means.
And we give you LOTS of rabbits for Easter.
WARNING: Contains rabbit chasing.
Links:
TARDIS Wiki on the Time Vortex
NASA on the space/time vortex
List of Time Travel TV shows
Episode 27: Chasing Rabbits thru Time
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Episode 26: French Fries of Doom
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsTeachers eating kids, promoting bad nutrition and trying to take over the Universe. Sounds like a typical day of high school to us. We review "School Reunion". And there's science, too! Universe comprehending science!! Cool science, check out the links below.
As ever, there are spoilers rampant in this episode.
WARNING: Contains rabbit chasing.
Links:
The God Particle (Higgs boson, not the Richard Dawkins book.)
NPR story
CERN Higgs page
Skasis Paradigm on TARDIS Wiki
Universal Theory
Episode 26: French Fries of Doom
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Episode 25: Bits of Rassilon
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsHoo boy, did Rassilon leave a bunch of stuff behind. This man was busy inventing stuff and we talk about what it all does. From the Rod to the Great Key to the Coronet and it's Cranberries, we discuss them all.
Links:
Dreamsinger Harps - I've known a few people who play their harps. Lovely craftsmanship.
Watch "School Reunion" to prepare for next week. Links to get it:
Walmart
Amazon Instant Watch Free if you're a Prime Member.
iTunes Episode 4.
Episode 25: Bits of Rassilon
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Episode 24: Dr. Thaskalos Does it Again
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsA review of "The Time Monster". We loved it! We gush and go on. We also discover many topics for discussion in future episodes.
WARNING: Contains rabbit chasing.
Thaskalos means master teacher in sports.
http://concordances.org/greek/1320.htm
didaskalos: an instructor
Original Word: didaskalos, ou, o
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: didaskalos
Phonetic Spelling: (did-as'-kal-os)
Short Definition: a teacher
Definition: a teacher, master.
Cognate: 1320 didaskalos (a masculine noun derived from 1321 /didasko, "to teach") - a teacher, an instructor acknowledged for their mastery in their field of learning; in Scripture, a Bible teacher, competent in theology. See 1319 (didaskalia).
Kepler-22b
GJ-667Cc
Episode 24: Dr. Thaskalos Does it Again
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"Goodbye Sarah Jane" by Juli Dunn
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsGoodbye Sarah Jane
As The Doctor approached the dreary funeral parlour, he felt a growing unease. This couldn't be real - could it? His Sarah Jane - gone? His mind rebelled against the despair. Taking a deep breath, he pushed against the heavy glass doors and passed through. As The Doctor walked into the room, Luke lifted his sweet face and looked at him sadly. A moment of wild hopefulness filled his eyes. A pleading look that sent a shock of pain through The Doctor's hearts.
Couldn't you, Luke said in eloquent silence, with your command of time and space and past and destiny, couldn't you save her?
The Doctor wanted to put on his brightest smile, shout "OF COURSE I CAN!" and dash out to save his friend. But he couldn't, not without causing dire consequences to the time line. He knew it and hated it. His thoughts must have shown in his eyes because the wild look on Luke's face softened to a kind of tired resignation and he turned away from The Doctor shifting his gaze to the coffin where his mother lay.
The Doctor followed Luke's eyes and a pang went through the new wound. There she lay, the undertaker's lurid makeup attempting to bring a look of life to the death-stiffened face. She didn't deserve this. This mundane ending to such a glorious life wasn't right. What was it? A car accident? An illness? Numbed by the news, The Doctor understood nothing of Mr. Smith's Message beyond "Sarah Jane is dead." The circumstances, the details, what were they? He couldn't think straight. He'd spent so much of his lives interacting with famous people, the details of their lives and their deaths known to him by rote, he'd never been so shocked. He thought of all the friends he had lost in the heat of battle. Their deaths were shocking and saddening but nothing like this. Not so unexpected.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw two little red pinpoints that announced K9's presence. There was something more to this loss. He sensed there had to be and as K9 moved toward the door, The Doctor followed. He would find an answer to give him peace.
Luke sat alone at the graveside. He wasn't alone. not really, but he felt alone. She wasn't there. Never would she be there again. The pain of loss was almost unbearable and tears stung his eyes. He didn't want to cry. Didn't want to look like a child unable to cope with sadness. He wanted to look like an adult today. But he didn't feel like one. He felt like a scared child, who wanted his mummy.
Soft but determined footsteps sounded behind him and he turned to look. The Doctor marched down the aisle, a strangely coloured flower clasped between his fingers. He stopped in front of the yet open grave and, leaning forward, let the flower drop silently on to the casket. His mouth moved as if he were saying something and Luke strained to hear his words.
"It's taken care of. Rest in peace, old friend."
The Doctor stood, started to turn away, hesitated and then said, "Goodbye, my Sarah Jane." his voice cracked a little as he said this. Turning, He looked at Luke. With tears in his eyes, he flashed the boy a rueful smile and ruffled his hair a little before striding silently away.
He didn't stay, thought Luke, but not with any surprise. He never stays.
As Luke watched The Doctor leave, he noticed all the friends who had taken the time to be there. Mickey and Martha were there and Jack and dozens of other people who had been touched by Sarah Jane's life and work. And they were all weeping. Even Rani's father's stern countenance was streaked with silent tears. The wellspring bubbled over in Luke's heart and the tears came fast and unhindered. He buried his face in his hands and sobs wracked his body. He felt Rani and Clyde's arms enclose an affectionate circle about him. He wasn't alone. He knew it now. And it was O.K. to be sad. He thought of the tears in The Doctor's eyes and could even fancy his grief a manly one.
After the funeral, as people stood quietly conversing in Luke and Sarah Jane's house, Luke sat alone in the loft, Mr. Smith open but silent before him. Luke's eyes strayed around the room, drinking in everything. Every picture and artifact was precious to him now, beyond price. He thought about The Doctor.
I wonder what he meant by 'It's taken care of.' Someday he would ask him. But not today. Not now.
Sarah Jane wouldn't want him to grieve forever. She had always seen the gleam of a bright future for him. He would do amazing things with his life. But not now. This day wasn't one for brave adventures in space and time. It wasn't a day for looking forward. That was what tomorrow was for. Today was for her for looking back and for reminiscing. For grieving one so well remembered and loved. Today was a day for saying goodbye. And so they did. Each in his or her own way, with honour, gratitude, and love.
All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from author.
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Episode 23: The Eyes of Rassilon
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsThe Eye of Harmony is a strange and curious thing, or things. We attempt to dissect it and interpret what we've read about how it works. Not an easy thing to do. If Rassilon and Omega were engineers here on Earth, we'd all be in big trouble.
Plus feedback!
Links:
The Whoniverse on The Eye of Harmony
Episode 23: The Eyes of Rassilon
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Episode 22: Illness Takes It's Toll
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsCheryl has called in sick. Since we are a true team effort, this winds up to be a rather short episode. So sorry, but Cheryl should be back next week and we promise a deep, meaningful, crazy episode.
Matt Smith on Top Gear
Episode 22: Illness Takes It's Toll
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Episode 21: Gallifrey One 2012 Review Main Course
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsGallifrey One Network 23 is over. What did we like? What did we love? What ribbons did we collect? Highlights and fun reviewed within!
Gally One Review
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Gallifrey One Review Appitizer (sorry so late)
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsAck! Sorry this is several days late, but we had technical difficulties posting anything from the hotel down in LA. I (Daisy) just got home in the wee hours this morning. It's all a bit raw, but look at is as guerrilla podcasting.
We had a wonderful time at Gally this year. Made a lot of new friends and missed a lot of panels that we wanted to see. This mini-episode is just a taste of the review we will be doing in our regularly scheduled time slot.
Once again, sorry for the delay. I hope to get better equipment for next year.
A very late mini episode:
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Episode 20: Pre-Gally Extravaganza
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds
Gallifrey One is almost here! In celebration we take a look at the schedule and other happenings and meet-ups at the con. And seeing as how this year we have a 1996 movie cast reunion, we do a brief review and then treat you to our commentary of said movie.
Warning: we do rabbit chase a bit, but it's all relevant to the subject at hand (as opposed to our usual rabbit chasing).
Enjoy and see you at Gally!
Episode 20: Pre-Gally Extravaganza
