Connections

An astrophysicist reviews "Project Hail Mary"

By Evan Dawson,

Megan Mack, Julie Williams

Published April 1, 2026 at 4:09 PM EDT

Two men wearing headphones sit at a table in a radio talk studio: a man at left has a bushy grey beard and is wearing a black baseball cap, eyeglasses, a blue button-down shirt and navy sweater vest; a man at right has very short dark hair and is wearing a black sweater with white stripes across the chest and sleeves. — Adam Frank with host Evan Dawson on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Wednesday, April 1, 2026

We're joined by astrophysicist Adam Frank, who reviews the hottest movie in the country, "Project Hail Mary."

Did the writers get the science right? How about the alien representation?

We go to the movies for a little break from reality.

Our guest:

Adam Frank, Ph.D., author and Helen F. and Fred H. Gowen Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester

Connections

Evan Dawson

Evan Dawson is the host of "Connections with Evan Dawson." He joined WXXI in January 2014 after working at 13WHAM-TV, where he served as morning news anchor. He was hired as a reporter for 13WHAM-TV in 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2007.

See stories by Evan Dawson

Megan Mack

Megan Mack is the executive producer of "Connections with Evan Dawson" and live/televised engagement programming.

See stories by Megan Mack

Julie Williams

Julie Williams is an associate producer for "Connections with Evan Dawson." She started at WXXI in 2019 and has been working on Connections since 2022.

See stories by Julie Williams