The Physics of Superheroes Goes Hollywood: An All-New Exploration of the Real Science of the Multiverse, the Quantum Realm,and Everything In Between [Hardcover]

Discover the surprisingly real physics at work within some of the most popular superhero movies and tv shows

The multiverse and the quantum realm are fictional plot devices made popular by some of our favorite superheroes. But what if science-fiction may actually be science-fact?

The truth is that many of the fantastical elements we see on the screen are based in real science. And in The Physics of Superheroes: Hollywood Edition, acclaimed physics professor and superhero nerd James Kakalios explains it all. From Spider-Man's webbing and Black Panther's kinetic suit to Superman's time-traveling speed and Captain Cold's cold gun (not a freeze gun!), there is plenty to learn about the real-life scientific advances that inspired the famous feats of our favorite heroes. Fearless readers will embark on a journey to discover the Theory of General Relativity, quantum chemistry, multiverse theory (both parallel and bubble varieties), and more, while fully immersed in the most popular cinematic universes of our time.

Prepare to get educated in the nerdiest way possible. Superheroes aren't actually real, but physics definitely is. By asking how ideas from superhero stories can be related to real concepts in physics, we both learn a little science and appreciate the stories a little better. And when the explanations are offered by a writer as entertaining as Jim Kakalios, anyone can enjoy the wild ride.

--Sean Carroll, author of The Biggest Ideas in the Universe


The Physics of Superheroes Goes Hollywood offers a thrilling excursion to the very extremes of physical reality—from the tiniest quantum scales to the vast frontiers of the cosmos—accompanied by the superpowered champions of modern cinema. With an encyclopedic knowledge of the history and abilities ol¢