Physics of Superheroes

Was it the fall or the webbing that killed Gwen Stacy, Spider-Man's girlfriend in the classic Amazing Spider-Man #121? How does Kitty Pryde from the X-Men comics and movies use quantum mechanics to walk through walls? And who is really faster, Superman or the Flash? Join in the fun as we explore physics through comic book examples where the superheroes got their physics right!

James Kakalios, University of Minnesota

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[aidan50203]

1:01:21 does that voice sound like Stan Lee? Or is it just me...

[aidan50203]

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Physics of Superheroes by James Kakalios-...

Who says physics is boring?

[kingdomhearts3sora3]

Now I know why no one can lift thors hammer it was made from a dwarf star which means it weighs over 100,000 tons and the only way they could lift it was by odin's magic allowing the hammer to weightless to those who are worthy

[AngelousDusk]

I wish he was my physics teacher

[batthatisbat]

@ChalkiePerfect I agree with you. It's one thing to know physics; it's another to be able to apply it in situations that actually don't exist (which is relevant that happens in science all the times; crazy stuff happens and the scientist has to come up with a plausible explanation).

[TubiogPatrickFilm]

Science is fun again!

[ChalkiePerfect]

I love James Kakalios. He uses comics and pop-culture to illustrate scientific principles, but the applications are never strained like they are with some authors.

With Dr. Kakalios, you get the impression that his knowledge--both of physics and of comics and sci-fi B-movies--is so vast, that it's simple for him to find the perfect example of any scientific point he wants to make.

His books are the kind of science writing you read equally for the science and for the writing.

[HumanEvolution1]

Geeky lol



[AlienProgBass]

The coolest physicist on earth ! 

[PoopyBarfy]

This man needs an award!