Did you know that it's possible for Superman to actually fly? Maybe you think about the actual possibility of a man being able to run as fast as the Flash. Well, James Kakalios' book, The Physics of Superheroes, explains everything from the very famous Superman to the more infamous Melter. In this book, he describes how comic book writers for Marvel and DC Comics actually use scientific laws and mathematical equations when describing and writing their comics and characters.
In the first two chapters, Mr. Kakalios describes Superman and how it is scientifically possible for him to have the superpowers and abilities he does. For example, many of his powers are based on the fact that Earth's gravity is much less powerful than that of Krypton, his home planet. Also, the fact that Earth revolves around a yellow sun, rather than Krypton's red sun, is what allows him to bend steel with his bare hands; but, this ability is one of the effects of the Earth's special atmosphere. Here, Mr. Kakalios also describes how Krypton is able to have a gravity that is 15 times as strong as the one on Earth. This is possible because although no normal matter can have a density of 75 grams per centimeter cubed on a planet of Krypton's size and force of gravity, exotic matter can create these conditions. Astronauts have found samples of this type of exotic matter; thus, if Krypton was the same size of Earth, but had a core of such matter, its density would be 75 grams per centimeter cubed, and its gravity would be 15 times as powerful as Earth's. Having a core of such dense material would also lead to the creation of the matter of a neutron star, which would place massive strains on Krypton's surface, eventually causing the planet to explode; this proves Superman's story to be completely possible.
This is just an example of one of the many characters that Mr. Kakalios explains in his novel. In the later chapters, he discusses the Incredible Hulk, Spiderman, the Flash, Ant Man, Iron Man, and many more. He uses the three laws of thermodynamics, thermal conductivity, Newton's laws of motion, light and its laws, and energy in general to describe how characters received and sustained their powers and abilities.
In comparison to the other scientific books that I've read, this is one of the best. Out of a possible five stars, I would rate the novel with four and a half. It made comic book characters seem more realistic. The scientific facts used to prove the possibility of the characters actually being able to exist were very interesting and helped me learn more about the characters themselves and about science in general. I would recommend this book to anyone who really loves science and is interested in reading stories that prove things true that were previously seen as only a fantasy.
It is very interesting how physics and certain factors of science can really show how a super heros story can potentially be true with the sun and how krypton was destroyed by it.
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