Physics of the Impossible
 |
This article may not meet the notability guideline for books. Please help to establish notability by adding reliable, secondary sources about the topic. If notability cannot be established, the article is likely to be merged or deleted. (August 2008) |
Physics of the Impossible, by physicist and futurist Dr. Michio Kaku, is a nonfiction book exploring the theoretical physics of topics typically constrained to science fiction. In Physics of the Impossible, Dr. Kaku explains how notions such as telepathy and intergalactic travel may become not only practical, but even commonplace. His book further blurs the line between reality and science fiction, looking far ahead into a technologically advanced but scientifically sound version of the future.
Background
As a child, Dr. Kaku was immersed early on in the world of science fiction from its omnipresence in much popular culture. Inspired by shows like Flash Gordon, he soon realized that although the protagonist was always triumphant over whatever new evil emerged, the series had no premise without the scientist. Science always underlined and strengthened the plot; in his words, "without science, there is no science fiction." But reality insisted that science fiction was just that- fiction, nothing more than quips at the impossible. In order to further his fascination with the impossible, he decided that physics and mathematics were the best choices for study. Without a background in physics, he might end up knowing if the seemingly impossible was or could be remotely real. Through hard work and dedication, his dream was realized, as he earned a scholarship to Harvard and pursued the study which he loved. He further notes that the impossible is often relative, as what was impossible a hundred or thousand years ago may be commonplace today. The supposed impossible has been proven true several times within Dr. Kaku's own lifetime, with plate tectonics and the KT extinction as examples. Thus, this led him to try to explain how today's "impossible" may eventually become the future's "everyday."
Contents
Dr. Kaku divides his book into three sections based on his classification of impossibilities. Class I impossibilities are beyond our current ability but do not explicitly break any known laws of physics and may become reality within the century. Class II impossibilities are on the outer fringes of our current knowledge of the physical world but may be possible for a society millennia ahead of ours. Class III impossibilities break current laws of physics and would require our society to redefine its beliefs about physics. Each chapter clearly states the technology mentioned and how it might become a reality, although chapters become somewhat more general towards the end of the book due to lack of research. Some of the technologies mentioned are explained as per a slightly altered form, which remains as true to the original concept as possible while remaining practical. Dr. Kaku concludes his book with a short epilogue detailing the newest frontiers in physics and how there is still much more to be learned about physics and our universe.