The Science of Star Wars
The Scientific Facts Behind the Force, Space Travel, and More!
Published on 15. November 2016
272 pages
978-1-944686-29-1 (ISBN)
Description
Discover the science behind the most popular sci-fi franchise of all time!
Capturing the imagination and hearts of crowds worldwide, Star Wars is a fantastic feat of science fiction and fantasy. The Science of Star Wars addresses 50 topics that span the movies' universe such as battle technology, alien life, space travel, etc. You'll find fascinating explorations of the physics of Star Wars, its plausibility, and more. The perfect Star Wars gift for fans of the saga, this book addresses many unanswered, burning questions, including:
- How long before we get a Star Wars speeder off the ground?
- What exactly is the Force?
- How could Kylo Ren stop a blaster shot in mid-air?
- How could we live on a gas giant like Bespin, or a desert planet like Tatooine?
- Nature versus nurture: How does it play out in the making of Jedi?
- How much would it cost to build the Death Star?
- And much more! We marvel at the variety of creatures and technology and the mystery behind the force. But how much of the Star Wars world is rooted in reality? Could we see some of the extraordinary inventions materialize in our world? This uncomplicated, entertaining read makes it easy to understand how advanced physics concepts, such as wormholes and Einstein's theory of relativity, apply to the Star Wars universe. The Science of Star Wars explains to non-technical readers how physics and fantasy might merge to allow for the possibility of interstellar travel; communication with foreign but intelligent lifeforms; human-like robots; alien planets fit for human life; weapons and spacecraft such as laser guns, light sabers, and the Millennium Falcon; and Force-like psychokinetic powers. In the 21st Century, we're on the edge of developing much of the technology from "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away"… These fantasies aren't as impossible as you might think! Written for every fan of George Lucas's films, you don't need to be a Jedi or an astrophysicist at NASA to appreciate all of Mark Brake and Jon Chase's fun and informative analysis of this classic series in The Science of Star Wars. Prepare your mind to make the jump to light speed and find out about the facts behind one of our favorite modern epics!
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Additional editions
Mark Brake | Jon Chase
The Science of Star Wars
The Scientific Facts Behind the Force, Space Travel, and More!
Book
12/2016
Racehorse Publishing
€14.50
Available immediately
Persons
Mark Brake developed the world's first science and science fiction degree in 1999. He also launched the world's first astrobiology degree in 2005. He's communicated science through film, television, print, and radio on five continents, including for NASA, Seattle's Science Fiction Museum, the BBC, the Royal Institution, and Sky Movies. He was one of the founding members of NASA's Astrobiology Institute Science Communication Group. He has written more than a dozen books, including Alien Life Imagined for Cambridge University Press in 2012. Mark also tours Europe with Science of Doctor Who, Science of Star Wars, and Science of Superheroes road shows.
Content
- Intro
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Table of Contents
- Introduction by Mark Brake
- Part I - Space Travel
- How Has Star Wars Influenced Space Culture and Space Travel?
- Could Spacers Travel to Other Galaxies in the Star Wars Universe?
- How Much Would It Cost to Build a Death Star?
- The Human Future Is In Space: Is This the Greatest of All Star Wars Messages?
- Einstein's E=mc2 and Star Wars: What Are the Challenges of Lightspeed Travel?
- Is the Death Star a Good Design for a Space Station?
- What Makes the Millennium Falcon Such a Prized Ship?
- What Are the Chances of Navigating Safely Through an Asteroid Field?
- How Likely Are the Interstellar Commutes in Star Wars?
- Why Do Star Wars Ships Make Banked Turns in the Vacuum of Space During Battles?
- Part II - Space
- Would the Death of the Death Star Spell the End of Endor?
- What Does the Star Wars Galaxy Tell Us About Our Own Milky Way?
- Did Star Wars Predict the Existence of Exoplanets?
- What Do Star Wars Exomoons Mean for Life in Our Galaxy?
- Could Starkiller Base Drain the Energy From a Star, as in The Force Awakens?
- Which Exoplanets Are Like Star Wars Worlds?
- The Link Between Hoth and Mars: Why Might Humans Make Like Exogorths?
- Could Life Arise on a Desert Planet Like Tatooine?
- How Long Ago and How Far Away?
- How Could We Live on a Gas Giant Like Bespin?
- Part III - Aliens
- Would an Exogorth Really Evolve on an Asteroid?
- How Could Rey Survive on the Desert Planet of Jakku?
- Does The Force Awakens Pass the Test for an Alien Head Count?
- How Come Many Planets in Star Wars Have Breathable Atmospheres?
- Would DNA Be the Replicator in the Star Wars Galaxy?
- Darwinian Dynamics: How Do Theories of Evolution Apply in the Star Wars Universe?
- How Are There Humans in the Star Wars Galaxy?
- Could We Ever Become Jedi?
- Why Are Wookiees So Much Hairier Than Humans?
- How Does Watto Manage to Stay Aloft with Those Funny Little Wings?
- Part IV - Tech
- How Long Before We Get a Star Wars Speeder Off the Ground?
- Struggling with Stormtrooper Uniforms in Battle: Is That Why They're Such Terrible Shots?
- How Could Droids Like BB-8 Help Us Explore Mars?
- Is the Empire Watching You?
- Could a Single Blast from the Death Star Destroy the Earth?
- Will Future Megacities Look Like the Ecumenopolis of Coruscant?
- How Long Before We Build Intelligent Machines Like C-3PO?
- What Are the Possible Future Sources for a Tractor Beam?
- Could You Really Dodge or Deflect a Blaster Bolt?
- How Long Will It Be Before Smartphones Send Holographic Messages?
- Part V - Bio-Tech
- Can You Really Survive Being Frozen in Carbonite?
- The Age of C-3PO: How Will Earth Deal with the Droid Army?
- When Will a Clone Army Be Built on Earth?
- What Exactly Is the Force?
- Does the Lightsaber Really Cut It?
- What Would It Be Like to Control the Force?
- How Could Kylo Ren Stop a Blaster Shot in Mid-Air?
- Is Darth Vader Technology Possible?
- Is Jedi Mind Control a Possibility?
