Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel
58 pages • 1-hour read
Michio KakuPhysics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel
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Themes
The Expanding Limits of the Possible in Scientific Discovery
The boundary between the impossible and possible is a central focus of Physics of the Impossible, as the title suggests. Much of the book discusses the application of real-world science to fictional technologies, and how developments in the science, technology, math, and engineering (STEM) fields could one day produce technologies capable of emulating feats once considered impossible. Kaku consistently blurs the line between what can and can’t be done by showing how scientific progress continually expands the boundaries of possibility.
Beginning in the Preface, Kaku introduces gradations of impossibility through his classification system for speculative technology. Class 1 technologies did not exist in 2008, but Kaku believed that they would become available within decades. Class 2 technologies may be possible for societies thousands or millions of years more advanced than 21st-century human civilizations, but are not likely to become feasible in the foreseeable future. Class 3 technologies defy our knowledge of the laws of physics and cannot be possible unless our understanding of the universe undergoes a fundamental shift. Notably, the technologies categorized as Class 1 impossibilities far outnumber those of the other two categories, indicating that many futuristic feats are well within the bounds of possibility and likely to become reality in the near future. Kaku clarifies that the laws of physics do not prevent Class 1 and Class 2 impossibilities from becoming realities as science progresses, and he cautions against dismissing any phenomena or technology as absolutely impossible, even those in Class 3. Any predictions or speculations are being made based on an incomplete understanding of the laws of nature, so it is entirely reasonable to assume that future developments may overturn Kaku’s predictions.
Throughout the book, Kaku frequently references historical figures and institutions that made incorrect assumptions and predictions about what was possible. The great thinkers of antiquity were incorrect about many of the fundamental truths of the universe; Ptolemy, for instance, considered more than three dimensions impossible (2, 13, 231). Even modern scientific legends were not always correct in their assertions; Newton believed that time passed at a constant rate, Einstein did not believe that probability played an important role in quantum physics, and Hawking doubted that traveling backward in time could ever be possible. Quantum revolution overturns established understanding of the laws of physics, and the next big development in physics may overturn current knowledge systems. Futurism is founded on optimistic speculation about possibilities in defiance of current limits, and in the Epilogue of Physics of the Impossible, Kaku encourages future physicists to see declarations of impossibility as challenges rather than boundaries.
The Role of Storytelling in Advancing Scientific Inquiry
Throughout Physics of the Impossible, Kaku shows how works of fiction reflect curiosity and imagination, often inspiring scientific theories and technological development. The book’s main premise is the application of real-world science to science fiction technologies, drawing links between imagined advances in STEM fields and real-world progress.
At the beginning of each chapter, Kaku includes a summary of the history behind each supposedly impossible technology. Often, the questions and topics that fascinate physicists have plagued humanity for centuries, if not millennia. Beam weapons in mythology inspired Death Stars and phasers in science fiction media like Star Wars, and remained in public consciousness even when the scientific establishment believed it was impossible to produce beams of coherent radiation. Today, lasers are commonplace in countless industries and applications; X-ray weapons exist, and laser-based weaponry will likely become a reality in the near future. A love of science fiction inspires many physicists, including Kaku, to pursue careers in science. The inventor of the Alcubierre drive for faster-than-light travel even admits that he based his work on fictional technology seen in the sci-fi series Star Trek. Public interest in scientific progress and STEM fields is fueled by science fiction as much as by popular science media, meaning that in many cases, the curiosity and imagination of the general population directly affects the funding for advanced scientific inquiry.
Curiosity and imagination are essential traits of an inquiring mind and are fundamental virtues for any scientific researcher. Einstein’s early exposure to science literature sparked his lifelong interest in how light travels and directly led to his development of the revolutionary theory of special relativity. Theories about the nature of the universe, particularly its origins and eventual end, are woven like stories out of both hard and speculative data. Interpreting indirect evidence to come up with coherent narratives takes imagination and a knack for exploring hypotheses that draw on many of the same skills as storytelling. Writing an engaging popular science narrative uses similar skills, highlighting the important links among fantasy, communication, and science.
The Impact of Collective and Individual Scientific Achievements
Throughout Physics of the Impossible, Kaku emphasizes the importance of not only individual contributions to the development of the field of physics but also the mechanisms of scientific advancement through which individuals collaborate and build on the work of their predecessors. He recognizes exceptional pioneers and great minds from both the past and present, showing how their groundbreaking work influenced theories and developments in their respective fields. However, he also shows how particular movements and schools of thought defined periods of progress and advanced scientific understanding in a collective, sustained effort spanning generations.
Although Kaku’s book focuses on technologies of the future, he introduces readers to past developments in the field of physics in order to explain the principles of science involved in developing those technologies in the present day. The process of past advancements provides a framework for Kaku to predict future developments. He presents scientific advancements as steps toward a more complete understanding of the universe, as each new revelation and technology builds on the work of the scientists who came before. This compassionate and respectful perspective on transmitted and collective knowledge frames the efforts of generations past as necessary and useful building blocks for the more advanced work, rather than focusing on inaccuracies and gaps in their understanding. Such humility stems in large part from the recognition that the science of our present-day society will likely seem equally primitive to more advanced civilizations in the future.
Kaku recognizes the achievements of notable individuals in the field of physics, and the most influential of these recur throughout the book as Kaku discusses how their discoveries pertain to different technologies. Einstein is one of the most prominent scientists the book discusses, which is unsurprising given that he is the author’s personal hero, but Kaku also notes the work of others, such as Isaac Newton, James Clerk Maxwell, Stephen Hawking, and Richard Feynman, in multiple chapters. Kaku occasionally provides information about the life and characteristics of significant scientists throughout history, providing context for their achievements and humanizing discussions of their work. This biographical dimension is a concession to the necessity of engaging and connecting with readers of the popular science genre. Notably, most scientists mentioned in the book are white men of European or American nationalities. This reflects the fact that scientific circles have historically excluded women and people of color, disproportionately denying them recognition for their contributions.
Overall, Physics of the Impossible is an optimistic work that celebrates humanity’s immense progress in understanding the fundamental nature of the universe and in using that understanding to develop advanced technologies. Recognition of past achievements in science contributes to the book’s tone of excitement about the discoveries and developments yet to come.
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