Physics of the Impossible

Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration Into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel
Cover
AuthorMichio Kaku
LanguageEnglish
GenreNon-fiction
PublisherDoubleday Publishing
Publication date
2008
Media typePrint (hardcover, paperback)
ISBN978-0-385-52069-0
OCLC157023258
530 22
LC ClassQC75 .K18 2008
Preceded byParallel Worlds 
Followed byPhysics of the Future 

Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration Into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel is a book by theoretical physicist Michio Kaku. Kaku uses discussion of speculative technologies to introduce topics of fundamental physics to the reader.

The topic of invisibility becomes a discussion on why the speed of light is slower in water than in vacuum, that electromagnetism is similar to ripples in a pond, and Kaku discusses newly developed composite materials.

The topic of Star Trek phasers becomes a lesson on how lasers work and how laser-based research is conducted. The cover of his book depicts a TARDIS, a device used in the British science fiction television show Doctor Who to travel in space and time, in its disguise as a police box, continuously passing through a time loop. With each discussion of science fiction technology topics he also "explains the hurdles to realizing these science fiction concepts as reality".[1][2][3]

  1. ^ D. Itzkoff (2008-03-13). "Why Don't We Invent It Tomorrow?". Paper Cuts. New York Times. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  2. ^ A.Z. Jones (2008). "Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku". About.com. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  3. ^ D. Johnstone (2008-07-06). "Physics of the Impossible, By Michio Kaku". The Independent. London. Retrieved 2009-06-03.