Physics of the Impossible
A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel
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Product: Book
ISBN-10: 0-307-27882-4
ISBN-13: 9780307278821
Publisher: Anchor
Country:
Year: April 7, 2009
Edition: Reprint
Size: 12.95 x 20.07 x 1.52cm
Number of pages: 352
Weight: 272gr
Binding: Paperback
ISBN-10: 0-307-27882-4
ISBN-13: 9780307278821
Publisher: Anchor
Country:
Year: April 7, 2009
Edition: Reprint
Size: 12.95 x 20.07 x 1.52cm
Number of pages: 352
Weight: 272gr
Binding: Paperback
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Product Description
Teleportation, time machines, force fields, and interstellar space ships—the stuff of science fiction or potentially attainable future technologies? Inspired by the fantastic worlds of Star Trek, Star Wars, and Back to the Future, renowned theoretical physicist and bestselling author Michio Kaku takes an informed, serious, and often surprising look at what our current understanding of the universe's physical laws may permit in the near and distant future. Entertaining, informative, and imaginative, Physics of the Impossible probes the very limits of human ingenuity and scientific possibility.
Teleportation, time machines, force fields, and interstellar space ships—the stuff of science fiction or potentially attainable future technologies? Inspired by the fantastic worlds of Star Trek, Star Wars, and Back to the Future, renowned theoretical physicist and bestselling author Michio Kaku takes an informed, serious, and often surprising look at what our current understanding of the universe's physical laws may permit in the near and distant future. Entertaining, informative, and imaginative, Physics of the Impossible probes the very limits of human ingenuity and scientific possibility.
reviews
The Most Fun You Can Have with Physics If You Aren't a Physicist! 
»Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.« –- 1 John 4:1 If books about physics had been this entertaining when I was a child, I'm sure I would have become a theoretical physicist. Professor Michio Kaku begins with ancient beliefs about gods, moves on to science fiction, proceeds through theories proven false, and examines some of the most interesting questions and devices raised by science fiction stories to describe when, if ever, we might see such results. In all but a few cases, he sees hope. Talk about a ray of sunshine … this is a profoundly optimistic book that looks realistically at our geometrically increasing rate of learning how to measure and solve problems about the fundamental characteristics of the universe such as matter, energy, time, gravity, and the universe's origins. I loved it! If I had a choice between reading this kind of book and even the best science fiction, I would pick this one. Why? Because it helps point the way toward the important questions and the value of answering them. I miss this in most science writing. Most science writing, by contrast, is either trying to prove too much about current theories or is of little interest to people outside the particular field. Professor Kaku puts various concepts into one of three bins: 1. Likely to be accomplished or understood in the next 100 years. 2. Likely to be accomplished or understood only after millions of years. 3. Apparently impossible, no matter how much we learn. Interestingly, he puts a lot of items in the first category including: Force Fields Invisibility Energy Beam Weapons (Phasers and Death Stars) Teleportation Telepathy Psychokinesis Intelligent Robots Extraterrestrials and UFOs Starships Antimatter and Anti-universes In those discussions, you'll learn about fascinating experiments where the seemingly »impossible« has already been done and promises the potential for even more remarkable accomplishments in the future. More challenging problems await us for learning to travel faster than light, traveling through time, and exploring parallel universes. Perpetual motion machines and precognition (which most people believe in) are ruled out. As I read the book, I was fascinated to realize how much different it would have read if written 50, 40, 30, 20, or even 10 years ago. It made me wonder how such a book will read in 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 years in the future. Imagine a more limitless future!
»Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.« –- 1 John 4:1 If books about physics had been this entertaining when I was a child, I'm sure I would have become a theoretical physicist. Professor Michio Kaku begins with ancient beliefs about gods, moves on to science fiction, proceeds through theories proven false, and examines some of the most interesting questions and devices raised by science fiction stories to describe when, if ever, we might see such results. In all but a few cases, he sees hope. Talk about a ray of sunshine … this is a profoundly optimistic book that looks realistically at our geometrically increasing rate of learning how to measure and solve problems about the fundamental characteristics of the universe such as matter, energy, time, gravity, and the universe's origins. I loved it! If I had a choice between reading this kind of book and even the best science fiction, I would pick this one. Why? Because it helps point the way toward the important questions and the value of answering them. I miss this in most science writing. Most science writing, by contrast, is either trying to prove too much about current theories or is of little interest to people outside the particular field. Professor Kaku puts various concepts into one of three bins: 1. Likely to be accomplished or understood in the next 100 years. 2. Likely to be accomplished or understood only after millions of years. 3. Apparently impossible, no matter how much we learn. Interestingly, he puts a lot of items in the first category including: Force Fields Invisibility Energy Beam Weapons (Phasers and Death Stars) Teleportation Telepathy Psychokinesis Intelligent Robots Extraterrestrials and UFOs Starships Antimatter and Anti-universes In those discussions, you'll learn about fascinating experiments where the seemingly »impossible« has already been done and promises the potential for even more remarkable accomplishments in the future. More challenging problems await us for learning to travel faster than light, traveling through time, and exploring parallel universes. Perpetual motion machines and precognition (which most people believe in) are ruled out. As I read the book, I was fascinated to realize how much different it would have read if written 50, 40, 30, 20, or even 10 years ago. It made me wonder how such a book will read in 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 years in the future. Imagine a more limitless future!
Fascinating, but a little dry. 
This was a very interesting book that offers descriptions of possible solutions to turning many aspects of science fiction into reality. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on time travel, force fields, parallel universes, and teleportation, although those and other chapters had a tendency to get long winded and I found myself struggling to keep my attention from wavering. That of course is no fault of the author, who I believe writes well enough for a physicist and seems to have a good knowledge of science fiction, and more my fault for never staying awake in my science classes. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good debate about the consequences of time travel and the possibility of trips outside of our solar system, though be aware there may be several chapters that are not of interest to you.
This was a very interesting book that offers descriptions of possible solutions to turning many aspects of science fiction into reality. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on time travel, force fields, parallel universes, and teleportation, although those and other chapters had a tendency to get long winded and I found myself struggling to keep my attention from wavering. That of course is no fault of the author, who I believe writes well enough for a physicist and seems to have a good knowledge of science fiction, and more my fault for never staying awake in my science classes. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good debate about the consequences of time travel and the possibility of trips outside of our solar system, though be aware there may be several chapters that are not of interest to you.
If I only had it 
I would love to say that I enjoyed this book immensely; however, since I never received it, I have nothing to go on. I tried several times to contact the shipper privately, but I never received a response there, either, and I still don't have the book. Based on my experience, I'd say to stay away from this bookseller if at all possible, as you never know what you might get from them –- or not.
I would love to say that I enjoyed this book immensely; however, since I never received it, I have nothing to go on. I tried several times to contact the shipper privately, but I never received a response there, either, and I still don't have the book. Based on my experience, I'd say to stay away from this bookseller if at all possible, as you never know what you might get from them –- or not.
Great introduction to modern physics and its potential applications!
I've read a whole lot of books on modern physics, but very few held my interest like this one. Not only is it concise and easy to read, it's also a lot of fun to see how science fiction may one day become science. It gives you a lot to think about and really inspires awe: some of the things he talks about are not too far off, but some of them seem impossibly elusive. But overall, if you love science fiction and are interested in how those concepts in scifi would work in the real world (e.g., teleportation, telepathy, force fields, etc), then this book is definitely for you.
I've read a whole lot of books on modern physics, but very few held my interest like this one. Not only is it concise and easy to read, it's also a lot of fun to see how science fiction may one day become science. It gives you a lot to think about and really inspires awe: some of the things he talks about are not too far off, but some of them seem impossibly elusive. But overall, if you love science fiction and are interested in how those concepts in scifi would work in the real world (e.g., teleportation, telepathy, force fields, etc), then this book is definitely for you.
GREAT BOOK!
The great Michio Kaku. The second Einstein. Me makes physics understandable easily. He explains the laws and all his ideas in a way that even a 10 year-old could understands. A recommended read. Very recommended to Trekkies!
The great Michio Kaku. The second Einstein. Me makes physics understandable easily. He explains the laws and all his ideas in a way that even a 10 year-old could understands. A recommended read. Very recommended to Trekkies!
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Michio Kaku
Anchor; 1995
Paperback
© 1994–2010 Sascha Hendel
last update: 3/18/2010
URL: http://www.book-info.com/isbn/0-307-27882-4.htm
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