Physics of the Impossible : A Scientific Exploration Into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel

From Publishers Weekly In this latest effort to popularize the sciences, City University of New York professor and media star Kaku (_Hyperspace_) ponders topics that many people regard as impossible, ranging from psychokinesis and telepathy to time travel and teleportation. His Class I impossibilities include force fields, telepathy and antiuniverses, which don't violate the known laws of science and may become realities in the next century. Those in Class II await realization farther in the future and include faster-than-light travel and discovery of parallel universes. Kaku discusses only perpetual motion machines and precognition in Class III, things that aren't possible according to our current understanding of science. He explains how what many consider to be flights of fancy are being made tangible by recent scientific discoveries ranging from rudimentary advances in teleportation to the creation of small quantities of antimatter and transmissions faster than the speed of light. Science and science fiction buffs can easily follow Kaku's explanations as he shows that in the wonderful worlds of science, impossible things are happening every day. (Mar. 11) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Kaku (_Parallel Worlds_, Beyond Einstein , Hyperspace ) introduces complex theories of physics to general readers. As _The Economist notes, Kaku "makes a good stab at explaining difficult physics. But his grasp of his subject is perhaps trumped by his knowledge of science fiction." While Kaku writes in language designed to captivate nonscience readers, it's his references to pop culture— Star Trek _to Terminator 3 —that clarify his fringe physics. (Those wishing to explore the topic further can refer to Kaku's detailed footnotes.) To critics' delight, Kaku also investigates the moral issues of futuristic technology that SF does so well and asks provoking questions about the fate of humankind. The only complaints? Kaku omits a few obvious SF parallels, and, more seriously, readers who don't enjoy that genre may find less of interest here. Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc. A fascinating exploration of the science of the impossible—from death rays and force fields to invisibility cloaks—revealing to what extent such technologies might be achievable decades or millennia into the future. One hundred years ago, scientists would have said that lasers, televisions, and the atomic bomb were beyond the realm of physical possibility. In Physics of the Impossible, the renowned physicist Michio Kaku explores to what extent the technologies and devices of science fiction that are deemed equally impossible today might well become commonplace in the future. From teleportation to telekinesis, Kaku uses the world of science fiction to explore the fundamentals—and the limits—of the laws of physics as we know them today. He ranks the impossible technologies by categories—Class I, II, and III, depending on when they might be achieved, within the next century, millennia, or perhaps never. In a compelling and thought-provoking narrative, he explains: - How the science of optics and electromagnetism may one day enable us to bend light around an object, like a stream flowing around a boulder, making the object invisible to observers “downstream” - How ramjet rockets, laser sails, antimatter engines, and nanorockets may one day take us to the nearby stars - How telepathy and psychokinesis, once considered pseudoscience, may one day be possible using advances in MRI, computers, superconductivity, and nanotechnology - Why a time machine is apparently consistent with the known laws of quantum physics, although it would take an unbelievably advanced civilization to actually build one Kaku uses his discussion of each technology as a jumping-off point to explain the science behind it. An extraordinary scientific adventure, Physics of the Impossible takes readers on an unforgettable, mesmerizing journey into the world of science that both enlightens and entertains. [(source)][1] [1]: http://www.amazon.com/Physics-Impossible-Scientific-Exploration-Teleportation/dp/0385520697/ref=dp_return_1?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books One Hundred Years Ago, Scientists Would Have Said That Lasers, Televisions, And The Atomic Bomb Were Beyond The Realm Of Physical Possibility. Here, Physicist Michio Kaku Explores To What Extent The Technologies And Devices Of Science Fiction That Are Deemed Equally Impossible Today Might Well Become Commonplace In The Future. From Teleportation To Telekinesis, Kaku Uses The World Of Science Fiction To Explore The Fundamentals--and The Limits--of The Laws Of Physics As We Know Them Today. He Ranks The Impossible Technologies By Categories--class I, Ii, And Iii--depending On When They Might Be Achieved, Within The Next Century, Millennia, Or Perhaps Never. He Uses His Discussion Of Each Technology As A Jumping-off Point To Explain The Science Behind It.--from Publisher Description. Force Fields -- Invisibility -- Phasers And Death Stars -- Teleportation -- Telepathy -- Psychokinesis -- Robots -- Extraterrestrials And Ufos -- Starships -- Antimatter And Anti-universes -- Faster Than Light -- Time Travel -- Parallel Universes -- Perpetual Motion Machines -- Precognition -- Epilogue: The Future Of The Impossible. Michio Kaku. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [317]-318) And Index. NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Inspired by the fantastic worlds of Star Trek, Star Wars, and Back to the Future, the renowned theoretical physicist and national bestselling author of The God Equation 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. Teleportation, time machines, force fields, and interstellar space ships—the stuff of science fiction or potentially attainable future technologies? 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. Force fields Invisibility Phasers and death stars Teleportation Telepathy Psychokinesis Robots Extraterrestrials and UFOs Starships Anti-matter and anti-universes Faster than light Time travel Parallel universes Perpetual motion machines Clairvoyance Future of the impossible. Looks at the scientific principles behind the technology of the future, examining the theoretical basis, as well as limitations, of the laws of physics to discuss how seemingly impossible devices could become commonplace in the future.