The Secret Science of Superheroes
CHAPTER 14: Super Frequently Asked Questions
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Published:01 Aug 2017
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Special Collection: RSC Popular Science eBook Collection
Karl Byrne, 2017. "Super Frequently Asked Questions", The Secret Science of Superheroes, Mark Lorch, Andy Miah
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I love comics. I know that might not come as much of a surprise, given this book’s focus, but I thought I should make it clear at the start of the chapter. We’ve covered a lot of amazing superhero science in the book so far, but by no means everything! There are still lots of questions, queries and conundrums that didn’t quite fit into the previous chapters. So, this chapter will attempt to provide scientific explanations for, well, everything else … However, I must accept that in some cases the answer will have to be ‘magic’ or ‘that’s how the comic book universe works’, and sometimes that’s OK. In some cases, I try to explain something as if it’s happening in the real world, while in others I’ve attempted to explain them in the comic universe, or “in-universe”, in nerd speak. Hopefully I’ve made it clear when I’m talking about the real world and when I’m talking within the comic universe. Without further ado, on to the questions.