The Science of Harry Potter: The Spellbinding Science Behind the Magic, Gadgets, Potions, and More!
224The Science of Harry Potter: The Spellbinding Science Behind the Magic, Gadgets, Potions, and More!
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Overview
The insanely popular Harry Potter books and movies have brought the idea of magic and sorcery into mainstream. Modern muggle scientists have uncovered explanations to the seemingly impossible, including answers to such questions as:
- Will we ever see an invisibility cloak?
- How hazardous is a flying broomstick like the Nimbus 2000?
- How has medicine made powerful potions from peculiar plants? (Felix Felicis, anyone?)
- Can scientists ever demonstrate Wingardium Leviosa, or the flying power of a Golden Snitch?
- Is it possible to stupefy someone?
- And many more!
Often perceived as a supernatural force, magic captivates and delights its audience because of its seeming ability to defy physics and logic. But did you ever wonder if science has any explanation for these fantastic feats?
The Science of Harry Potter examines the scientific principles behind some of the spells, scenes, and games that Harry, Hermione, Ron and Dumbledore love best. Author Mark Brake, whose The Science of Star Wars was a knockout success, has found the answers to satisfy the curious spirits of muggles everywhere. Here is a perfect Harry Potter gift for anyone obsessed enough to stand in line to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child or Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Witches and wizards and even muggles everywhere will be fascinated by the merging of this improbable realm and real science!
Product Details
ISBN-13: | 9781631582370 |
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Publisher: | Racehorse |
Publication date: | 11/14/2017 |
Series: | The Science of |
Pages: | 224 |
Sales rank: | 1,012,807 |
Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.80(d) |
Age Range: | 12 - 16 Years |
About the Author
Jon Chase is a freelance science communicator with an honors degree in aerospace engineering, and a master’s degree in communicating science. After producing a science rap video for NASA about astrobiology in 2008, the Guardian identified him as the next big thing” in education. Jon has worked with the BBC, the Open University, the Science Museum, the Royal Society, and the Royal Institution. He tours Europe with Science of Doctor Who, Science of Star Wars, and Science of Superheroes shows.
Table of Contents
Part I Magical Philosophy
What Lies behind the Study of Astronomy at Hogwarts? 3
Did Nature, Like Magic, Conjure Something out of Nothing? 8
What Is the Real Story of the Quest for the Sorcerer's Stone? 12
The Dream of Alchemy: Where Do Base Metals Truly Turn into Gold? 17
Merlin: How Does Legend Compare with Canon? 21
Who Really Was the Last Great Wizard? 27
How Would Hermione's Time-Turner Work? 31
Does Science Have Limits, Like J.K. Rowling's Limits of Magic? 35
What Kind of Prophecy Is Possible? 39
How Do Voldemorts Death Eaters Rate on the 14 Defining Characteristics of Fascism? 43
Part II Technical Trickery and Paraphernalia
Could Scientists Be the Modern Wizards? 55
Can Scientists Demonstrate Wingardium Leviosa? 59
How Hazardous Is a Flying Broomstick? 65
Can Muggles Make a Motorcar That Flies? 70
Could Science Develop Moody's Mad Eye? 75
When Will Muggles Develop Moving Portraits? 78
How Could You Make Your Own Marauder's Map to Skip Class? 82
How Would We Fashion a Working Weasley Family Clock? 86
Can Technology Replicate the Reductor Curse? 89
How Could a Wizard Make Great Balls of Fire? 95
Part III Herbology, Zoology, and Potions
Is the Bezoar a Real Antidote? 103
Devil's Snare: What Are the Real Life Flesh-Eating Plants? 107
How Has Medicine Made Powerful Potions from Peculiar Plants? 111
The Psychology of Sex: Do Real-Life Love Potions Work? 117
Have Spy Agencies Used Their Own Version of a Veritaserum Potion? 120
Will Humans Evolve Legilimency and Occlumency Like Snape? 124
Could Evolution Produce Its Own Fluffy? 128
Where and When Might Harry Find Dragons? 131
Why Would Pigeons, and Not Owls, Make a Wizards Best Friend? 135
Is It Possible to Stupefy Someone? 139
Why Are Death Eater "Pure-Bloods" Wrong about Breeding and the Gene Pool? 144
Part IV Magical Miscellany
Platform 9¾: Are There Real Hidden Railway Stations in London? 151
How Could You Make a Room of Requirement? 155
Are Force Fields the Muggle Version of Shield Charms? 159
Could Age Lines Ever Become a Real Technology? 163
Will Society Develop Arithmancy? 169
Could Muggles Master the Memory Transfer of a Pensieve? 174
Can Muggles Develop Their Own Form of Teleportation? 178
What Technology Is the Muggle Version of the Horcrux? 182
Is It Just Wizards and Witches Who Wave Wands? 186
Lumos! How Can a Wand Give off Light? 191
Will We Ever See an Invisibility Cloak? 197