The truth about superpowers . . . science fact or science fiction? Superman, Batman, The X-Men, Flash, Spider Man . . . they protect us from evildoers, defend truth and justice, and, occasionally, save our planet from certain doom. Yet, how much do we understand about their powers? In this engaging yet serious work, Lois Gresh and Robert Weinberg attempt to answer that question once and for all. From X-ray vision to psychokinesis, invisibility to lightspeed locomotion, they take a hard, scientific look at the powers possessed by all of our most revered superheroes, and a few of the lesser ones, in an attempt to sort fact from fantasy. In the process, they unearth some shocking truths that will unsettle, alarm, and even terrify all but the most fiendish of supervillains.

Superhero stories may be fictional, but many are based in scientific principles. The Science of Superheroesexamines the science that comic book and movie-script writers build upon when creating their most fantastic stories. Easy-to-read text and vivid images bring this subject to life. Features include a table of contents, fast facts, a glossary, additional resources, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

Packed with quizzes, sidebars, trivia, and more, this book reveals the science behind your favourite superheroes and supervillains and their ultracool devices and weapons, as well as other awesome technologies from the science fiction realm.

A complete update to the hit book on the real physics at work in comic books, featuring more heroes, more villains, and more science Since 2001, James Kakalios has taught "Everything I Needed to Know About Physics I Learned from Reading Comic Books," a hugely popular university course that generated coast-to-coast media attention for its unique method of explaining complex physics concepts through comics. With The Physics of Superheroes, named one of the best science books of 2005 by Discover, he introduced his colorful approach to an even wider audience. Now Kakalios presents a totally updated, expanded edition that features even more superheroes and findings from the cutting edge of science. With three new chapters and completely revised throughout with a splashy, redesigned package, the book that explains why Spider-Man's webbing failed his girlfriend, the probable cause of Krypton's explosion, and the Newtonian physics at work in Gotham City is electrifying from cover to cover.

Forget the special powers of comic book heroes. Some of the most famous scientists have greatly affected the world as we know it using just incredible intelligence, hard work, and a little luck. From Louis Pasteur's medical discoveries to Stephen Hawking's exploration of the universe through theoretical physics, these scientists challenged the ideas of the past and bravely fought to bring new facts to the scientific community and the public. Through detailed biographical information, readers are introduced to Sir Isaac Newton, Rachel Carson, and more. Historical images and full-color photographs make even the scientists of the distant past seem present. - Explanations of each scientist's work help readers understand its relevance - Biographical lens engages readers in many science topics in an interesting way - Addresses STEM through introduction to the technology, scientific ideas, and mathematical concepts discovered by important scientists

Ever wondered what you could do with super speed? You could get to school in the blink of an eye! In this title, a narrative opener puts readers in the action. Then, fact-filled chapters cover the use of super speed in fiction, how it appears in real life, and the power’s possibilities for the future. Special features explore real-life examples of super speed in nature, highlight an example in popular culture, profile a favorite superhero, and more. Readers will race through this fun text at super speed!

The authors of The Science of Superheroes now reveal the real genius of the most evil geniuses Ever wonder why comic book villains, such as Spiderman's bionic archenemy Dr. Octopus or the X-Men's eternal rival Magneto, are so scary and so much fun? It's not just their diabolical talent for confounding our heroes, it's their unrivalled techno-proficiency at creating global mayhem that keeps comic book fans captivated. But is any of the science actually true? In The Science of Supervillains, authors Lois Gresh and Bob Weinberg present a highly entertaining and informative look at the mind-boggling wizardry behind the comic book world's legendary baddies. Whether it's artificial intelligence, weapons systems, anti-matter, robotics, or magnetic flux theory, this fun, fact-filled book is a fascinating excursion into the real-world science animating the genius in the comic book world's pantheon of evil geniuses. Lois Gresh (Scottsville, NY) and Bob Weinberg (Oak Forest, IL) are the authors of the popular Science of Superheroes (cloth: 0-471-0246-0; paper: 0-471-46882-7)