Book Blog #6: Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku

Physics of the Impossible is an inquiry into much of the technology and seemingly incomprehensible ideas being developed in the realm of theoretical physics. There were several aspects of the book that I enjoyed, one such thing being the seemingly endless amounts of references that the author had in respect to what he was trying to describe. He also had a great deal of analogies the he used to explain the more complex ideas in a way that almost anyone could understand. The last thing that I recognized as being unique to this book over almost any other physics book that I have read was the tone that was projected throughout the novel. More often than not, when an author decides to write a book about such a subject, the focus of the novel is on the information, and little thought is given to the tone and overall entertainment value evoked in the audience. This book is an exception. Kaku creates both a learning and entertaining atmosphere that improves an already fascinating work. The only aspect that I did not enjoy thoroughly was the predictions that the author gave to when such technology might be available to a large population. The conclusion consistently seemed to be centuries (or more) away. Such conclusions are understandable, seeing as no one can accurately determine who will be responsible for the world's next great discovery. However, it is somewhat frustrating as a reader to read that what you are reading about will not be part of society until the distant and unforeseeable future. That being said, I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in science fiction, theoretical physics, or to someone who enjoys thinking outside of the box.

Questions

1. What did you find surprising about the facts introduced in this book?

The most surprising facts that were introduced in this book from my perspective were the ideas that some of these technologies are well on their way to becoming part of reality. Science-Fiction creations such as plasma barriers and windows have actually been created, but on a small scale. The same could be said for Anti-Matter, supposedly the most volatile substance that can be created. Approximately 1.5 nanograms are created each year in particle accelerators. Such a number might seem small, and rightfully so. However, such findings are encouraging, and improved methods are being developed that will (by estimation) increase the rate at which it can be produced by ten times. It has been said by many scientists that the growth of technology has been and will continue to be that of exponential increase. If this holds to be true, we will witness some of the largest advancements in human history to date.

2. Does the author present information in a way that is interesting and insightful, and if so, how does he or she achieve this?

The author presents information in both interesting and insightful ways through the analogies that he uses to describe the technologies and engineering aspects behind them, as well as by providing references that the general public can relate to, such as Star Trek and Star Wars. These bits of information as well as the overall enlightening tone of the novel create a unique atmosphere that is interesting and exploratory.