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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 530
EAN: 9780385520690
Edition: 1
ISBN: 0385520697
Label: Doubleday
Manufacturer: Doubleday
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 329
Publication Date: March 11, 2008
Publisher: Doubleday
Release Date: March 11, 2008
Studio: Doubleday
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
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.
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
I would put this on the must read list for anyone who's interested in science, technology, and sci fi. It looks at those things we see in movies and on TV and gives an honest, straightforward approach to these questions and does so in plain English. Get it, read it, love it.
Rating: -
Kaku takes you to the edge of the universe in ways that are hard to even think about!
Rating:  -
I read this good book, here in Brazil.
This book taks about things such as teletransport, wormholes, starships, telepathy, etc.
The main good thing of this book is to show front edge physics, for the general public. Almost all teenagers can understand this book. It is a book for general public, not for physics. As a Brazilian, I must tell you that the author only remembers a Brazilian scientist, just one time, on the notes (page 310). And this only Brazilian remembered is (in my opinion) the biggest Brazilian scientist alive: Miguel Nicolelis.
Another great quality of the author is his open mind.
The main problem of this book is to forget things that are near, such as nuclear fusion reactors. Yes, he talks something about this in two pages, but the information isn't enough. About quantum computers, there's just some pages. About nuclear trash destination, electric vehicles and space elevator, there's nothing in this book.
As a suggestion to the author,I must suggest that this book must be bigger, with chapters about nuclear fusion reactors, nuclear trash destination and new kinds of space lauching.
Rating: -
My favorite popular science author has done it again.
I really like this book.
Actually the title of the book is a bit misleading though, because in it, Michio mainly talks about things which are possible, some of which even already exist experimentally.
My favorites are experiments being done to bend light in order to make objects invisible.
Who knows: one day in the far future we might all walk around with our little light bending machines on our belt.
That would be so cool. I can think of a lot of things I would do while I'm invisible. LOL.
Rating: -
I had been waiting for months to read this thing, and it was well worth it. The only thing I can say is that I wish Kaku would write more.
He explains the "impossible" by reducing scientific evidence to one brilliant bottom line sentence, supported by accurate modern research. He does not try to pump up his theories with confusing analogies or humor, just hands the good stuff on a plate for one to sample and digest at leisure.
He also avoids the moral issues regarding future weapons and possible dangers of advanced technology, keeping his thoughts in perspective, and giving a clear objective picture of true vision.
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