Science Behind Science Fiction: How do Teenage Turtles become Mutant Ninjas?

When Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird created the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1984 they couldn’t possibly have imagined the incoming cultural explosion they had on their hands. In fact the turtles of today are dramatically different from their early comics.  The first TMNT drawings by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird It’s true, the Teenage …

Science Behind Science Fiction: The Physics of Star Wars

Ahhh, Star Wars, arguably one of the most popular movie franchises in history. Even if you are among the three or so people on the planet who have never seen a Star Wars film, you probably still know who Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, or Han Solo are. Who didn’t love seeing the Millenium Falcon jump …

Gremlins: The Holiday Magic of Mogwai

The rules of the mogwai have become as much a part of my Christmas tradition as Nakatomi Plaza and The Wet Bandits. Don’t get them wet, Don’t expose them to bright light, and most importantly Don’t feed them after midnight. Something about those rules stuck with me, and this holiday season we will break down …

Getting Back to The Past in Avengers: Endgame: The Science Behind Science Fiction

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Avengers: Endgame, Avengers: Infinity War, Spider-Man: Far From Home and the first issue of The Avengers (1963). Jack “King” Kirby. If you’ve seen a Marvel movie (or a DC one for that matter), you have already been touched by his ideas. Born Jacob Kurtzberg on August 28, 1917 …

Experiencing Spidey-Sense in Spider-Man: The Science Behind Science Fiction

Spider-Man. Is he strong? Listen bud. He’s got radioactive blood. He‘s agile too, these things go without saying. Under the mask, Peter Parker is a spectacular scientist and engineer as well; having developed countless inventions and gadgets, including his signature Web-Shooters, to take down an unending gauntlet of super villains. Spider-Man works tirelessly to save …

Decoding Dinosaur Genetics in Jurassic Park:The Science Behind Science Fiction

When I read Jurassic Park for the first time in 8th grade, genetics came alive. Just like the moment in the 1993 film where Dr. Grant and Dr. Satler first saw their fossilized dinosaurs come to life on the island, I saw just how interesting genetics could be. A few years later in my high …

Spilling the T. (rex) on Dinosaur Behavior in Jurassic Park: The Science Behind Science Fiction

While watching my favorite science fiction movies and TV shows, I’m often left with more questions than answers. Can we actually clone ancient animals like the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park? Does gamma radiation change our DNA, like the process behind The Hulk’s angry, green transformation? What are the quantum mechanics behind “Pym Particles” and the …