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What is “Physics of the Impossible” by Michio Kaku about?

I'm considering using chapters from Kaku's book as a "hook" for a freshman seminar on physics frontiers. The book is engaging, but I want to ensure its speculative content is framed correctly. Do working physicists find it responsibly distinguishes established science from conjecture, or does it blur lines in a problematic way for novice readers?

 

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By Itjarz Answered 1 year ago

I've used excerpts in outreach and find it a double-edged sword. Kaku is adept at connecting sci-fi concepts to real theoretical frameworks, like using quantum teleportation to discuss entanglement. This engagement is invaluable. However, in my experience, the book's structure classifying ideas as "Class I, II, or III Impossibilities" can inadvertently imply a roadmap to feasibility, which can mislead beginners about the enormity of the engineering challenges. I would recommend it as a supplementary text, but with strong instructor guidance to clearly demarcate the solid ground of current physics from the speculative leaps, emphasizing the difference between mathematical possibility and physical practicality.

 

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