The Science of Harry Potter

How does magic in J. K. Rowling’s universe work? Finally, the scientific secrets of the Harry Potter universe are revealed!

The insanely popular Harry Potter books and movies have brought the idea of magic and sorcery into mainstream. Modern muggle scientists have uncovered explanations to the seemingly impossible, including answers to such questions as:

• Will we ever see an invisibility cloak?
• How hazardous is a flying broomstick like the Nimbus 2000?
• How has medicine made powerful potions from peculiar plants? (Felix Felicis, anyone?)
• Can scientists ever demonstrate Wingardium Leviosa, or the flying power of a Golden Snitch?
• Is it possible to stupefy someone?
• And many more!

Often perceived as a supernatural force, magic captivates and delights its audience because of its seeming ability to defy physics and logic. But did you ever wonder if science has any explanation for these fantastic feats?

The Science of Harry Potter examines the scientific principles behind some of the spells, scenes, and games that Harry, Hermione, Ron and Dumbledore love best. Author Mark Brake, whose The Science of Star Wars was a knockout success, has found the answers to satisfy the curious spirits of muggles everywhere. Here is a perfect Harry Potter gift for anyone obsessed enough to stand in line to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child or Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Witches and wizards and even muggles everywhere will be fascinated by the merging of this improbable realm and real science!

Mark Brake developed the world’s first science and science fiction degree in 1999. He also launched the world’s first astrobiology degree in 2005. He’s communicated science through film, television, print, and radio on five continents, including for NASA, Seattle’s Science Fiction Museum, the BBC, the Royal Institution, and Sky Movies. He was one of the founding members of NASA’s Astrobiology Institute Science Communication Group. He has written more than a dozen books, including Alien Life Imagined for Cambridge University Press in 2012. Mark also tours Europe with Science of Doctor Who, Science of Star Wars, and Science of Superheroes road shows.

Jon Chase is a freelance science communicator with an honors degree in aerospace engineering and a master’s degree in communicating science. After producing a science rap video for NASA about astrobiology in 2008, the Guardian identified him as “the next big thing” in education. Jon has worked with the BBC, the Open University, the Science Museum, the Royal Society, and the Royal Institution. He tours Europe with Science of Doctor Who, Science of Star Wars, and Science of Superheroes shows.

Praise for Mark Brake and Jon Chase’s The Science of Star Wars

“If you’ve ever wondered how life could arise on Tatooine or how likely it is that there’s a cantina full of aliens somewhere in our galaxy, The Science of Star Wars is for you.”
—San Francisco Book Review

“A real treat, with many moments of epiphany lurking between the pages . . . Offers much more than just the scientific facts.”
—Labtimes

“A gloriously fascinating look into that galaxy far, far away!”
—Professor Lewis Dartnell, University of Westminster, New York Times bestselling author of The Knowledge

“As a longtime Star Wars maniac, I’d like to recommend Mark Brake and Jon Chase’s The Science of Star Wars: The Scientific Facts Behind the Force, Space Travel, and More! for the geek on your Christmas list. The book is divided into sections on space travel, space, aliens, tech, and bio-tech, with each addressing the scientific feasibility of the Star Wars universe, from faster than light travel to the nature of the Force itself. Written in a clear, friendly style, reading The Science of Star Wars is like sitting down for a conversation with a super geeky scientist friend.”
—Unbound Worlds

“Using the basic principles of mathematics and science, author Mark Brake and science presenter Jon Chase have unlocked some of the secrets behind the George Lucas films, and have concluded that The Force might not be complete fantasy.”
—Telegraph

“A fairly easy read in the sense that simple language is used to explain what can at times be fairly complex concepts . . . It’s certainly best enjoyed by anyone with a bent towards the stars and how they stay up there. . . . For the right fan, it would be an excellent Christmas present.”
—In a Far Away Galaxy