Philosophy
There is science in the episodic adventures of the Hogwarts's hero and sidekicks.
The Science of Harry Potter: How Magic Really Works
by
Roger Highfield
ISBN: 0670031534
Roger Highfield’s last book, Can Reindeer Fly?, received the world's shortest book review, "No." The Loaded critic clearly had not read the book, because it contains a vivid description of a whole range of cutting edge research to prove that Santa’s supersonic sleigh could indeed be powered by Rudolph and his colleagues.
Having explained the physics of Christmas, science journalist Highfield has moved on to unravel the scientific basis for the phenomena that exist in the world of Harry Potter. He has interviewed the world's best Muggle scientists to identify the explanations behind everything from the Mirror of Erised to the Invisibility Cloak.
For example, how do broomsticks such as the Nimbus 2002 fly? Highfield discusses aerodynamics and the concept of
anti-gravity with eminent boffins such as Ron Koczor of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Centre. My favourite explanation is based on magnetic levitation. Usually we think of magnets as only influencing metals, but a sufficiently intense magnetic field can induce a so-called dimagnetism in anything and thereby lift it.
Although the biggest object lifted by Muggles is a frog at the Nijmegen High Field Magnet Laboratory, there is no reason why the grounds of Hogwarts should not be riddled with super strong magnets. However, one mystery remains. The force resulting from diamagnetism depends on the material in the field, so flesh would be lifted more than bone. So Quidditch players would have the perverse experience of having their bones held up by flesh. This has not been commented on in any of J.K. Rowling's books, so presumably the wizards have found a solution to this uncomfortable problem.
The Sorting Hat, which reads the mind of Hogwart's new pupils and assigns them to a house, is easier to explain. Scientists have already developed the Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID), which can be arranged in a hat formation and placed on a person's head, where they can detect the tiny magnetic fields generated by electric currents jumping between brain cells. Scientists who spoke to Highfield have had only limited success in translating these magnetic signals into thoughts, but clearly it is only a matter of time before we Muggles can build something to match the Sorting Hat.
In order to enjoy this book, you will clearly need to be a fan of Harry Potter, and probably a fan of the more mature variety, because some of the scientific ideas are quite challenging. However, it would be great if teenagers were encouraged to tackle the book, as it is a great introduction to a whole variety of scientific issues from game theory to evolution, mixed with a sense of humour and bizarre examples.
Popularization of science
- Zeitgeist, Harry Potter, And The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
I tend to do little pop culture analysis and criticism here. I wish I could cite some high-minded principle for it, but the truth is, I'm simply out of touch. I'm a late adopter, generally coming to the party long after the pop buffet is closed...
- Maybe We Don't Need To Know...science Fiction Accuracy
Princeton University Press... From teleportation and space elevators to alien contact and interstellar travel, science fiction and fantasy writers have come up with some brilliant and innovative ideas. Yet how plausible are these ideas--for instance,...
- Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry...high Cost Of A Fantasy
"High-Priced Hogwarts: Harry Potter's Wizarding Tuition Would Cost a Pretty Penny" by Zachary Cohen July 19th, 2011 Time NewsFeed If you thought NewsFeed was done talking about the Boy Who Lived now that the final film has premiered, then you must...
- Poetic [narrative] License...non-existent Plants
I remember as a adolescent being somewhat fascinated by the power of tanna leaves in those old Universal mummy movies. Ardath Bey would burn a few and chant some lines to direct the mummy to life to find his lost love Princess Ankh-es-en-amon. WOW, the...
- H. Potter--alchemy
Nicholas Flamel La Metallique Transformation Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 2001 Just wanted to introduce a cool website on Harry Potter. Harry Potter's World Renaissance Science, Magic and Medicine Alchemy...
Philosophy
Harry Potter and science
There is science in the episodic adventures of the Hogwarts's hero and sidekicks.
The Science of Harry Potter: How Magic Really Works
by
Roger Highfield
ISBN: 0670031534
"The Science of Harry Potter by, Roger Highfield"
December 1st, 2002
The Observer
December 1st, 2002
The Observer
Roger Highfield’s last book, Can Reindeer Fly?, received the world's shortest book review, "No." The Loaded critic clearly had not read the book, because it contains a vivid description of a whole range of cutting edge research to prove that Santa’s supersonic sleigh could indeed be powered by Rudolph and his colleagues.
Having explained the physics of Christmas, science journalist Highfield has moved on to unravel the scientific basis for the phenomena that exist in the world of Harry Potter. He has interviewed the world's best Muggle scientists to identify the explanations behind everything from the Mirror of Erised to the Invisibility Cloak.
For example, how do broomsticks such as the Nimbus 2002 fly? Highfield discusses aerodynamics and the concept of
anti-gravity with eminent boffins such as Ron Koczor of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Centre. My favourite explanation is based on magnetic levitation. Usually we think of magnets as only influencing metals, but a sufficiently intense magnetic field can induce a so-called dimagnetism in anything and thereby lift it.
Although the biggest object lifted by Muggles is a frog at the Nijmegen High Field Magnet Laboratory, there is no reason why the grounds of Hogwarts should not be riddled with super strong magnets. However, one mystery remains. The force resulting from diamagnetism depends on the material in the field, so flesh would be lifted more than bone. So Quidditch players would have the perverse experience of having their bones held up by flesh. This has not been commented on in any of J.K. Rowling's books, so presumably the wizards have found a solution to this uncomfortable problem.
The Sorting Hat, which reads the mind of Hogwart's new pupils and assigns them to a house, is easier to explain. Scientists have already developed the Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID), which can be arranged in a hat formation and placed on a person's head, where they can detect the tiny magnetic fields generated by electric currents jumping between brain cells. Scientists who spoke to Highfield have had only limited success in translating these magnetic signals into thoughts, but clearly it is only a matter of time before we Muggles can build something to match the Sorting Hat.
In order to enjoy this book, you will clearly need to be a fan of Harry Potter, and probably a fan of the more mature variety, because some of the scientific ideas are quite challenging. However, it would be great if teenagers were encouraged to tackle the book, as it is a great introduction to a whole variety of scientific issues from game theory to evolution, mixed with a sense of humour and bizarre examples.
Popularization of science
- Zeitgeist, Harry Potter, And The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
I tend to do little pop culture analysis and criticism here. I wish I could cite some high-minded principle for it, but the truth is, I'm simply out of touch. I'm a late adopter, generally coming to the party long after the pop buffet is closed...
- Maybe We Don't Need To Know...science Fiction Accuracy
Princeton University Press... From teleportation and space elevators to alien contact and interstellar travel, science fiction and fantasy writers have come up with some brilliant and innovative ideas. Yet how plausible are these ideas--for instance,...
- Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry...high Cost Of A Fantasy
"High-Priced Hogwarts: Harry Potter's Wizarding Tuition Would Cost a Pretty Penny" by Zachary Cohen July 19th, 2011 Time NewsFeed If you thought NewsFeed was done talking about the Boy Who Lived now that the final film has premiered, then you must...
- Poetic [narrative] License...non-existent Plants
I remember as a adolescent being somewhat fascinated by the power of tanna leaves in those old Universal mummy movies. Ardath Bey would burn a few and chant some lines to direct the mummy to life to find his lost love Princess Ankh-es-en-amon. WOW, the...
- H. Potter--alchemy
Nicholas Flamel La Metallique Transformation Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 2001 Just wanted to introduce a cool website on Harry Potter. Harry Potter's World Renaissance Science, Magic and Medicine Alchemy...