Review of ‘Physics of the Impossible’ by Michio Kaku
Review of ‘Physics of the Impossible’ by Michio Kaku
Tosin Adeoti Finished ‘Physics of the Impossible’ by Prof Kaku this morning. Michio Kaku is not just a theoretical physicist, he is a storyteller, a dreamer, and a bridge between the world of cutting-edge science and the realm of science fiction. In “Physics of the Impossible”, published in 2008, he explores technologies that seem impossible today but might one day become reality. From teleportation to time travel, from invisibility cloaks to faster-than-light travel, Kaku classifies these concepts into three categories: those that may be possible within a century, those that might take millennia, and those that truly violate the laws of physics.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of this book is how Kaku blends pop culture with deep physics. His love for science fiction is evident, and he frequently references Star Trek, Back to the Future, The Wizard of Oz, Flash Gordon, and Men in Black to explain complex ideas. For someone unfamiliar with these movies, some references might feel lost, but they do make abstract theories more relatable.
Kaku himself was inspired to become a physicist after seeing a photo of Einstein’s cluttered desk at the time of his death. The idea that Einstein had died without completing his unified field theory fascinated him so much that he dedicated his career to continuing Einstein’s work. It is this same childlike curiosity that makes Physics of the Impossible so engaging.
Kaku fills the book with fascinating historical anecdotes. Take Michael Faraday, for example, who was essentially illiterate in mathematics but revolutionized physics with his hand-drawn diagrams of force fields; illustrations so insightful that they are now found in every physics textbook. Or James Clerk Maxwell, who developed the equations that explained electromagnetism but tragically died at 48 from stomach cancer, a fate eerily similar to his mother’s.
Then there’s Giordano Bruno, the philosopher who was burned at the stake in 1600 for suggesting that there could be other planets with life. Fast forward to today, and astronomers discover new exoplanets almost every month. Bruno’s idea, once deemed heretical, has been vindicated by modern science.
Kaku also discusses the tragic fate of Alan Turing, the brilliant mind behind modern computing. Despite his pivotal role in breaking Nazi codes during World War II, potentially saving millions of lives, he was persecuted for his homosexuality, forced to undergo chemical castration, and eventually committed suicide. There is even a rumor that Apple’s logo, a bitten apple, is a tribute to Turing, who died by eating a cyanide-laced apple.
While Kaku makes complex ideas accessible, some topics remain challenging to grasp fully. Wormholes, the fifth dimension, and quantum entanglement are explained well, but they still require extra effort to understand. He acknowledges this difficulty, which is refreshing. Unlike some science writers who assume the reader is following along perfectly, Kaku admits that certain ideas stretch the limits of comprehension.
One of the book’s most mind-boggling claims comes from Kurt Gödel’s incompleteness theorem. In 1931, Gödel proved that there are mathematical truths that can never be proven, suggesting that even in the rigid world of mathematics, there are mysteries that may forever remain beyond our reach.
Kaku also touches on the limitations of lie detectors, revealing that they are unreliable and easily manipulated. Similarly, he warns that scientists, despite their training, can be easily deceived by those claiming to have psychic powers. He explains that magicians exploit the fact that scientists are trained to trust what they observe, making them surprisingly susceptible to trickery.
Perhaps the most astonishing fact in the book is the Arecibo message, a coded signal sent into space in 1974 toward a star cluster 25,100 light-years away. If an alien civilization were to receive it and send a reply, we wouldn’t get it until the year 52,174. The sheer scale of the universe makes it hard to imagine that we are alone, yet Kaku remains cautious, unlike David Deutsch, who flatly rejects the idea of extraterrestrial civilizations.
Kaku categorizes impossibilities into three classes:
– Class I Impossibilities – Technologies that seem impossible today but do not violate known physics, like force fields, teleportation, and invisibility.
– Class II Impossibilities – Concepts like time travel and faster-than-light travel, which might only be possible on a scale of millennia.
– Class III Impossibilities – Ideas that violate the fundamental laws of physics, such as perpetual motion machines.
While Physics of the Impossible is an exciting read, some parts already feel outdated. When the book was published, projects like the Hubble Space Telescope were still in progress. Now, with the James Webb Space Telescope providing stunning images of deep space, some of Kaku’s “future” scenarios are already part of our present. An updated edition would be welcome.
Another minor frustration is that, despite his efforts, some concepts still remain difficult to grasp. Kaku simplifies physics as much as possible, but there are moments when you may need to pause and reread a section, or do some additional research. I did several times.
Kaku is a master at making the impossible seem within reach. He takes the wildest ideas from science fiction and methodically examines whether they could one day become reality. His enthusiasm is infectious, and his ability to blend history, philosophy, and physics makes for an engaging read.
I cannot promise that you will understand everything in this book, I certainly had to do extra research on some concepts, but I can promise that it will stretch your imagination. If you have ever wondered whether time travel, warp drives, or teleportation could be real, “Physics of the Impossible” is the book for you.
