Fake Physics: Spoofs, Hoaxes and Fictitious Science

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Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3030133141
Total Pages : 170 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (31 download)

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Book Synopsis Fake Physics: Spoofs, Hoaxes and Fictitious Science by : Andrew May

Download or read book Fake Physics: Spoofs, Hoaxes and Fictitious Science written by Andrew May and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-04-12 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: People are used to seeing “fake physics” in science fiction – concepts like faster-than-light travel, antigravity and time travel to name a few. The fiction label ought to be a giveaway, but some SF writers – especially those with a background in professional science – are so adept at “technobabble” that it can be difficult to work out what is fake and what is real. To confuse matters further, Isaac Asimov’s 1948 piece about the fictitious time-travelling substance thiotimoline was written, not as a short story, but in the form of a spoof research paper. The boundaries between fact and fiction can also be blurred by physicists themselves - sometimes unintentionally, sometimes with tongue-in-cheek, sometimes to satirize perceived weaknesses in research practices. Examples range from hoaxes aimed at exposing poor editorial standards in academic publications, through “thought experiments” that sound like the plot of a sci-fi movie to April Fools’ jokes. Even the latter may carry a serious message, whether about the sociology of science or poking fun at legitimate but far-out scientific hypotheses. This entertaining book is a joyous romp exploring the whole spectrum of fake physics – from science to fiction and back again.

How Space Physics Really Works

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Publisher : Springer Nature
ISBN 13 : 3031339509
Total Pages : 156 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (313 download)

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Book Synopsis How Space Physics Really Works by : Andrew May

Download or read book How Space Physics Really Works written by Andrew May and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2023-06-28 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There is a huge gulf between the real physics of space travel and the way it is commonly portrayed in movies and TV shows. That’s not because space physics is difficult or obscure – most of the details were understood by the end of the 18th century – but because it can often be bafflingly counter-intuitive for a general audience. The purpose of this book isn’t to criticize or debunk popular sci-fi depictions, which can be very entertaining, but to focus on how space physics really works. This is done with the aid of numerous practical illustrations taken from the works of serious science fiction authors – from Jules Verne and Arthur C. Clarke to Larry Niven and Andy Weir – who have taken positive pleasure in getting their scientific facts right.

Alien Legacies

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Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0197556027
Total Pages : 281 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (975 download)

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Book Synopsis Alien Legacies by : Nathan Abrams

Download or read book Alien Legacies written by Nathan Abrams and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2023-03-27 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 1979 film Alien has left an indelible mark on popular culture. Directed by Ridley Scott, at the time known primarily for making advertisements, and starring then-unknown actor Sigourney Weaver in the lead role, it transcended its humble origins to shock and disturb audiences upon its initial release. Its success has led to three direct sequels, two prequels, one "mashup" franchise, a series of comic books, graphic novels, novelizations, games, and an enormous and devoted fanbase. For forty years, Alien and its progeny have animated debate and discussion among critics and academics from a wide variety of fields and methodological perspectives. This book brings together scholars from diverse disciplinary backgrounds to explore Alien through a contemporary lens. The chapters here demonstrate the extent to which its effects and reception are deeply multifaceted, with the Alien franchise straddling the lines between "high" and "low" culture, playing with generic categories, crossing media boundaries, and animating theoretical, critical, and political debates. Chapters touch on female agency and motherhood, the influence of H.R. Giger, the viscerality of Alien's body horror, the narrative tradition of the Female Gothic, the patriarchal gaze in the Alien video games, and the rise of in-universe online marketing campaigns. In so doing, the volume aims to debate Alien's legacy, consider its current position within visual culture, and establish what the series means--and why it still matters--forty years since its birth.

The Science of Sci-Fi Music

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Author :
Publisher : Springer Nature
ISBN 13 : 3030478335
Total Pages : 156 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (34 download)

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Book Synopsis The Science of Sci-Fi Music by : Andrew May

Download or read book The Science of Sci-Fi Music written by Andrew May and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-06-30 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 20th century saw radical changes in the way serious music is composed and produced, including the advent of electronic instruments and novel compositional methods such as serialism and stochastic music. Unlike previous artistic revolutions, this one took its cues from the world of science. Creating electronic sounds, in the early days, required a well-equipped laboratory and an understanding of acoustic theory. Composition became increasingly “algorithmic”, with many composers embracing the mathematics of set theory. The result was some of the most intellectually challenging music ever written – yet also some of the best known, thanks to its rapid assimilation into sci-fi movies and TV shows, from the electronic scores of Forbidden Planet and Dr Who to the other-worldly sounds of 2001: A Space Odyssey. This book takes a close look at the science behind "science fiction" music, as well as exploring the way sci-fi imagery found its way into the work of musicians like Sun Ra and David Bowie, and how music influenced the science fiction writings of Philip K. Dick and others.

ECSM 2023 10th European Conference on Social Media

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Publisher : Academic Conferences and publishing limited
ISBN 13 : 1914587669
Total Pages : 391 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (145 download)

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Book Synopsis ECSM 2023 10th European Conference on Social Media by : Iwona Lupa-Wójcik

Download or read book ECSM 2023 10th European Conference on Social Media written by Iwona Lupa-Wójcik and published by Academic Conferences and publishing limited. This book was released on 2023-05-18 with total page 391 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Captivated Audience

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Publisher : Pressbooks
ISBN 13 : 9780692728925
Total Pages : 158 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (289 download)

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Book Synopsis The Captivated Audience by : Alexander Ray

Download or read book The Captivated Audience written by Alexander Ray and published by Pressbooks. This book was released on 2016-06-01 with total page 158 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An entertaining page-turner that could literally change your world view. If you subscribe to what "The Captivated Audience: Hoaxes, Illusions and the Biblical Earth" proposes it will warrant that you forsake NASA and some of the scientific theories that we have been indoctrinated to believe as truths. Only you can awaken from this "Masonic Induced Hypnosis," or continue being an unassuming member of the "Captivated Audience." The subject matter is controversial, but it is also challenging and implores you to use an "open mind." and critical thinking. Topics will include the lunar landing, Antarctica, Genesis and the Biblical Earth.

Mr Tompkins in Paperback

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Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 1107604680
Total Pages : 209 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (76 download)

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Book Synopsis Mr Tompkins in Paperback by : George Gamow

Download or read book Mr Tompkins in Paperback written by George Gamow and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2012-03-26 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since his first appearance over sixty years ago, Mr Tompkins has become known and loved by many readers as the bank clerk whose fantastic dreams lead him into a world inside the atom. This classic provides a delightful explanation of the central concepts in physics, from atomic structure to relativity.

Molecules with Silly Or Unusual Names

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Publisher : World Scientific
ISBN 13 : 1848162073
Total Pages : 189 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (481 download)

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Book Synopsis Molecules with Silly Or Unusual Names by : Paul W. May

Download or read book Molecules with Silly Or Unusual Names written by Paul W. May and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2008 with total page 189 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This popular science book shows that chemists do have a sense of humor, and this book is a celebration of the quirky side of scientific nomenclature. Here, some molecules are shown that have unusual, rude, ridiculous or downright silly names. Written in an easy-to-read style, anyone ? not just scientists ? can appreciate the content. Each molecule is illustrated with a photograph and/or image that relates directly or indirectly to its name and molecular structure. Thus, the book is not only entertaining, but also educational.

Pseudoscience and Science Fiction

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Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319426052
Total Pages : 181 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (194 download)

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Book Synopsis Pseudoscience and Science Fiction by : Andrew May

Download or read book Pseudoscience and Science Fiction written by Andrew May and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-09-13 with total page 181 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Aliens, flying saucers, ESP, the Bermuda Triangle, antigravity ... are we talking about science fiction or pseudoscience? Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference. Both pseudoscience and science fiction (SF) are creative endeavours that have little in common with academic science, beyond the superficial trappings of jargon and subject matter. The most obvious difference between the two is that pseudoscience is presented as fact, not fiction. Yet like SF, and unlike real science, pseudoscience is driven by a desire to please an audience – in this case, people who “want to believe”. This has led to significant cross-fertilization between the two disciplines. SF authors often draw on “real” pseudoscientific theories to add verisimilitude to their stories, while on other occasions pseudoscience takes its cue from SF – the symbiotic relationship between ufology and Hollywood being a prime example of this. This engagingly written, well researched and richly illustrated text explores a wide range of intriguing similarities and differences between pseudoscience and the fictional science found in SF. Andrew May has a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and a PhD in astrophysics from Manchester University. After many years in academia and the private sector, he now works as a freelance writer and scientific consultant. He has written pocket biographies of Newton and Einstein, as well as contributing to a number of popular science books. He has a lifelong interest in science fiction, and has had several articles published in Fortean Times magazine

Technocreep

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Publisher : Greystone Books Ltd
ISBN 13 : 1771641223
Total Pages : 264 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (716 download)

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Book Synopsis Technocreep by : Thomas P. Keenan

Download or read book Technocreep written by Thomas P. Keenan and published by Greystone Books Ltd. This book was released on 2014 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Technology is rapidly moving into our bodies," writes cyber expert Keenan, "and this book gives a chilling look ahead into where that road may lead us - on a one way trip to the total surrender of privacy and the commoditization of intimacy." Here is the definitive dissection of privacy-eroding and life-invading technologies, coming at you from governments, corporations, and the person next door. Take, for example, "Girls Around Me": a Russian-made iPhone App that allowed anyone to scan the immediate vicinity for girls and women who checked in on Foursquare and had poorly secured Facebook profiles. It combined this information in a way never intended by the original poster. Going to a Disney theme park? Your creepy new "MagicBand" will alert Minnie Mouse that you're on the way and she'll know your kid's name when you approach her. Thinking about sending your DNA off to Ancestry.com for some "genetic genealogy"? Perhaps you should think again: your genetic information could be used against you. "This masterful weaving of the negatives and positives of technology makes for a book that is realistic about technology's perils yet optimistic about it's great potential."--Foreword Reviews

Hollyweird Science

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Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 9783319150710
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (57 download)

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Book Synopsis Hollyweird Science by : Kevin R. Grazier

Download or read book Hollyweird Science written by Kevin R. Grazier and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-08-05 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lighthearted, quirky, and upbeat, this book explores the portrayal of science and technology on both the big and little screen -- and how Hollywood is actually doing a better job of getting it right than ever before. Grounded in the real-word, and often cutting-edge, science and technology that inspires fictional science, the authors survey Hollywood depictions of topics such as quantum mechanics, parallel universes, and alien worlds. Including material from interviews with over two dozen writers, producers, and directors of acclaimed science-themed productions -- as well as scientists, science fiction authors, and science advisors -- Hollyweird Science examines screen science fiction from the sometimes-conflicting vantage points of storytellers, researchers, and viewers. Including a foreword by Eureka co-creator and executive producer Jaime Paglia, and an afterword by astronomer and science fiction author Michael Brotherton, Ph.D., this book is accessible to all readers from the layperson to the armchair expert to the professional scientist, and will delight all of them equally.

Software Studies

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Publisher : MIT Press
ISBN 13 : 0262062747
Total Pages : 349 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (62 download)

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Book Synopsis Software Studies by : Matthew Fuller

Download or read book Software Studies written by Matthew Fuller and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2008 with total page 349 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection of short expository, critical and speculative texts offers a field guide to the cultural, political, social and aesthetic impact of software. Experts from a range of disciplines each take a key topic in software and the understanding of software, such as algorithms and logical structures.

Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age

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Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1475729502
Total Pages : 181 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (757 download)

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Book Synopsis Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age by : Joseph M. Kizza

Download or read book Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age written by Joseph M. Kizza and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-09 with total page 181 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An introduction to the social and policy issues which have arisen as a result of IT. Whilst it assumes a modest familiarity with computers, the book provides a guide to the issues suitable for undergraduates. In doing so, the author prompts students to consider questions such as: * How do morality and the law relate to each other? * What should be covered in a professional code of conduct for information technology professionals? * What are the ethical issues relating to copying software? * Is electronic monitoring o employees wrong? * What are the moral codes of cyberspace? Throughout, the book shows how in many ways the technological development is outpacing the ability of our legal systems, and how different paradigms applied to ethical questions often proffer conflicting conclusions. As a result, students will find this a thought-provoking and valuable survey of the new and difficult ethical questions posed by the Internet, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality.

Convergence Culture

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Publisher : NYU Press
ISBN 13 : 0814742955
Total Pages : 361 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (147 download)

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Book Synopsis Convergence Culture by : Henry Jenkins

Download or read book Convergence Culture written by Henry Jenkins and published by NYU Press. This book was released on 2008-09 with total page 361 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “What the future fortunes of [Gramsci’s] writings will be, we cannot know. However, his permanence is already sufficiently sure, and justifies the historical study of his international reception. The present collection of studies is an indispensable foundation for this.” —Eric Hobsbawm, from the preface Antonio Gramsci is a giant of Marxian thought and one of the world's greatest cultural critics. Antonio A. Santucci is perhaps the world's preeminent Gramsci scholar. Monthly Review Press is proud to publish, for the first time in English, Santucci’s masterful intellectual biography of the great Sardinian scholar and revolutionary. Gramscian terms such as “civil society” and “hegemony” are much used in everyday political discourse. Santucci warns us, however, that these words have been appropriated by both radicals and conservatives for contemporary and often self-serving ends that often have nothing to do with Gramsci’s purposes in developing them. Rather what we must do, and what Santucci illustrates time and again in his dissection of Gramsci’s writings, is absorb Gramsci’s methods. These can be summed up as the suspicion of “grand explanatory schemes,” the unity of theory and practice, and a focus on the details of everyday life. With respect to the last of these, Joseph Buttigieg says in his Nota: “Gramsci did not set out to explain historical reality armed with some full-fledged concept, such as hegemony; rather, he examined the minutiae of concrete social, economic, cultural, and political relations as they are lived in by individuals in their specific historical circumstances and, gradually, he acquired an increasingly complex understanding of how hegemony operates in many diverse ways and under many aspects within the capillaries of society.” The rigor of Santucci’s examination of Gramsci’s life and work matches that of the seminal thought of the master himself. Readers will be enlightened and inspired by every page.

My Many Selves

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 344 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis My Many Selves by : Wayne C. Booth

Download or read book My Many Selves written by Wayne C. Booth and published by . This book was released on 2006-01-31 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: His memoir, My Many Selves, is both an incisive self-examination and a creative approach to retelling his life. Writing his autobiography became a quest to harmonize the diverse, discordant parts of his identity and resolve the conflicts in what he thought and believed. To see himself clearly and whole, he broke his self down, personified the fragments, uncovered their roots in his life, and engaged his multiple identities and experiences in dialogue. Basic to his story and to its lifelong concerns with ethics and rhetoric was his youth in rural Utah. He valued that background, while acknowledging its ambiguous influence on him, and continued to identify himself as Mormon, though he renounced most Latter-day Saint doctrines. Wayne Booth died in October 2005, soon after completing work on his autobiography.

Practise to Deceive

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Publisher : Naval Institute Press
ISBN 13 : 1612519830
Total Pages : 281 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (125 download)

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Book Synopsis Practise to Deceive by : Barton Whaley

Download or read book Practise to Deceive written by Barton Whaley and published by Naval Institute Press. This book was released on 2016-01-15 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Written by the undisputed dean of U.S. denial and deception experts, Practise to Deceive is the most in-depth look at deception as a military strategy. Barton Whaley knew the history of denial and deception across time, disciplines, and culture. He was the foremost authority on the intricacies of denial and deception strategy and tactics. For Whaley, deception was a mind-game, requiring imagination, deep critical thought, a profound understanding of the enemy as well as one’s self (a variation of Sun Tzu), and patience and fortitude. This book presents 88 vividly descriptive case studies to serve as a handbook for intelligence and military professionals. In Whaley’s analysis, variations in guilefulness between opposing individuals or groups can be crucial in deciding who achieves victory in combat.

Fashionable Nonsense

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Publisher : Picador
ISBN 13 : 1466862408
Total Pages : 317 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (668 download)

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Book Synopsis Fashionable Nonsense by : Alan Sokal

Download or read book Fashionable Nonsense written by Alan Sokal and published by Picador. This book was released on 2014-01-14 with total page 317 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1996 physicist Alan Sokal published an essay in Social Text--an influential academic journal of cultural studies--touting the deep similarities between quantum gravitational theory and postmodern philosophy. Soon thereafter, the essay was revealed as a brilliant parody, a catalog of nonsense written in the cutting-edge but impenetrable lingo of postmodern theorists. The event sparked a furious debate in academic circles and made the headlines of newspapers in the U.S. and abroad. In Fashionable Nonsense: Postmodern Intellectuals' Abuse of Science, Sokal and his fellow physicist Jean Bricmont expand from where the hoax left off. In a delightfully witty and clear voice, the two thoughtfully and thoroughly dismantle the pseudo-scientific writings of some of the most fashionable French and American intellectuals. More generally, they challenge the widespread notion that scientific theories are mere "narrations" or social constructions.