{"product_id":"fire-ice-and-physics-isbn-9780262539616","title":"Fire, Ice, and Physics","description":"\u003cb\u003eExploring the science in George R. R. Martin’s fantastical world, from the physics of an ice wall to the genetics of the Targaryens and Lannisters\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eGame of Thrones\u003c\/i\u003e is a fantasy that features a lot of made-up science—fabricated climatology (when is winter coming?), astronomy, metallurgy, chemistry, and biology. Most fans of George R. R. Martin’s fantastical world accept it all as part of the magic. A trained scientist, watching the fake science in \u003ci\u003eGame of Thrones\u003c\/i\u003e, might think, “But how would it work?” In \u003ci\u003eFire, Ice, and Physics\u003c\/i\u003e, Rebecca Thompson turns a scientist’s eye on \u003ci\u003eGame of Thrones\u003c\/i\u003e, exploring, among other things, the science of an ice wall, the genetics of the Targaryen and Lannister families, and the biology of beheading. Thompson, a PhD in physics and an enthusiastic \u003ci\u003eGame of Thrones\u003c\/i\u003e fan, uses the fantasy science of the show as a gateway to some interesting real science, introducing GOT fandom to a new dimension of appreciation.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Thompson starts at the beginning, with winter, explaining seasons and the very elliptical orbit of the Earth that might cause winter to come (or not come). She tells us that ice can behave like ketchup, compares regular steel to Valyrian steel, explains that dragons are “bats, but with fire,” and considers Targaryen inbreeding. Finally she offers scientific explanations of the various types of fatal justice meted out, including beheading, hanging, poisoning (reporting that the effects of “the Strangler,” administered to Joffrey at the Purple Wedding, resemble the effects of strychnine), skull crushing, and burning at the stake.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEven the most faithful \u003ci\u003eGame of Thrones\u003c\/i\u003e fans will learn new and interesting things about the show from Thompson’s entertaining and engaging account. \u003ci\u003eFire, Ice, and Physics\u003c\/i\u003e is an essential companion for all future bingeing.1. Winter   is Coming. Or is it? Seasons in Westeros\u003cbr\u003e 2. And Now My Watch Begins: The Science of an Ice Wall\u003cbr\u003e 3. North of the Wall: How to Survive in the Cold\u003cbr\u003e 4. White Walkers, Zombies, Parasites, and Statistics\u003cbr\u003e 5. Regular Steel, Made in Pittsburgh\u003cbr\u003e 6. Valyrian Steel, Made in Damascus\u003cbr\u003e 7. Dragon Biology: Bats but with Fire\u003cbr\u003e 8. How to Kill a White Walker: The Physics of Dragonglass\u003cbr\u003e 9. Harrenhal: Can Fire Melt Stone? Take Down a Wall?\u003cbr\u003e 10. The Battle of Blackwater: The Science of Wildfire\u003cbr\u003e 11. Houses Targaryen and Lannister: The Genetics of a Family Tree with Few   Branches\u003cbr\u003e 12. We Do Not Sow: The Science of The Sea\u003cbr\u003e 13. The King's Justice: The Biology of a Gruesome Death“In a world full of magic, there are still scientific rules that this alternate universe plays by. Rebecca Thompson guides the reader through what we know and what might be possible based on known science, blurring the mental lines we've drawn to separate fantasy from reality.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Ethan Siegel, theoretical astrophysicist; author of \u003ci\u003eTreknology and Beyond the Galaxy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “Even if you can’t tell a White Walker from a White Russian, you’ll find Becky Thompson’s \u003ci\u003eFire, Ice, and Physics\u003c\/i\u003e to be endlessly rewarding. From how to build an ice wall to how to make Valyrian steel to the aerodynamics of dragons, this fun and engaging book is full of clearly explained physics and real-world applications. I couldn’t put it down!”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—James Kakalios, Taylor Distinguished Physics Professor at the University of Minnesota; author of \u003ci\u003eThe Physics of Superheroes\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “From the biophysics of dragon fire to the engineering of ice walls, this book gives all the material you need to elevate those \u003ci\u003eGame of Thrones\u003c\/i\u003e conversations to even higher levels.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Clifford Johnson, Professor of Physics, University of Southern California; author of \u003ci\u003eThe Dialogues: Conversations about the Nature of the Universe\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eRebecca C. Thompson, PhD, is a physicist and author of the popular Spectra series of comic books about physics. She is Head of the Office of Education and Public Outreach at Fermilab\u003cb\u003e, \u003c\/b\u003ethe particle physics research facility near Chicago. She served as Director of Public Engagement for the American Physical Society from 2008 to 2019.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSean Carroll is a theoretical physicist at Caltech and the author of popular science books, including \u003ci\u003eThe Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itsel\u003c\/i\u003ef.","brand":"The MIT Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46301642326245,"sku":"NP9780262539616","price":17.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780262539616.jpg?v=1767726932","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/fire-ice-and-physics-isbn-9780262539616","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}