The Science of Science Fiction

Early science fiction imagined a world with space travel, video calls, and worldwide access to information, things we now know as NASA’s human spaceflight program, Skype, and the Internet. What next? Could we really bring back the dinosaurs, travel to a distant star, or live on Mars?

In The Science of Science Fiction, readers ages 12 to 15 explore the science behind classic and modern science fiction stories, including artificial intelligence, androids, and the search for alien life. They learn how cutting edge concepts, including time dilation and genetic manipulation, influence today’s fiction.

The Science of Science Fiction promotes critical thinking skills through inquiry, discovery, research, analysis, and reflection of key scientific ideas and concepts made popular by many titles in science fiction. Each chapter features informative sidebars and video and website links for an in-depth look at key topics. Science-minded experiments include a simple demonstration of artificial gravity using a bucket of water and calculating the speed of light using chocolate in a microwave. This variety of resources ensures the material is accessible to students with diverse learning styles.

Matthew Brenden Wood is a math and science teacher with a passion for STEAM education. An avid amateur astronomer and astrophotographer, Wood holds a bachelor’s degree in astronomy from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and lives in Phoenix, AZ.

Tom Casteel is a cartoonist with a master's degree from the Center for Cartoon Studies. Tom has illustrated several books for Nomad Press, including The Brain: Journey Through the Universe Inside Your Head. Tom lives in South Bend, IN.

Timeline
Introduction: The Science Behind the Fiction
Chapter One: Living on Other Worlds
Chapter Two: Wrapping Your Head Around Warp Speed
Chapter Three: The Trouble With Time Travel
Chapter Four: Your Friend the Android
Chapter Five: Living to the Ripe Old Age of …?
Chapter Six: Your Pet Dinosaur
Chapter Seven: Aliens!
Glossary
Resources
Index