Fake Physics

People are used to seeing "e;fake physics"e; 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 "e;technobabble"e; 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-traveling 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 "e;thought experiments"e; 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.