Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments

Part I: Class I Impossibilities
1: Force Fields
2: Invisibility
3: Phasers and Death Stars
4: Teleportation
5: Telepathy
6: Psychokinesis
7: Robots
8: Extraterrestrials and UFOs
9: Starships
10: Antimatter and Anti-universes

Part II: Class II Impossibilities
11: Faster Than Light
12: Time Travel
13: Parallel Universes

Part III: Class III Impossibilities
14: Perpetual Motion Machines
15: Precognition 2

Epilogue: The Future of the Impossible

Notes
Bibliography
Index

About the Author

MICHIO KAKU is a professor of physics at the City University of New York, cofounder of string field theory, and the author of several widely acclaimed science books, including Hyperspace, Beyond Einstein, Physics of the Impossible, and Physics of the Future. He is the science correspondent for CBS’s This Morning and host of the radio programs Science Fantastic and Explorations in Science.

Reviews

“[Kaku explores] what we still do not quite understand, those grey areas that are surely the most fascinating part of physics.” —New Scientist

“Kaku's latest book aims to explain exactly why some visions of the future may eventually be realized while others are likely to remain beyond the bounds of possibility. . . . Science fiction often explores such questions; science falls silent at this point. Kaku's work helps to fill a void.” —The Economist

“A fascinating exploration of the interface between science and science fiction, extremely well researched, lively, and tremendously entertaining." —Fritjof Capra, author of The Tao of Physics and The Science of Leonardo

“Mighty few theoretical physicists would bother expounding some of these possible impossibilities, and Kaku is to be congratulated for doing so. . . . [He gets] the juices of future physicists flowing.” —Los Angeles Times

In this latest effort to popularize the sciences, City University of New York professor and media star Kaku (Hyperspace) ponders topics that many people regard as impossible, ranging from psychokinesis and telepathy to time travel and teleportation. His Class I impossibilities include force fields, telepathy and antiuniverses, which don't violate the known laws of science and may become realities in the next century. Those in Class II await realization farther in the future and include faster-than-light travel and discovery of parallel universes. Kaku discusses only perpetual motion machines and precognition in Class III, things that aren't possible according to our current understanding of science. He explains how what many consider to be flights of fancy are being made tangible by recent scientific discoveries ranging from rudimentary advances in teleportation to the creation of small quantities of antimatter and transmissions faster than the speed of light. Science and science fiction buffs can easily follow Kaku's explanations as he shows that in the wonderful worlds of science, impossible things are happening every day. (Mar. 11) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

"[Kaku explores] what we still do not quite understand, those grey areas that are surely the most fascinating part of physics." -New Scientist

"Kaku's latest book aims to explain exactly why some visions of the future may eventually be realized while others are likely to remain beyond the bounds of possibility. . . . Science fiction often explores such questions; science falls silent at this point. Kaku's work helps to fill a void." -The Economist

"A fascinating exploration of the interface between science and science fiction, extremely well researched, lively, and tremendously entertaining." -Fritjof Capra, author of The Tao of Physics and The Science of Leonardo

"Mighty few theoretical physicists would bother expounding some of these possible impossibilities, and Kaku is to be congratulated for doing so. . . . [He gets] the juices of future physicists flowing." -Los Angeles Times