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What if superpowers were real…

By Logan Smalley on June 27, 2013 in TED-Ed Lessons

JoyLin_SuperSpeed_YT2

Everyone fantasizes about what it would be like to lift a building, run faster than a speeding bullet, or temporarily turn on their invisibility. However, not everyone takes the time to consider the scientific ramifications of utilizing such spectacular gifts.

For instance, did you know that being invisible would render you blind? The transparent retina in your eye would be unable to reflect light, therefore providing no information for your brain to interpret as “sight.” More gruesomely, if you could fly above the clouds at any respectable speed, your face would experience extreme heat due to friction. Sure, you could slow down, but then you might get a little chilly at such high altitudes (assuming you could breathe.) You could fly below the clouds, but you’d need to be quite nimble to avoid the millions of bugs that would inevitably obstruct your path! The list goes on….


In this six part series, Texan educator, Joy Lin, explores the science and logical fallacies inherent to six highly desired superpowers —  super speed, super strength, invisibility, body mass, immortality and flight. The dynamic voice performing each  lesson is esteemed voice-over actor, James Arnold Taylor. Arnold is also the voice behind Fred Flintstone, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Leonardo, and countless other extraordinary, animated characters.

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