io9

Just How Accurate Are Science Fictional Space Battles?

By Robbie Gonzalez Published September 27, 2014, 4:00 pm ET

Reading time 1 minute

In the latest installment of It’s Okay to be Smart, Joe Hanson talks about the physics of fictional space battles.

This is pedantry at its best, easily one of my favorite IOTBS episodes in recent memory. Contrasting the propulsive and directional abilities of fictional spacecraft with real-world examples was particularly crafty. Definitely worth a watch.

Explore more on these topics

Movies Physics Science Space

Share this story

Sign up for our newsletters

Subscribe and interact with our community, get up to date with our customised Newsletters and much more.

Related Articles

Artemis Ii Reid Wiseman Selfie with Earth in background

Artemis 2 Astronauts’ Epic iPhone Photos Are All… Selfies?

Turns out the incredible photos taken by the astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft are from the iPhone 17 Pro Max's front-facing camera and not its better rear shooters.

Gadgets Kyle Barr Apr 6

Gerran Howell Noah Wyle The Pitt Hbo Max

Teens Declare: Superheroes Are Out, Daddy Energy Is In

According to a new study, kids are moving on from stoic heroes—and want more compassionate portrayals of masculinity in their lives.

Television Isaiah Colbert Feb 25

DD Squad truck experiment

Watch a Man Get Launched Off a Truck at 50 MPH, for Science

Relax, you're in the loving arms of physics.

Social Media Tom Hawking Feb 10

‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Director Has a Theory on Why Visual FX Suck So Much Now

Gore Verbinski says the software behind modern blockbusters may be the real problem.

Culture Bruce Gil Jan 21

Iss International Space Station Nasa

Scientists Watched Viruses Attack Bacteria in Space. Things Got Weird

"Microbes continue to evolve under microgravity, and they do so in ways that are not always predictable."

Biology Ed Cara Jan 13

Alamo Drafthouse Moves to Mobile Food Ordering in the Movie Theater

The small screen meets the big screen.

Culture AJ Dellinger Jan 9

Sign up for our newsletters