Monday, October 16, 2006

Oct 17 - Physics of Superheroes at Library of Congress

It's not too often that I get an email from a physics librarian, but Margaret of the LoC would like to invite us to hear a comics-related lecture. I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it, although I've got his book sitting in my briefcase, just in case.



On Tuesday, October 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the West Dining Room of the James Madison Building at the Library of Congress: Dr. James Kakalios will speak on "The Physics of Superheroes." The event is co-sponsored by the Science, Technology & Business Division and the Serial and Government Publications Division.

Dr. Kakalios is a professor in the School of of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota, where he has taught since 1988; his class "Everything I Needed to Know About Physics I Learned From Reading Comic Books," is a popular freshman seminar. He is the author of "The Physics of Superheroes" (Gotham Books, 2005), and copies of the book will be available for purchase at this event. The book explores everything from energy to thermodynamics, to quantum mechanics, to solid state physics, and Kakalios relates the physics in comic books to such real-world applications as automobile airbags, microwave ovens, and transistors.

A display of selected comic books from the Library's collection will also be featured at this event. For more information please contact the ST&B Division at 202-707-5664.

The book will be on sale and Dr. Kakalios will be available for signing after the talk.

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