Jeanne Cavelos - The Science of Star Wars: An Astrophysicists Independent Examination of Space Travel, Aliens, Planets, and Robots as Portrayed in the Star Wars Films and Books

THE

SCIENCE

OF

STAR WARS

ALSO BY JEANNE CAVELOS

The Science of The X-Files
Babylon 5 Book #7: The Shadow Within

AN ASTROPHYSICISTS
INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION
OF SPACE TRAVEL, ALIENS, PLANETS,
AND ROBOTS AS PORTRAYED
IN THE STAR WARS FILMS
AND BOOKS

JEANNE CAVELOS

To my husband,
who had to pass
the Star Wars
before out first date.

Im glad you did.

THE SCIENCE OR STAR WARS. Copyright 1999, 2000 by Jeanne Cavelos. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martins Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Cavelos, Jeanne.

The science of star wars : an astrophysicists independent examination of space travel, aliens, planets, and robots as portrayed in the Star wars films and books / Jeanne Cavelos

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-312-26387-4
ISBN 0-312-26387-2 (pbk)

1. Space sciences. 2. Star wars (Motion picture) I. Title. QB5OO.C38 1999

500.5dc21

99-22007
CIP

First St. Martins Griffin Edition: May 2000

Text design by Stanley S. Drate/Folio Graphics Co. Inc.

D 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3

Are planets as common as they seem in Star Wars? How likely are Earth-type planets? Could a planet have two suns, as Tatooine does? What conditions are necessary for a planet to develop its own life forms, as we see on Hoth, Tatooine, and many others? What are conditions really like within an asteroid field, and what are the chances of successfully navigating one? How likely is it that humans could live comfortably on so many different planets? How could Naboo have developed its unique structure? Is alien life likely on a moon, such as the Ewok moon of Endor, or the moon of Yavin? Could a planet be entirely desert, like Tatooine? And if so, could life form there?

What might alien life be like? How likely are we to find humanoid aliens? How about intelligent aliens? How likely are the various aliens we meet in Star Wars? Why might Jar Jar Binks have those crazy eyes? Why might Wookiees be bipeds? What is life like for a Hutt? Could giant slugs live inside asteroids? Can Ewoks really climb trees? How might Scurriers, Dewbacks, Rontos, and Banthas survive on the desert planet of Tatooine? Might a Sarlacc really take a thousand years to digest its prey? Why do Jawas eyes glow? What dangers does desert life pose for humans?

Are droids shaped like R2-D2 and C-3PO the most practical types of robots for humans to build? What would be the best design for a battle droid, or for legged tanks like the Walkers? Could we someday build robots as intelligent as Artoo and Threepio? Can we make robots that see, hear, and speak, like Star Wars droids? Can we create robots that have their own emotions, and why would we want to? Can robots detect our emotions? Can robots express emotions? Why do Artoo and Threepio constantly argue? Why cant Han and Threepio get along? Can we create bionic limbs like Vaders and Lukes? What injuries might require Vader to use a breathing aid?

Could Star Wars ships be traveling around the galaxy at near the speed of light? How fast can ships go using propulsion, and what is the most efficient fuel? Could Han Solo get around the light-speed limit by traveling through a wormhole, warping space, or traveling through hidden dimensions? What is hyperspace? Could the vacuum of space itself provide energy for space travel? Could Star Wars ships accelerate rapidly without crushing their passengers? How might ships create artificial gravity? How might antigravitational vehicles like speeders and STAPs operate? Is there any way to explain Hans boast about the Kessel Run? How do blasters and other laser weapons in the movies work? Could we build light sabers?

Is there any way to incorporate the Force into our current scientific understanding of the universe? Could the Force be carried by particles that pervade space? Could these particles provide energy to levitate objects? How could Jedi affect such particles just by thinking about it? Could there be an unknown force that has the effects of the Force? Could the Force allow Jedi to see the future, or to see events at great distances? Can the Force be explained with quantum theory? Can the mind control events on the quantum level? How might Jedi influence the weak minded? Do humans have any psychic abilities? What evidence have scientists found of telepathy, clairvoyance, and psychokinesis?

How does the introduction of midi-chlorians in The Phantom Menace affect our understanding of the Force? Could microscopic life forms exist within every living cell in every species? What might the midi-chlorians be like? Could they connect Jedi to the Force? Could high concentrations of midi-chlorians be inherited? Could the midi-chlorians have caused Anakins fatherless birth?

I would like to thank my research assistant, Keith Maxwell, for his dedication and hard work. I honestly believe he can find valid scientific research on any topic, no matter how unusual. Keith was an invaluable help throughout the writing of this book.

I would also like to thank the many scientists quoted within this book, who graciously shared their time and expertise and brought their own fascinating perspectives to the Star Wars universe.

Special thanks to my Internet group of scientists and Star Wars fans. Im very grateful for the help they provided, brainstorming ideas, serving as sounding boards, contributing expert knowledge, and offering valuable feedback: Tom Thatcher, Dr. Charles Lurio, Dr. Michael Burns, Dr. Stuart Penn, Dr. John Schilling, Dr. Korey Moeller, Elizabeth Bartosz, Dr. Stephanie Ross, Dr. Andrew Michael, Megan Gentry, M. Mitchell Marmel, Dr. Paul Viscuso, Reed Riddle, Carrie Vaughn, Patricia Jackson, John Donigan, Dr. Michael Harper, Janis Cortese, Dr. Michael Blumlein, Joellyn Crowley, Dr. David Loffredo, Beth and Ben Dibble, Jay Denebeim, Bruce Goatly, Dr. Gail Dolbear, Dr. Gary Day, K. Waldo Ricke, Dr. Dennis C. Hwang, Bill Hartman, Patrick Randall, and Margo Cavelos.

Thanks to Sue Gagnon, Mark Purington, and the rest of the staff at Saint Anselm Colleges Geisel Library, who went to incredible lengths to get me massive amounts of materials in a timely manner, and bravely fought off overdue notices.

Thanks to my editor, Joe Veltre, for his wisdom and enthusiasm, and to my agent, Lori Perkins, for all her support.

Thanks to George Lucas for creating this rich, wonderful universe to explore.

And on the home front, thanks to Igmoe, my iguana, for providing exciting work breaks as he chased me around the house trying to mate with me. And to my husband, thanks for understanding when I only left my computer to eat and sleep (and to run from Igmoe), and for living with all the disorder my work generated. With a little water, my office could look just like the inside of a Death Star garbage masher.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

A high school junior, I walked into a Syracuse movie theater in May 1977. When I walked out, nothing was the same. That opening shot, in which a star destroyer flew endlessly out of the screen, sent my heart racing. I had never before visited such a bizarre, exhilarating, awe-inspiring, fully realized universe. I wanted to live in that galaxy far, far away. And so I did, for two hours at a time. Many, many times.