Fake Physics: Spoofs, Hoaxes and Fictitious Science

by Andrew May, Tim Gerard Reynolds (Narrator)

People are used to seeing “fake physics” in science fiction – concepts like faster-than-light travel, antigravity and time travel to name a few. The fiction label ought to be a giveaway, but some SF writers – especially those with a background in professional science – are so adept at “technobabble” that it can be difficult to work out what is fake and what is real. To confuse matters further, Isaac Asimov’s 1948 piece about the fictitious time-travelling substance thiotimoline was written, not as a short story, but in the form of a spoof research paper.

The boundaries between fact and fiction can also be blurred by physicists themselves - sometimes unintentionally, sometimes with tongue-in-cheek, sometimes to satirize perceived weaknesses in research practices. Examples range from hoaxes aimed at exposing poor editorial standards in academic publications, through “thought experiments” that sound like the plot of a sci-fi movie to April Fools’ jokes. Even the latter may carry a serious message, whether about the sociology of science or poking fun at legitimate but far-out scientific hypotheses.

This entertaining book is a joyous romp exploring the whole spectrum of fake physics – from science to fiction and back again.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Physics

Audible Audio

Published December 29, 2021

About the author

Andrew May is a former scientist with an MA from Cambridge University and a PhD in Astrophysics from Manchester University. After a thirty year career spanning the academic, government and private sectors, he has now settled in the South-West of England where he works as a freelance writer and consultant on subjects as diverse as defence technology, history, physics, Forteana and New Age beliefs.

Reviews

[Astragen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're into stuff like this, you can read the full review.



FaceApp: "Fake Physics: Spoofs, Hoaxes and Fictitious Science" by Andrew May



“For a SF writer, or anyone else, to produce ‘fake physics’ that might even fool a professional physicist, it has to look much more like the real thing.â€


In “Fake Physics: Spoofs, Hoaxes and Fictitious Science†by Andrew May


“Technically Quantum Theory is a branch of physics, but it’s quite unlike any of the others. It doesn’t involve any authoritarian ‘laws of physics’ that you’re not allowed to break. Relativity says you can’t travel faster than light. The Second Law of Thermodynamics says you can’t have perpetual motion. Quantum Theory, on the other hand, says you can do anything you like. [...] It’s based entirely on jargon, which you can use to mean whatever you want it to mean. A few examples are: ‘Nonlocality, ‘Entanglement’, ‘Wave-Particle Duality’, ‘Hidden Variables’ and ‘the Uncertainty Principle’. Feel free to use these terms in any way you want: no-one else understands them any better than you do.â€

In a spoof story called “Science for Crackpots†reprinted in “Fake Physics: Spoofs, Hoaxes and Fictitious Science†by Andrew May


“Is the Yeti the same species as Bigfoot or a different one? Does the effectiveness of telepathy depend on the distance involved? Why does the temperature drop when a ghost is in the room? How many members of the US congress are shape-shifting reptiles? If mainstream science [as opposed to crackpot science] addressed questions like these, people might start taking it seriously. â€


In a spoof story called “Science for Crackpots†reprinted in “Fake Physics: Spoofs, Hoaxes and Fictitious Science†by Andrew May



Do you believe FACEAPP App really ages you? (*)

Continues elsewhere.

[JustEvan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would assume the author is getting paid by Nature magazine before reading this book. The number of times he fawningly refers to it as "that most prestigious of peer-reviewed journals" is just weird.
That said, generally a fun read with a couple issues.
The first is an error in definitions. Mr. May repeatedly confuses inventors (who tend to be engineers, in many cases with little or no academic background) with research scientists. As Matt Ridley has shown many great inventions were indeed made by lone mavericks working on their own (and in parallel, but separately with others). Research scientists then explain what discovered.
The other issue is obviously his personal bugbear of those with temerity to disagree with the hypothesis of anthropogenic climate change. All the while quoting Popper, even though much of global warming theory is unfalsifiable. He could have done without all the moral preening.
Though the book got a start back for mentioning James Lindsey, who is based.

[رغد معلواني · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب ماتع..
كيف تتحول يختلط الخيال العلمي في ساحات الشباب بالحقائق؟ بل كيف يختلط حتى بين العلماء المختصين؟
ما عليك إلا أن تنشر بلغة علمية رصينة وواثقة، ولا أحد سيدقق من بعدك ولا أحد سيرى إن كنت حققت الوعود التي قطعتها في مقدمة البحث..

إن تحول البحث من خدمة العلوم وتجديدها والثورة المفاهيمية إلى كونها أداة وظيفية محضة تضمن لك الارتقاء في السلم الوظيفي أدى إلى اختلاط وركاكة جوهرية مع رصانة ظاهرية في المحتوى العلمي.

الأبحاث الساخرة وكذبة أبريل قصة أخرى، لم أكن أعلم بها قبل هذا الكتاب، والسماح بهذه الظاهرة في المجلات العلمية شيء عجيب… لأن السخرية حين لا تفهم ولا يدرى أنها سخرية تتحول إلى تضليل، والتضليل شيء جيد في سياق براغماتي كالبحث الذي وجد في أفغانستان عن تصنيع القنابل التي انفجرت بالرجل الذي كان يحاول تصنيعها… ولكن في سياق انتشر فيه الهوس بالخيال العلمي والبوب ساينس ينبغي التوجه إلى التشديد لا التمييع في الأبحاث العلمية..

يفرق الكتاب أيضًا ببراعة بين الخيال العلمي والتجارب الفكرية على غرار مفارقة التوأم وانكماش الطول، وكون هذه الأفكار يمكن توظيفها في الخيال العلمي لا يعني أنها أفكار غير علمية…

[Ralph Trickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read, but read the description. This book is about both crossovers between sci fi and science and scientists having fun. It also pokes fun at some of the publishers. In addition to the vanity publishers, one scientist had to put the name of his pet onto his paper since he was having problems getting it published as the sole author ;) I listened to the audible version based on the narrator, who was excellent. You may have to follow along in the PDF in order to follow some of the equations. They aren't really needed to follow the narrative.

[Carlos · Rating 2 out of 5]

May combines writing about comedic satires written by scientific experts for a specialized audience with the purposeful misrepresentation of scientific knowledge aimed at a general audience in order to push a particular agenda. While reading about the former had some entertainment value, reading about the latter felt pointless. Although May does manage to make some interesting points about the nature and goals of genuine scientific pursuits, the devotion of so much time to the misuse of science lessened the value of this short work.

[Javi]

This one is good for learning to recognize spoofs by providing great examples of fake science. It discusses interesting topics — the blurred lines between science fiction and actual science, people who believe the lizards control the world, how the “politically correct” mindset can lead to irresponsible publications available to the public who will not question it, and generative AI used to write papers.

[Ian McGaffey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the premise of this book, but found it hard to follow along with. The rising problems with fake research papers makes me wonder why people still do them for fun. Seems like it might actually be of kor eharm than good at times.

[Jishad MT · Rating 3 out of 5]

One key takeaway for me from this book is the content on fake academic papers. Fake for fun, and fake under pressure of "publish or perish".

Too much jargon-filled if you're not into academic physics.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book, but it wasn't what I was looking for (this book is more focused on scientific trolling by scientists than anything).

[Stefan Persson · Rating 1 out of 5]

imagine a book full of random words strewn on page up page down.....this book is worse than that.

[يوسف عبداللطيف · Rating 4 out of 5]

A masterful exploration that goes beyond superficial explanations, 'Fake Physics: Spoofs, Hoaxes and Fictitious Science' by Andrew May, unraveling subtle details that are often overlooked in mainstream discussions, leaving a lasting imprint that lingers long after turning the final page.