Immerse yourself in these graphic novels about physics
Physics lends itself to illustration. From da Vinci’s detailed drawings to schematics of a hypothetical zombie cat both alive and dead in a box, illustrations are invaluable tools for those not fluent in the language of equations.
But while illustrated textbooks abound, only relatively recently have artists and writers begun exploring physics concepts through the growing genre of graphic novels.
These artists (one of whom will deliver a live webcast from Perimeter on February 7!) convey complex ideas not only through illustration, but also narrative creativity, dialogue, action, and humour.
Here are some of our recommendations. Did we miss your favourite? Let us know in the comments.
The Dialogues by Clifford Johnson (MIT Press) is available here.
Max the Demon vs Entropy of Doom by Assa Auerbach and Richard Codor (Loose Line Productions Inc.) is available here.
Jim Ottaviani's graphic novels are available here.
Meanwhile by Jason Shiga (Harry N. Abrams) is available here.
The Max Axiom Series (Capstone Kids) is available here.
Mysteries of the Quantum Universe by Thibault Damour and Mathieu Burniat (Particular Books) is available here.
The Manga Guide to Physics by Hideo Nitta (No Starch Press) and other books in the series are available here.
Atomic Robo Presents Real Science Adventure books by Brian Clevinger and Matt Speroni (Red 5 Comics) are available here.
Further exploration
About PI
Perimeter Institute is the world’s largest research hub devoted to theoretical physics. The independent Institute was founded in 1999 to foster breakthroughs in the fundamental understanding of our universe, from the smallest particles to the entire cosmos. Research at Perimeter is motivated by the understanding that fundamental science advances human knowledge and catalyzes innovation, and that today’s theoretical physics is tomorrow’s technology. Located in the Region of Waterloo, the not-for-profit Institute is a unique public-private endeavour, including the Governments of Ontario and Canada, that enables cutting-edge research, trains the next generation of scientific pioneers, and shares the power of physics through award-winning educational outreach and public engagement.
