Using Superheroes to Engage the Public

Costumed superheroes seem to dominate our movie and television screens, making them an excellent delivery system to bring real physics to the general public. While the super powers these characters possess clearly violate the laws of nature, often times how the superheroes and supervillains utilize their powers is consistent with known physical laws. One can therefore leverage the public’s interest in these characters to illustrate and explain the physics principles that underlie their fantastic adventures. I will describe examples of using superheroes in science communication, such as how the Black Panther’s vibranium suit relates to the principle of conservation of energy, while the Infinity Stones (the MacGuffin of the last 22 Marvel Cinematic Universe films) can be connected to Emmy Noether and her theory relating conservation principles and symmetries in the laws of physics. People come for the superhero ice cream sundae, and stay for the real science. Science communication is sometimes hindered by the Backfire Effect, a phenomenon in Psychology and Neuroscience where a person will resist new information that conflicts with preconceived notions. Presenting information in a non-confrontational manner, using superheroes or other examples from popular culture, can avoid triggering the Backfire Effect, making for more effective public engagement.