Superman Through the Ages! Forum

Ok..  I know that Flying is Superman's most well-known trademark power.  "You'll believe a man can fly" and all that jazz.

What I want to know is, what's the scientific explanation for how he manages to fly?  Telekinesis?  Built-in Lighter-then-air gas bladders? Organic Anti-Gravity?  A biological reactionless thruster organ?   ...Actually, those last two might make sense...

Anyways, what do you believe would be the scientific explanation for Superman's flight powers?

darn, I'm sorry Captain Kal isn't on anymore, so I guess I'm gonna have to pinch hit for him.

The explanation in SCIENCE OF SUPERMAN, which Mark Waid seems to use in BIRTHRIGHT, is that Superman's nervous system is superconductive. According to a famous Russian antigravity experiment, conditions of superconductivity allow for not only electricity to flow freely, but alters the flow of gravity as well.

Got a cite for that? I've never heard of anything being able to negate gravity, and it would pretty much revolutionize physics if it were proven true.

Happy thoughts.

That's how the animated version of Starfire flies. Oh, and Peter Pan, obviously.  :)

The fact that Superman was born on Krypton (which approaches the gravity pull of a star) allows him to defy gravity, similar to the way that humans defy gravity on the moon, but on a larger scale.

Still, this alone does not explain such activities as changing directions and speeds during flight. However, that is still a better explanation than the 1986 one, where all Superman's powers come from storing solar energy. My solar calculator does not fly, and if I store excess solar energy it's called "fat" and it places me more firmly under the control of gravity.

I kind of like the solar battery concept. I could think up a number of good stories to go along with it.

I think I could too. If I were in the right mood, I would write
DC COMICS PRESENTS SUPERMAN AND THE ENERGIZER BUNNY

Or, if you were Morrison, you could use the concept effectively in All-Star Superman.  :)

Captain Kal and I used to talk science on here fairly often but we stopped when it was discouraged.

As for resources to cite, google the name Podkletnov.

And take a look at this new info:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18925331.200

Just had a funky new idea..  

Ok, let's consider that Superman's cellular structure, when fully charged with solar energy, can generate a field which interacts with Earth's gravity/electromagnetic field, and grant Superman weightlessness.

Now, using this field, Superman can effectively "swim" his way through the air, physically "pushing" his way against energy fields.  His superstrength allows him to "push" with incredible strength, thus letting him fly at incredible speeds, as well as to "stand" in mid-air while lifting great weights.  It's also why Superman doesn't stand motionless when he flies; he's effectively "swimming through the air".

...Ok, I know that was a bunch of funky technobabble, but it works better for me then the "He just flies because he's charged up with solar energy" bit that Byrne came up with.

Sounds okay to me, but to be honest, I've always thought that any kind of comic-book type flight could only be achieved by some sort of yogic-type levitation that just defies scientific description. Concentrate and it will happen. This is a philosophical stance; don't try it at home, or worse, from the roof of your home.

Let's face it, every kid knows that the true reason why Superman can fly is the cape :)

Me dunno, me like science talk. Me just no understand.  Me encourage!

Yeah, I don't really remember it being discouraged...but I have to admit that for me, taking science to high extremes in comics opens as many scientific difficulties as it answers... 8)

Weelll..................................

Being all scientific and whatnot ...............  I like the "happy thoughts" idea too.......uhum........

Hey, it works for Peter Pan, whose scientific credentials are untarnished.

The Pan's the Man............ I guess? :?