New book: USP's Halpern Looks at Science on "The Simpsons"
USP’s Dr. Paul Halpern Presents a Playful and Entertaining Look at Science on “The Simpsons”
“What’s Science Ever Done For Us?: What The Simpsons Can Teach Us About Physics, Robots, Life, and the Universe”
Philadelphia, Pa.—What can Lisa Simpson’s intelligence teach us about genetics? What does Bart Simpson’s curiosity about the swirling of water in different hemispheres tell us about the Coriolis effect? And can Homer Simpson’s theory of a donut-shaped universe be verified by observational astronomy?
Timed with the July 27 release of the long-awaited “The Simpsons Movie,” “What’s Science Ever Done For Us?: What The Simpsons Can Teach Us About Physics, Robots, Life, and the Universe” (Wiley, July 2007, $14.95/Paperback Original, ISBN: 978-0-470-11460-5), by University of the Sciences in Philadelphia professor Dr. Paul Halpern, takes a playful and entertaining look at science on the longest-running and most popular animated TV series ever made.
Over the years, the show has examined such issues as genetic mutation, time travel, artificial intelligence, and even aliens. Guests on the show have included esteemed scientists Stephen Hawking and Stephen Jay Gould. While sarcasm, silliness, and belly laughs reign, “The Simpsons” is written by a surprising (or perhaps not so surprising) group of academics. The science themes that repeatedly pop up in the show’s hilarious episodes reflect some of the most intriguing issues in contemporary biology, chemistry, astronomy, robotics, and physics.
In the vein of other publications that have tackled “The Simpsons” and philosophy, health care, psychology, and evolution, “What’s Science Ever Done For Us?” illuminates the science behind the show, what can be learned, and how the world’s most famous animated family can provoke fascinating scientific discussions along with a healthy dose of humor.
Dr. Halpern is a professor of physics and mathematics at USP, a 2002 recipient of a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship, and author of 11 widely-acclaimed popular science books.
To schedule an interview with Dr. Halpern, please call Brian Kirschner, assistant director of public relations, at (215) 895-1186 or e-mail b.kirschner@usip.edu.
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia is a private, coeducational institution dedicated to education, research, and service. Founded in 1821 as the nation’s first college of pharmacy, it is where the founders of six of the top pharmaceutical companies in the world launched their futures. Comprising four colleges across a broad range of majors, USP specializes in educating its 2,800 students for rewarding careers through its undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs in pharmacy and in the health and related sciences.
– www.usip.edu –
Release Date: Tuesday, July 24th 2007
