by Tiffany Citra ' 17 SciFiBusters is back! In the series’ first post, we went through Jules Verne’s scientific claims in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Convinced that Verne deserves more than just a single post, I decided to dedicate yet another article about his other work that’s just as fascinating--Journey to the Center of the Earth. This book introduces its readers to the life of Axel, the nephew/assistant of a German scholar Professor Otto Lidenbrock. Axel’s life is pretty ordinary until the day his uncle discovers a cryptic text, which turns out to be written by a renowned Icelandic alchemist, Arne Saknussemm. Successfully deciphered by Professor Lidenbrock, the message contains directions to go beneath the surface of the Earth through the crater of Mount Sneffels, an inactive volcano in Iceland. Now let’s get down to the science.
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by Tiffany Citra '17 Often regarded as the father of science fiction, Jules Verne has written a lot of work involving science and technology far ahead of its era. But how exactly accurate is the science portrayed on his writing? Let’s examine the credibility of the assertions Verne makes in one of his most notable books, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The story starts with Professor Pierre Aronnax, who embarks on a mission to hunt down a mysterious “giant narwhal”. However, when he finally comes in contact with his target, his ship can’t resist the “narwhals” strength and eventually falls apart. Luckily, he survives and discovers that the “narwhal” is in fact a submarine. Upon discovering his presence, Nemo – the captain of the submarine, which is known as the Nautilus – brings him into the vessel. Despite being kept as a prisoner, Professor Aronnax is taken on a journey across the sea to explore things not yet discovered by mankind. So how about the science? |