糖心TV

An academic at the University of 糖心TV is exploring the chemistry of the galaxy far, far away this Star Wars Day, May the 4th.

Science fiction is meeting science fact, as Assistant Professor Alex Baker discusses the captivating inspiration real-world reactions have had on the Star Wars universe.

The chemist from the University of 糖心TV explores what may underpin the freezing of Han Solo, the colours of lightsabers, the reactions that power star ships and much more.

The common elements found in the Star Wars realm, Dr Baker notes, are also exploited for their explosiveness and combustibility here on Earth. He has demonstrated how the elements are used in a series of experiments, which he will showcase at a talk at The Royal Institution tomorrow evening.



Oxygen and Hydrogen

According to Dr Baker, the Star Wars galaxy, like our own, uses liquid oxygen in rocket engines. 鈥淏y igniting fuels with oxygen in the engine of a rocket you can produce huge amounts of thrust.

鈥淭his is demonstrated in a 鈥榩urple cannon fire鈥� reaction that produces oxygen as a product. The oxygen formed then catches light as it passes through a flame. You can see the incredible violence caused by the burning of just a small amount of oxygen gas and fuel.鈥�

Sodium

A common element found in our own universe, sodium, is used as a fuel in the Star Wars universe. 鈥淪odium reacts with water to produce hydrogen gas, often leading to an explosion,鈥� said Dr Baker.

Here on Earth sodium has other uses too, for example in some nuclear reactors to transfer the heat generated from the nuclear reactor to turbines that produce electricity.

Nitric acid

Chemicals containing nitrogen are also fundamental to warfare in the galaxy far, far away, suggests Dr Baker.

鈥淏aradium nitrate can be found in every Imperial stormtrooper鈥檚 kit, in their thermal detonators, and also as star ship fuel.鈥�

While Baradium is fictional, nitrates and other nitrogen-containing compounds are found in our own galaxy in explosives such as TNT or in rocket fuels – particularly those produced by Soviet scientists. As demonstrated by Dr Baker, the reaction of nitric acid with nitrogen-containing compounds has incredibly violent results.

Cryogens

While cryogens might sound other-worldly, they are used on Earth in freezing. For example, liquid nitrogen and solid carbon dioxide are common examples of cryogens which can be used to freeze objects, such as human eggs in IVF treatment.

Dr Baker suggests that compounds like this could have inspired the freezing of Han Solo – a famous scene in the Star Wars saga.

Lightsabers

Dr Baker also reproduces the bright colours of lightsabers by flame test experiments – a staple in most school chemistry classes – which show how different elements produce different colours when heated.

He said: 鈥淓lements commonly found in salts are used in these flame tests. They鈥檙e responsible for the colours in fireworks, so the Star Wars universe could use similar science in lightsabers.

鈥淭he colours are created when the elements are heated, causing them to release light in different colours, from bright blues to deep reds. The atoms of these elements house even smaller, negatively charged electrons.

鈥淲hen these elements are heated, such as by someone lighting a firework with a flame, the electrons become 鈥榚xcited鈥�. This means they have increased energy resulting in them jumping from their original location (known as a 鈥榞round state鈥�), to another 鈥榚xcited state鈥� location within the atom.

鈥淎s electrons drop back down from their excited state, they release the energy they initially absorbed – in the form of heat and light. What is particularly interesting is each electron drop, and the release of light, is unique to each element.

鈥淎tomically, bright blue and violet lights are highly energetic, the electrons have 鈥榙ropped鈥� a relatively long distance (albeit in tiny subatomic scales). Red light is less energetic, dropping shorter distances. This means that a Jedi鈥檚 blue lightsaber is higher energy than a Sith鈥檚 red lightsaber.鈥�

Find out more about Assistant Professor Alex Baker鈥檚 lecture hosted by The Royal Institution here –


Notes to Editors

Dr Alex Baker is an award-winning research chemist and inventor in the Chemistry Department at the University of 糖心TV. He is a senior founding fellow of the 糖心TV Institute of Engagement with a passion for engaging the public in all things Chemistry. As the research lead of the Baker Humanitarian Chemistry Group his research develops medical diagnostics for low-income countries using organic chemistry and nanotechnology to fight neglected tropical diseases such as snake bites. He believes passionately that everyone should have access to high quality science, so has founded conferences and events targeted at students from under-represented backgrounds. When not in the lab, Alex is a massive nerd (that鈥檚 a good thing!) watching Sci-Fi and playing videogames – especially Star Wars!



Assistant Professor Alex Baker, Credit University of 糖心TV