What if superheroes were REAL? Each week we pick a superhero or supervillian — Groot, Spider-Man, the Hulk, and more — and explore the actual science behind their powers. Lectures, videos, and a live quiz battle every class!
Superhero Science Ages 8–14 | Flexible Enrollment | Ongoing
What if the powers of your favorite superheroes were actually real? In this class, we use some of the most iconic characters as a doorway into genuine, fascinating science — from the biology of Groot’s regeneration to the neuroscience behind Spider-Man’s Spidey Sense.
Each week, we explore a new hero and the real-world science that would make their powers possible. The class is based on The Science of Marvel by Sebastian Alvarado, PhD, which connects Marvel Cinematic Universe heroes to real concepts in biology, chemistry, physics, and neuroscience and more
Every class follows the same student-friendly format: Students begin with introductions and a warm-up, move into an interactive discussion-based lecture with a slideshow (including video clips), and finish with a quick review and a live competitive quiz — so every student gets to show off what they’ve learned.
Current 15-Week Lineup:
Week 1 — Groot | Life Science: photosynthesis, plant biology, and cellular growth Week 2 — Black Panther | Materials Science: vibranium and the physics of advanced materials Week 3 — Storm | Earth & Weather Science: meteorology and atmospheric pressure Week 4 — Wolverine | Biology: regeneration, the skeleton, and the science of healing Week 5 — Beast | Genetics: DNA, mutations, and evolution Week 6 — Spider-Man | Sensory Neuroscience: Spidey Sense, spider cognition, and reflexes Week 7 — The Hulk | Brain Science: the science of rage, adrenaline, and molecular biology Week 8 — Captain America | Genetics & Pharmacology: the Super Soldier Serum and gene editing Week 9 — Ant-Man | Scale & Biology: size, mass, developmental growth, and DNA Week 10 — Hawkeye | Physics & Psychology: the science of the perfect shot Week 11 — Rocket Raccoon | Animal Intelligence: brain evolution, cognition, and animal behavior Week 12 — Daredevil | Sensory Neuroscience: how the brain processes the world without sight Week 13 — Winter Soldier | Neuroscience of Memory: how learning and memory erasure really work Week 14 — Mantis | Emotional Neuroscience: empathy, cognition, and reading emotions Week 15 — Captain America & Winter Soldier | Cryobiology: the real science of cryostasis and hibernation
More heroes and science topics added regularly!
This class is for kids who love superheroes, love asking “but how would that actually work?” — and are ready to find out.
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