George R. R. Martin, the author behind the popular fantasy novel series 'A Song of Ice and Fire', has teamed up with Ian Tregillis, a contributor to Martin's 'Wild Cards' superhero series, to co-author a physics paper exploring the mathematical dynamics of a fictional virus. The paper, titled 'Ergodic Lagrangian Dynamics in a Superhero Universe', was published in Volume 93, Issue 2 of the American Journal of Physics in February 2025.

What is 'Wild Cards'?

The 'Wild Cards' series, co-edited by Martin and Melinda M. Snodgrass, is a shared-world anthology blending science fiction and superhero lore. It imagines a world where a mysterious alien virus—dubbed the Wild Card virus—gives some people extraordinary powers while others face devastating effects. Over 40 authors, including Tregillis, have contributed to this long-running series, building stories around the virus's far-reaching consequences.

What is the paper about?

The paper, however, isn't about superheroes or powers—it's a deep dive into how a virus, straight from the world of fiction, can be modelled using real-world physics. The physics paper takes the virus, a cornerstone of the 'Wild Cards' universe, and uses it as the foundation for an advanced mathematical model.

In the paper, the authors describe the exercise as both "whimsical" and "pedagogical", demonstrating how a completely fictional scenario can serve as a serious learning tool. By applying advanced concepts like ergodicity, functional analysis, and Lagrangian mechanics, the paper presents a challenging, open-ended research problem designed for advanced undergraduate physics students, states the authors.

What is the purpose of the paper?

Martin and Tregillis don't just want to entertain—they want to teach. "This fictional scenario provides a unique way for students to explore an open-ended research question that lacks a clear path forward," the paper explains. It highlights how popular culture, such as superhero stories, can inspire engaging and educational physics exercises, offering an alternative to standard textbook problems.

The paper primarily aims to encourage students to think like researchers by tackling problems without predetermined solutions—an approach that reflects real-world scientific inquiry. The authors suggest this paper could be used in senior seminars or specialised elective classes, offering an entertaining yet rigorous exploration of core physics and mathematics concepts.

The paper is also a nod to the educational value of popular media. Superheroes, often seen as pure entertainment, can serve as a gateway to understanding complex physics concepts. As the authors note, while traditional textbook problems have their place, they don't always push students to think outside the box. This physics paper offers just that—a chance to explore the unknown and embrace the uncertainty of a challenging problem.

Who knows—maybe the next time you pick up a superhero comic, you'll see a little more physics hiding behind the punches and powers!

You can find the paper here.