4 Sci-Fi Movies That NASA Hates Because They Are Completely Inaccurate
But let's face it: even though these projects have nothing to do with real science, they're still fun.
When a science fiction movie is made, its creators don't always have time to think about its accuracy. As a result, what we see on screens is fiction, but it can hardly be called scientific.
1. 2012, 2009
The unsettling 2012 had a lot of good things: a great cast including John Cusack, Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, and others; a viral marketing campaign; and a rather poignant plot based on the fear of an ancient Mayan prophecy.
Unfortunately, in terms of realism, 2012 frankly let us down from the very beginning – the premise of the end of the world is scientifically incorrect.
Neutrinos from a solar flare pass through matter and cannot heat the Earth's core, as was the case in the movie. Furthermore, in 2012, the melting of the glaciers leads to a global flood – even though in reality there is not enough water for it.
2. Armageddon, 1998
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Armageddon has long been an example of the most inaccurate sci-fi movie in history – in total, the movie contained 168 scientific mistakes, starting with the atmosphere on the asteroid and ending with the force of gravity in space.
But the most important inaccuracy is that the asteroid could not be blown up by a bomb – even the most powerful bomb on Earth at the time could not handle such a task.
However, this did not stop Michael Bay's movie from becoming a cult classic in the sci-fi genre loved by millions of viewers around the world.
3. Gravity, 2013
Gravity is a techno-thriller about an emergency situation in space when the ship of astronauts Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney ) encounters space debris.
Despite the impressive visuals and suspenseful plot, if you know anything about astrophysics and astronauts, you will understand how illogical this movie is. Despite the fact that the project is called Gravity, all the laws of gravity are actually violated here.
For example, the most tragic moment, when George Clooney's character sacrifices himself, was done only for the sake of drama. In reality, the weight of an adult man in space is no more than the weight of a matchbox, and it would not be difficult for Stone to hold him.
4. Volcano, 1997
Los Angeles has seen enough natural disasters in its lifetime, but now the city is facing the worst disaster it has ever experienced, one that threatens to wipe it off the face of the earth. In one of the most populated areas of Los Angeles, a volcano has suddenly become active.
Here, as in 2012, the plot itself does not allow the movie to be at least a little bit scientifically accurate – a volcanic eruption could never have occurred in Los Angeles, since the city is built on a single monolithic slab. Lava can only flow through the Earth's surface at the junction of tectonic plates.
In addition, the lava is actually much hotter than shown in the movie, and getting as close to it as the characters in the movie did would lead to inevitable death.