A Scientific Explanation for How Captain America’s Super-Soldier Serum Works

In an episode of the Nerdist series Because Science, host Kyle Hill talks about the Marvel superhero Captain America and how one day science might be able to create the super-soldier serum used on him.

Of all the suspensions of disbelief you need to buy into a modern superhero movie, the source of Captain America’s strength maybe needs the least scientific wiggle room.

In my latest Because Science, I’m digging into the science of Cap’s super-soldier serum. Using modern genetics and chemistry, a gene-editing formula that was light-activated could in fact boost muscle growth and the amount of oxygen your blood can ferry around your body, for example. Bouncing a vibranium shield around five surfaces before returning perfectly to your hand? That’s a whole other episode.