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.