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The Scientific Secret of Superman’s Powers

It’s generally accepted that Kryptonians like Superman get their power from Earth’s yellow sun. But just how well does that hold up to scrutiny?

“You’ve got ME? Who’s got YOU?!?

With a new Superman movie now in theaters (James Gunn’s aptly titled Superman) it’s time to take a look at one of the biggest conundrums in all of popular culture. Just where do Superman’s powers come from? While there have been conflicting explanations for this given by comics, TV shows, animated series, and movies through the decades, one point has taken hold pretty solidly for most of the character’s eight-plus decades: many of Superman’s powers come from the fact that he comes from a race of aliens who developed under a red sun, which means our more intensely radiant yellow sun charges up his cells and gives him his amazing abilities.

The nature of Superman’s powers had been addressed in different ways in the comics over the years (at one point, ALL Kryptonians were simply born with super powers, before explanations like Earth’s lighter gravity, our yellow sun, and others were added to the mythos). But the first media adaptation that really tried to address the source of his powers came with Richard Donner’s masterful Superman: The Movie (1978). In that film, no less than Marlon Brando as Jor-El patiently explains to the audience the ways a Kryptonian would adapt to Earth’s environment and the powers one might get.

Look, there’s only so much realism we can expect with a character like Superman, who is more of an ideal to strive for than a hard science fiction character. But we dive into the science and the story, and also discuss the timeless vibes that make that first proper Superman movie such an enduring classic in this episode.

FURTHER VIEWING

Much of this episode’s discussion was based around two of the best superhero movies ever made, Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980). While Christopher Reeve might be the most perfect piece of superhero casting ever, the other two movies in that franchise are uneven at best. But there’s other Superman media that address the source of the Man of Steel’s powers!

While divisive, Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel made a valiant effort to explain why Superman can do the things he does (including the yellow sun). And James Gunn’s currently in theaters Superman (2025) leans heavily on the solar power angle. It’s also just an absolute blast and the best superhero movie in years.

FURTHER READING

Krypton and Its Sun

There are two main ingredients in Superman’s home planet that are said to contribute to his powers on Earth. One is that Krypton itself is habitable (and potentially with heavier gravity), and in order for that to be the case, it has to exist in the habitable zone of the star it orbits. Proxima Centauri B is one such world that has captured scientists’ attention.

The one more relevant to today’s discussion is that Superman was born under a red sun, which makes Earth’s yellow sun supercharge his cells. In Krypton’s case, that’s a dying star known as a red giant. Which brings us to…A quick guide to the different colors of stars. Although, as Hakeem points out, Earth’s sun isn’t yellow, but green! Eventually, it will turn red, but that’s a problem none of us will be around to see.

Kryptochondria

We all remember photosynthesis from elementary school, right? But in order for human (or animal in the case of Krypto the Superdog) cells to be charged up with solar radiation to the degree necessary for superheroics, cellular organelles and ribosomes would have to function differently. Also the amount of the neurotransmitter known as adenosine triphosphate (creatine devotees know all about ATP) it would take to generate the energy for super-feats is prohibitive.

We confess that following Hakeem on the matter of the absorption spectrum is a little challenging, but don’t just take our word for it! 

Failed Flying Techniques and More!

Tamara gives us a red giant batch of story analysis and background info in this one, but because seeing is believing, some stuff is better watched than read. For more context on Superman: The Movie and the incredible effort it took to make you believe a man could fly, check out The Magic Behind the Cape (where we get the “best special effect of all” that Tamara quotes) and Front Projection 101. 

Also, somewhere on a Superman: The Movie Blu-ray extra that doesn’t appear to be online, there is video evidence of the “dummy shot out of an air cannon” failed flying technique Tamara brings up, but we can’t link it here! 

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