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1With most science fiction films, the more science you 
2understand, the {\em less} you admire the film or respect 
3its makers. An evil interstellar spaceship careens across 
4the screen. The hero's ship fires off a laser blast, 
5demolishing the enemy ship---the audience cheers at the 
6explosion. But why is the laser beam visible? There is 
7nothing in space to scatter the light back to the viewer. 
8And what slowed the beam a billionfold to render its advance
9toward the enemy ship perceptible? Why, after the moment of 
10the explosion, does the debris remain centered in the screen
11instead of continuing forward as dictated by the laws of 
12inertia? What could possibly drag and slow down the 
13expanding debris (and cause the smoke to billow) in the 
14vacuum of outer space? Note too the graceful, falling curve 
15of the debris. Have the cinematographers forgotten that 
16there is no gravity---no \quote {downward}--- in outer 
17space? Of course the scene is accompanied by the obligatory 
18deafening boom. But isn't outer space eternally silent? And 
19even if there were some magical way to hear the explosion, 
20doesn't light travel faster than sound? Shouldn't we {\em 
21see} the explosion long before we {\em hear} it, just as we 
22do with lightning and thunder? Finally, isn't all this moot?
23Shouldn't the enemy ship be invisible anyway, as there are 
24no nearby stars to provide illumination?  
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