Listen now | What would it actually take for a human body to stretch like Mr. Fantastic? Maria Dowell, MD joins us to explore the fascinating, terrifying, and biologically implausible science of stretching.
If you could have one superpower from the Fantastic Four, which would you choose—and why?
Invisibility. As much as I'd like stretchiness, I think it'd be better to be invisible lol. That'd be fun too.
What’s your theory for how Reed Richards avoids ripping his skin or dislocating joints?
Regeneration and probably also portals lol
Should comics even bother with scientific explanations for superpowers—or just embrace the weird?
I think they should try to have some scientific explanations but not be afraid to embrace the weird. Not everything has to be grounded in it (though it's cool when it is too) - and embracing the weirdness in fiction can make for some awesome stories too :)
Great defintion of stretching. It is really handwavy haha😅
Good discussion about a biological explanation for his stretchiness. I too wonder why it doesn't hurt. Even contortionists would feel pain after a while of being in an awkward position, no?
Yeah I am curious how he and Ms. Marvel maintain strength and mass.
Lol I like Dr. Dowell's sense of humor :)
Yes, hummingbird tongues re super long and it is cool. Interesting how it has to roll and bend to fit too.
Yikes. I did not think of how age would affect him. I wonder if there is a comic where he is stiff in later years.
1500 feet? Wow! I wonder how much Ms. Marvel can stretch. And yep, Ms. Marvel shapeshifted in her first comic to look like Captain Marvel, but changed back to herself afterward.
Great question. I wonder if he self oxgynates. I didn't think about gravity. That is a neat theory! :) Love the insight that Dr. Dowell is sharing.
Yeah I too think he has high cellular regeneration - that would explain how he can stretch and keep on going.
Hahaha yeah I wonder how his digestive system works. But if he shrinks himself, would the waste be really tiny then? LOL
Lol were you paid by Doctor Doom to figure how to beat him?
Oh yeah! I read that comic where he moved a city block to the future recently.
Nick do you have suggestions for comics that talk about how Doom and the Fantastic Four became enemies?
LOL yeah maybe he draws from another dimension. But how does he do that, I wonder. And would Doctor Strange be like, "There goes Reed again"? Hehe
Haha I too wonder how much he has to eat to maintain the stretchiness. And would the waste elongate? What if he had digestive issues? LoL
Hahaha it is a lot of handwavium.
Lol yeah it may come from portals. Imagine if Doctor Strange and Reed had a portal creation contest.
Lol I dunno why they did not lose trust in him with the cosmic ray incident.
Yep some are genetic. Superman's kids have powers.
Oh yeah. That is a problem. His skin cannot be cut, right? Superman has the same issue. In one animated movie, that created issues. I don't remember what it was but I think he was poisioned and paramedics couldn't help because of how tough his skin is.
LOL slushy. 😂
Hahaha you will now need a "do not try this at home" disclaimers, Joe.
Sun Wukong is cool. I didn't know he could stretch. I wore a Sun Wukong shirt when we met up.
Yesss Embiggen! :) Ms. Marvel is cool.
Portals explains all handwavium. Kidding😊
Haha I like Dr. Dowell's explanation. Let us all go to the cosmic rays. Lol
Great episode! Cool discussion and enjoy the film!! 😊
If you could have one superpower from the Fantastic Four, which would you choose—and why?
Invisibility. As much as I'd like stretchiness, I think it'd be better to be invisible lol. That'd be fun too.
What’s your theory for how Reed Richards avoids ripping his skin or dislocating joints?
Regeneration and probably also portals lol
Should comics even bother with scientific explanations for superpowers—or just embrace the weird?
I think they should try to have some scientific explanations but not be afraid to embrace the weird. Not everything has to be grounded in it (though it's cool when it is too) - and embracing the weirdness in fiction can make for some awesome stories too :)
Hey Joe, Nick, and Dr. Dowell!
Great defintion of stretching. It is really handwavy haha😅
Good discussion about a biological explanation for his stretchiness. I too wonder why it doesn't hurt. Even contortionists would feel pain after a while of being in an awkward position, no?
Yeah I am curious how he and Ms. Marvel maintain strength and mass.
Lol I like Dr. Dowell's sense of humor :)
Yes, hummingbird tongues re super long and it is cool. Interesting how it has to roll and bend to fit too.
Yikes. I did not think of how age would affect him. I wonder if there is a comic where he is stiff in later years.
1500 feet? Wow! I wonder how much Ms. Marvel can stretch. And yep, Ms. Marvel shapeshifted in her first comic to look like Captain Marvel, but changed back to herself afterward.
Great question. I wonder if he self oxgynates. I didn't think about gravity. That is a neat theory! :) Love the insight that Dr. Dowell is sharing.
Yeah I too think he has high cellular regeneration - that would explain how he can stretch and keep on going.
Hahaha yeah I wonder how his digestive system works. But if he shrinks himself, would the waste be really tiny then? LOL
Lol were you paid by Doctor Doom to figure how to beat him?
Oh yeah! I read that comic where he moved a city block to the future recently.
Nick do you have suggestions for comics that talk about how Doom and the Fantastic Four became enemies?
LOL yeah maybe he draws from another dimension. But how does he do that, I wonder. And would Doctor Strange be like, "There goes Reed again"? Hehe
Haha I too wonder how much he has to eat to maintain the stretchiness. And would the waste elongate? What if he had digestive issues? LoL
Hahaha it is a lot of handwavium.
Lol yeah it may come from portals. Imagine if Doctor Strange and Reed had a portal creation contest.
Lol I dunno why they did not lose trust in him with the cosmic ray incident.
Yep some are genetic. Superman's kids have powers.
Oh yeah. That is a problem. His skin cannot be cut, right? Superman has the same issue. In one animated movie, that created issues. I don't remember what it was but I think he was poisioned and paramedics couldn't help because of how tough his skin is.
LOL slushy. 😂
Hahaha you will now need a "do not try this at home" disclaimers, Joe.
Sun Wukong is cool. I didn't know he could stretch. I wore a Sun Wukong shirt when we met up.
Yesss Embiggen! :) Ms. Marvel is cool.
Portals explains all handwavium. Kidding😊
Haha I like Dr. Dowell's explanation. Let us all go to the cosmic rays. Lol
Great episode! Cool discussion and enjoy the film!! 😊