Unveiling Project Hail Mary: How Ancient Chinese Physics Influenced Modern Science

Watching Project Hail Mary in a packed IMAX theater, I found myself gasping alone. It struck me that the audience was unfazed by the astonishing scene, but then I recalled: I’m a physicist.

Without revealing too much, a pivotal moment occurs when the Hail Mary spaceship accelerates unexpectedly. Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling, is unstrapped, causing his head to collide with the control panel. In reality, the consequences would be fatal. This isn’t unusual in cinema; we frequently witness characters surviving impossible scenarios. Yet this time, disbelief was hard to suspend.

The film’s distinctiveness lies in its commitment to accurately portraying motion in space. Instead of fabricating scientific concepts, directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller consulted NASA for authentic sci-fi representation.

Momentum is key. Picture riding a bicycle at high speed. Stopping abruptly is challenging due to momentum—affected by both speed and mass. This is why larger vehicles, like trucks, require longer distances to halt.

One marvel of physics is that momentum governs the universe. Isaac Newton’s second law emphasizes this, asserting its universal relevance. Even astronauts encountering space navigate momentum in unanticipated ways.

Newton’s first law states that objects in motion stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. This contradicts what we observe daily on Earth due to gravity and other forces. For instance, during a cricket match, when a batsman strikes the ball, it eventually descends, halted by gravity. However, in space, free from these influences, objects will travel indefinitely.

In the film, Grace’s spaceship accelerates, leaving him unbelted to collide with the control panel. The impact is immense due to the absence of counteracting forces—consequently, I anticipated catastrophic injury. (The narrative’s leniency toward physics serves the film’s storytelling).

Numerous moments in the film heightened my anxiety— not due to poor execution, but rather the remarkably accurate depiction of physics. One scene, where Grace tosses an object into space, was particularly striking: it travels perfectly straight, showing the absence of gravitational resistance—something unimaginable on Earth.

Four years ago, my perception of a film like Project Hail Mary would have lacked appreciation for such details. My academic focus on relativistic and quantum physics had me distancing from foundational Newtonian concepts. Initially seeing classical physics as outdated, I now recognize it’s vital for introducing students to advanced scientific concepts.

My outlook shifted during research for my book, The End of Space and Time, as I uncovered the historical development of Newton’s principles. Intriguingly, more than a millennium before Newton, philosopher Mozi and his followers articulated similar laws.

Delving deep into relevant translations sparked a newfound respect for basic physics principles. After reading passages from Mo Chin, I distanced myself from my original views and sought out Newton’s original texts in Principia. Years after my first degree in physics, I still find enlightenment in the lessons of physics, enabled by dedicated translations from scholars in the humanities.

My experience watching Project Hail Mary epitomized a synergy between scientific advisory and artistic expression, showcasing intriguing storytelling. Despite some criticisms of the narrative (and its author, Andy Weir), I left the theater with a renewed appreciation for our universe’s marvels, grateful to those who made it all possible.