Is Iron Man’s Arc Reactor Possible? | StarTalk

This first question is from Mr. Awesome via Twitter. He says, "Ma, your hair looks great!" Thank you! Um, he says, "Is something like Tony Stark's Arc Reactor possible?"

Arc Reactor M, this is the thing in his chest. Here's my take on it: If you're producing that much energy in such a small place—either in his chest or in some energy-generating place in his building—as much energy as that is, you're going to be creating heat. Fundamental laws of thermodynamics would indicate this, and that heat would melt everything, vaporize everything.

One of the great challenges of localizing energy and then distributing it where you need is the big challenge of power plants. Nuclear, any kind of power plants, they all need coolants. And if you're going to make it, you got to make it as it's being used, because it's really hard to store without melting where you store it. So, there's some laws of thermodynamics acting against it.

Yeah, that I... But I like it though! I love me some Tony Stark because he's a superhero with his ingenuity, right? With his technology! If you had to pick somebody, I would pick him as my favorite.

Yeah, me too! Over Batman too!

B, they're both human. Yeah, they're both human. They both use technological exoskeletons.

EXO! Yeah, totally! I think... Yeah, I think they're the most appropriate to who we are.

Yeah, exactly! I agree! I agree!