This actually dropped last year (in the February 2025 bumper number of the American Journal of Physics), but I hadn't heard until it showed up in my Google News mobile feed this morning: Ergodic Lagrangian dynamics in a superhero universe by I.L. Tregillis (of Los Alamos National Laboratory) and his fellow New Mexico resident George R.R. Martin.
Quote:We present a fictional scenario that, while undeniably whimsical, provides the foundation for a unique exercise in extended problem solving, physics analysis, and quantitative model development. Starting with the foundational premise of the Wild Cards shared-world superhero universe, we demonstrate how a variety of concepts appropriate to the advanced undergraduate level—ergodicity, functional analysis, Lagrangian mechanics, and the ever-important simplifying approximation—can be combined into a rich, coherent mathematical model. The goal of this case study is to develop a useful pedagogical exercise in exploring an open-ended research question that presents, at first glance, no clear path forward. Being both eclectic and lengthy, this exercise offers a unique way for students to apply their core physics and mathematics education. It is perhaps best used within a senior honors seminar or within a brief (e.g., January term) elective class.