The Science of the X-Files by Jeanne Cavelos

The X-files is a show about science that's deemed to be impossible. But is it really impossible? Do aliens exist, and can they interbreed with humans? Can humans be made to create alien proteins in their bodies, and would they make us better, stronger, faster, or glow in the dark?

"The Science of the X-Files" examines these ideas and many others. And while even the fans of the X-files admit there isn't much actual science in the show, some of the ideas are possible, while most, frankly, are not.

Humans cannot use alien DNA, for example. Human DNA is formed from four bases. Alien DNA may have more, or use completely different bases as the basis for their own genetic material. That means humans have as much chance of being able to use it as an elephant has of successfully mating with a housecat! Likewise alien proteins. And the chance of alien diseases being able to affect humans? Just as remote. So strike all sorts of "alien hybrids" from your mind. Unless their DNA has the exact same four bases as us, we won't be able to mate with them, use their proteins or amino acids, or any other biological interaction. But on the bright side, their diseases won't affect us, not without a staggering amount of work on their parts... and then the diseases will have to use those same four bases and DNA, and that would give us a chance to fight and cure it.

Sadly for fans (or perhaps, happily, given the sorts of things the X-files posits), most of the X-files is purest fantasy given a slight scientific gloss. But fans will enjoy reading how this or that idea is plausible or not given the laws of chemistry, science and the universe. Everything from Flukeman to the robot cockroaches from "War of the Coprophages". Each is examined in turn, and scientists way in on if they are possible, or how they could be possible.

For fans, this is a great book, full of memories of their favorite episodes and moments. But for non-fans, not knowing the episodes, it's rather boring and ho-hum without the impetus of episode memories to drive the fascination with the book. No, I'm not a fan of the X-files, so this book was only marginally interesting to me. I've read books far more interesting, so contemplate buying or reading only if you are already a fan.