​Welcome to Binge Thinking. We invite professors and experts to give lectures in bars around Boston, NYC, and DC!

In a world of AI slop, doomscrolling and brainrot, Binge Thinking brings real experts into real places for nights of learning, conversation, and community.

Think Responsibly.

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​Join us and grab a drink as we ask the question Jedi won’t answer. Could a lightsaber actually exist, or did George Lucas lie to us?

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TOPIC:
Pints and Parsecs: The Real Physics of Star Wars, Are Lightsabers ACTUALLY Possible?

SPEAKER:
Dr. Patrick Johnson, Georgetown University

​A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, the laws of physics apparently took a vacation. Ships roar through the silence of space, planets get vaporized in seconds, and a glowing laser sword somehow stops at exactly three feet. We’ve all happily suspended our disbelief. But what happens when a physicist refuses to?

​In this talk, Dr. Patrick Johnson puts the Star Wars saga under the microscope (or the pint glass). Using real science, he breaks down which parts of the galaxy could actually work, which would get you laughed out of physics class, and which land somewhere in between. Expect lightsabers, superweapons, smuggler bragging rights, and a surprisingly serious look at alien life.

​Whether you can quote every trilogy or just know Grogu is adorable, this one’s for you.

​Topics include:

​How possible are lightsabers, really?

​What it would take to build a Death Star (and why the Empire’s budget was a nightmare)

​How twins can end up being different ages

​Whether Han Solo truly knows what a parsec is

​What biodiversity might look like across an entire galaxy

​Beyond the memes, this is a story about how science fiction sparks real scientific curiosity.

​Every “wait, could that actually work?” moment is a doorway into physics. Come for the lightsabers, stay for the science.

May the Force (and a cold drink) be with you.

​About the Speaker

​Dr. Patrick Johnson is a Teaching Professor in the Department of Physics at Georgetown University and the author of The Physics of Star Wars: The Science Behind a Galaxy Far, Far Away. He earned his B.S. in Physics from the University of Dayton and his Ph.D. in Physics from Washington University in St. Louis.

​Before Georgetown, he taught at William Jewell College and Marquette University. His research spans everything from rogue ocean waves to the magnetic behavior of nanoparticles, but his true passion is making physics accessible to everyone. He is a recipient of Georgetown College’s Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. When he’s not teaching or rewatching Star Wars, he’s doing improv comedy and trivia around DC.

​Agenda

7:00 PM - Doors Open (Grab a seat and drinks!)
7:30 PM - Lecture Begins
8:10 PM - Audience Q&A
8:30 PM - Drinks & Conversation
9:00 PM - Event Ends