Astrophysics for Supervillains: The Great Alien Hunt (Book 2 in Supervillain Academy series)
Dr Matt Bothwell, illustrated by Nathan Reed
- Explains big and difficult topics
- Factual but humorous
- Links to science topics in school
Are aliens real? What do aliens look like? Where is everybody? These are just some of the baffling questions that The Great Alien Hunt attempts to answer in this fact-filled, humorous and highly original book on the mysteries of space and the Universe. Its target audience: young big thinkers and budding scientists.
With 200 billion worlds in our galaxy (and these are just the ones astronomers know about!), the Great Alien Hunt has barely begun. The book investigates space travel, alien planets and the existence of life beyond Earth to provide some simple answers to the big questions asked by children. It highlights the weird and wonderful ways in which scientists think we might be able to travel around space. But beware of the distances involved: to visit the distant Flying Glass planet you would need to travel for 10,000,000 years. Ouch!
Recognizable space topics such as the Solar System, galaxies, the Universe and extraterrestrial life sit alongside less familiar ones such as wobbling stars, the twirling noodle observatory and tiny spacecraft called StarChips. Each of the book’s five chapters is helpfully linked to science topics studied in schools.
The author, expert astronomer Dr Matthew Bothwell, is well placed to provide some satisfying answers to the many space questions posed by curious children. He runs the University of Cambridge’s astronomy public engagement programme, visiting over 100 primary schools and children’s libraries each year to talk about space.
Exciting and varied use of type throughout the book is accompanied by Nathan Reed’s humorous illustrations. These design features will keep young readers engaged and help to provide a clearer understanding of the facts.
This second book in the Supervillain Academy series follows on from the success of the first book, Astrophysics for Supervillains. Book 3, Mastering the Multiverse, is published in May 2026.
Published by DK, 2025 (176 pages)
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