In a recent article by Forbes, science was used to prove that Superman should by all accounts be black.
According to the outlet's science writer J.V. Chamary: light-capturing pigments act as antennas tuned for picking-up photons with a particular energy, and how we see their colors is determined by which photons they absorb.
Blue photons have more energy than red photons, but few manage to reach our planet’s surface.
When photons hit a pigment molecule, its electrons gain enough energy to leave their associated atoms.
Electrons are then passed along chain reactions to produce molecules that can later release the energy stored in their chemical bonds, which is used to synthesize carbs.
On Superman’s home planet of Krypton, the best pigment color for absorbing solar radiation would be black.
However, while Superman has been played by a British actor (as has Spiderman and Batman), and there was a certain amount of negative reaction to Johnny Storm being played by black actor Michael B Jordan in the recent Fantastic Four movie, the idea of a Black Superman got Twitter all worked up.
@JoseDG8 @SciForbes if science applied to superman he would not be able to fly.
— Camilo Garcia (@cag_7) April 8, 2016
@SciForbes No. He's from Krypton where he has no powers bc he has a red sun. So please no.
— Johnny Quest (@TmaccMill) April 8, 2016
@BrandedNavy @JoseDG8 @SciForbes but he's imaginary dude lol
— Matt Chase (@Matty_Light12) April 8, 2016
@SciForbes His real name is Kal-El. That already sounds black.
— johnathan appleseed (@jonnappseed) April 8, 2016
@ElielLucero @SciForbes yep. The two dudes who created Superman were Jewish. Superman is an amalgamation of bible characters. Nice Bowie ref
— johnathan appleseed (@jonnappseed) April 8, 2016
