Particle physicist brings real-life science to "Ghostbusters" reboot
Who you gonna call when you want to make a scientifically plausible reboot of the 1984 classic "Ghostbusters"? James Maxwell, of course. Maxwell, a particle physicist at MIT, was brought in by director Paul Feig to bring a scientific eye to the equipment featured in the 2016 film. A recently released video explains Maxwell's role in the film, from modifying the design of the proton pack to ensuring that scientific equations on the papers and whiteboards were correct.
According to Maxwell, the first Ghostbusters proton pack used a cyclotron, which has two electrodes and the particle starts in the middle and spirals outward, gaining speed. For this new film, the proton pack features a synchrotron, so you can actually vary the electron field in a ring.
You can even view photos and schematics for the Ghostbusters equipment by visiting ParanormalStudiesLab.com.
About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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