Thor—Norse god, Marvel superhero, and Hollywood eye candy—presents those of us living in the real world with a few problems. Thor is a “demigod,” and any attempt to scientifically explore his otherworldly abilities can be dismissed as such. But with his resurgence in The Avengers last year, and seeing that today is Thor’s Day, the time has come to discuss in real terms his most prized possession: Mjolnir (literally, "that which smashes")—his hammer.
The argument about Thor’s hammer usually revolves around its role in Thor’s “flight.” Some argue that Thor can summon storms, and therefore wind, to keep himself aloft. Others point out that he merely keeps himself hovering by spinning the hammer like a helicopter blade. But the most common explanation is that Thor’s hammer, being tremendously massive, is used to propel Thor into the sky in a suitably beefy exhibition of momentum. In The Avengers and the comics, ...
