A Study Just Proved Why You Never Got Your Hogwarts Letter

Blame the messenger.
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HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, Daniel Radcliffe (with 'Hedwig' the owl), 2004, © Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett CollectionPhoto: ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

Any Potterhead knows that your 11th birthday is an important milestone. How many of us looked to the sky, hoping to see an owl bearing our letters for Hogwarts in its talons? After all, the 11th birthday is the day young witches and wizards (even of muggle-born descent) found out they were destined for the school of witchcraft and wizardry. Alas, most of us never received our letters. Maybe they got lost in the mail?

A new study, however, just gave a reason why in The Journey of Physics Special Topics, which is published by the University of Leicester. The journal looked at everything from Superman's theoretical ability to make the earth spin backwards, to the exact height Cinderella's glass slipper would have to be without shattering. (Spoiler alert: those super-high heels Lily James sports in the live-action version of the film? They'd break.)

But the students also took on the topic of Hogwarts' Owl Post, and whether Hedwig and her cohort would be able to deliver broomsticks, Howlers, and other paraphernalia to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The brainy students came to the conclusion that "the likelihood of the combined system of owl and broomstick having a coefficient of lift high enough to allow the bird to remain in flight is small. A similar argument can be applied to the variety of differently shaped and sized packages that are delivered by owls in the Harry Potter films, therefore the authors conclude that the Owl Post, without magic, is not viable."

So maybe there was a little more than love for her master that helped Hedwig deliver all her packages to Harry — but that's okay by us. (Plus, in the books, a whole fleet of owls deliver Harry's Nimbus 2000, so maybe that's the power of teamwork?) In either case, the next time you wonder where exactly your letter from Hogwarts went? Simply blame the messenger.

Related: Emma Watson Just Gave the New Actress Playing Hermione Her Seal of Approval

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