Well, ok, that explains the how (the 'science') but not the 'why'.
The difficulty I have with the oft-quoted theory that 'magic' is simply misunderstood technology is that that argument keeps the explanation
within the world, & provides no opportunity for external intervnetion, which effectively denies the possibility of eucatastrophe, which involves a 'breaking in' of an external 'force'. Technology ('science') by its very nature is something that worldly beings develop to understand/manipulate the world - hence the Ring is technological, but so are the Palantiri, & (for all she may wish to distinguish what Elves do from what the enemy does) so is Galadriel's mirror - of course, there is a difference in the intent behind them. None of those things (or elven swords, etc) are 'miraculous'. We could say that the Silmarils, containing the Holy Light & being hallowed by Varda,
are miraculous, or at least have a miraculous dimension or aspect.
The question is, then, whether the sudden 'uplift' we experience at our hero's last minute escape can be called 'eucatastrophic', or whether any rescue effected by technology (however wonderful that technology may appear) can be either.
My own sense is that Tolkien had a specific understanding of the eucatastrophic experience - it isn't something purely
emotional - it
must have a spiritual dimension. The most overwhelming feeling of relief & victory
within the world is not eucatastrophic
unless there is also a sense of 'eternity', of something greater breaking in.
Back to the main topic, though. There is a wonderful essay, A Physics of Middle-earth, in the 1992 Centenary Collection, which explores the scientific explanations of various M-e phenomena, pointing out, among other things, that if Legolas had been able to give a detailed description of Eomer's eored at a distance of five leagues, using only visible light, 'he would have been a bug-eyed monster, to the extent of having eyes on stalks in order to fit in a human sized face'. The authors go on:
Quote:
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Assuming resolution of half a metre at fifteen miles, & a roughly human sized pupil, we find that Elves' visible spectrumextends to about 170mm, or 2000THz.
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& they speculate that Elvescoulld see well at least into the ultra-violet - All that is requiired, therefore, is for Elven lenses to transmit high-energy electro-magnetic waves.
They further speculate that in order for Legolas to be able to instantly calculate from that distance that there were 105 riders is not entirely unusual in humans, as some autistic savants can do such things.
There's much more in the essay - specualtions on Galadriel's Mirror (multiple universes theory), Palantiri, etc.
(The geology also seems to be accurate - see Karen Wynn-Fonstad's Atlas of Middle-earth)