Zap and You're Dead
Mike InnesOr not. David Hambling, writing at Wired's Danger Room about the latest in tactical laser weapons research, argues "A rough calculation suggests that exposed skin would be blistered/burned in under a twentieth of a second, so the beam could play over the target at quite a high rate. It's unclear whether clothing would have much protective effect or whether it would simply ignite and cause secondary burns." More: "So instead of "zap-and-you're-dead" in normal science fiction style, with a hundred kilowatt laser, it's more a matter of spraying the target all over to ensure they're done. The description of the ATL as a 'long range blow torch' is probably quite accurate."
Owww. Bad.
Mad scientists. They're everywhere.
That's enough brilliant analysis for today.
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments