PHRSERS HMD DEATH STRHS 35
In Star Wars millions of moviegoers were dazzled by these original, stunning special effects, but they fell flat for some critics, who
panned them, stating that all this was in good fun, but it was patently
impossible. Moon-sized, planet-busting ray guns are outlandish, and
so are swords made of solidified light beams, even for a galaxy far, far
away, they chanted. George Lucas, the master of special effects, must
have gotten carried away this time.
Although this may be difficult to believe, the fact is there is no
physical limit to the amount of raw energy that can be crammed onto
a light beam. There is no law of physics preventing the creation of a
Death Star or light sabers. In fact, planet-busting beams of gamma radiation exist in nature. The titanic burst of radiation from a distant
gamma ray burster in deep space creates an explosion second only to
the big bang itself. Any planet unfortunate enough to be within the
crosshairs of a gamma ray burster will indeed be fried or blown to bits.
BEAM WEAPONS THROUGH
HISTORY
The dream of harnessing beams of energy is actually not new but is
rooted in ancient mythology and lore. The Greek god Zeus was famous
for unleashing lightning bolts on mortals. The Norse god Thor had a
magic hammer, Mjolnir, which could fire bolts of lightning, while the
Hindu god Indra was known for firing beams of energy from a magic
spear.
The concept of using rays as a practical weapon probably began
with the work of the great Greek mathematician Archimedes, perhaps
the greatest scientist in all of antiquity, who discovered a crude version
of calculus two thousand years ago, before Newton and Leibniz. In one
legendary battle against the forces of Roman general Marcellus during
the Second Punic War in 214 BC, Archimedes helped to defend the
kingdom of Syracuse and is believed to have created large batteries of
solar reflectors that focused the sun's rays onto the sails of enemy
ships, setting them ablaze. (There is still debate even today among scientists as to whether this was a practical, working beam weapon; var-
In Star Wars millions of moviegoers were dazzled by these original, stunning special effects, but they fell flat for some critics, who
panned them, stating that all this was in good fun, but it was patently
impossible. Moon-sized, planet-busting ray guns are outlandish, and
so are swords made of solidified light beams, even for a galaxy far, far
away, they chanted. George Lucas, the master of special effects, must
have gotten carried away this time.
Although this may be difficult to believe, the fact is there is no
physical limit to the amount of raw energy that can be crammed onto
a light beam. There is no law of physics preventing the creation of a
Death Star or light sabers. In fact, planet-busting beams of gamma radiation exist in nature. The titanic burst of radiation from a distant
gamma ray burster in deep space creates an explosion second only to
the big bang itself. Any planet unfortunate enough to be within the
crosshairs of a gamma ray burster will indeed be fried or blown to bits.
BEAM WEAPONS THROUGH
HISTORY
The dream of harnessing beams of energy is actually not new but is
rooted in ancient mythology and lore. The Greek god Zeus was famous
for unleashing lightning bolts on mortals. The Norse god Thor had a
magic hammer, Mjolnir, which could fire bolts of lightning, while the
Hindu god Indra was known for firing beams of energy from a magic
spear.
The concept of using rays as a practical weapon probably began
with the work of the great Greek mathematician Archimedes, perhaps
the greatest scientist in all of antiquity, who discovered a crude version
of calculus two thousand years ago, before Newton and Leibniz. In one
legendary battle against the forces of Roman general Marcellus during
the Second Punic War in 214 BC, Archimedes helped to defend the
kingdom of Syracuse and is believed to have created large batteries of
solar reflectors that focused the sun's rays onto the sails of enemy
ships, setting them ablaze. (There is still debate even today among scientists as to whether this was a practical, working beam weapon; var-