China Develops Laser Gun Like Star Wars: Burns Through Skin

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around a newly developed laser gun by China, which is claimed to have capabilities similar to those depicted in the Star Wars franchise. Participants explore the implications, comparisons to fictional technology, and the actual performance of the device as reported in media sources.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the comparison of the laser gun to Star Wars technology, noting that Star Wars lasers are visible and travel at subsonic speeds, unlike the reported capabilities of the new weapon.
  • Others express skepticism about the claims made regarding the laser gun's effectiveness, suggesting that the actual performance demonstrated in videos does not support the sensationalized reports of it being able to burn through skin or set a person on fire.
  • A participant mentions their personal experience with lower-powered lasers, discussing the effects on skin and the importance of wavelength, implying that higher power does not necessarily equate to greater effectiveness.
  • Some comments reference the fictional nature of Star Wars weapons, with humorous remarks about their reliability and effectiveness compared to real-world technology.
  • There are discussions about the potential for an arms race involving advanced weaponry, including speculative ideas about future developments in laser technology.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with no clear consensus on the effectiveness or the validity of the comparisons to Star Wars. Some agree that the media portrayal may be exaggerated, while others maintain that the technology is noteworthy.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in the media reports, including potential discrepancies between claims and actual demonstrations. There is also mention of the difficulty in finding original sources for the claims made about the laser gun.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in military technology, weapon development, or comparisons between fictional and real-world technology may find this discussion relevant.

e-pie
Messages
129
Reaction score
18
China develops new laser gun similar to Star Wars. It can burn through skin to produce immense agony.

Here

https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/inventions/china-has-reportedly-made-a-laser-gun-powerful-enough-to-destroy-a-target-from-almost-1km-away/news-story/4a295cdd89318df43f7c973087991b42
 
Physics news on Phys.org
How is this similar to Star Wars? A franchise famous for pew pew laser bolts that are visible, discrete and travel at subsonic speeds?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: russ_watters
I never liked the star wars guns much. Preferred the light sabers much. Gets the job done with more ease and much more attractive!
 
Han shot first.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Likes   Reactions: ParticleGinger6, russ_watters and DennisN
Vanadium 50 said:
Han shot first.

Can't remember? Are you referring to any particular scenes?
 
It's nothing like a Star Wars gun. When you work your way to the original Chinese web site, it isn't anything like what they're sensationalizing. Their video shows a demonstration on a rooftop with a pencil-sized burn area similar to putting something under a magnifying glass. Also stated is that it's good for 100 2-second shots on a single charge. The rooftop demo lasted a lot longer than 2 seconds and didn't burn a significant area. So, the claim "setting a whole person on fire" stretches credibility.

I can only imagine how long they would have to keep it focused on a target that's a kilometer away in order to set even the most flammable objects on fire. :oldeyes:
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: davenn and berkeman
Borg said:
pencil-sized burn area similar to putting something under a magnifying glass

I feel safer already.
 
Borg said:
It's nothing like a Star Wars gun.

Its...not as clumsy or as random as a blaster.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Likes   Reactions: DennisN, Ibix and Borg
ChemAir said:
Its...not as clumsy or as random as a blaster.
An elegant weapon for a more civilized age.
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: DennisN and ChemAir
  • #10
Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Likes   Reactions: davenn, Rive, russ_watters and 1 other person
  • #11
Vanadium 50 said:
Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.
:wink::smile:

e-pie said:
It can burn through skin to produce immense agony.

"It’s all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense."
 
Last edited:
  • Haha
Likes   Reactions: DennisN
  • #12
Ryan_m_b said:
How is this similar to Star Wars? A franchise famous for pew pew laser bolts that are visible, discrete and travel at subsonic speeds?
Actually, the entire star wars laser gun thing have been quite ridiculous. See rogue one's at the database at scarif scene and you will find walls and aisles being shot by the laser guns and nothing happens? I mean directly after it being hit and the sparks dim away nothing is different! The damage then suddenly appeared after the combat stops. So either this is a extremely intelligent weapon which only do harm to robots and humans, or this makes no sense.

By the way, I'm a chinese(taiwanese) and didn't seem able to find the original post which it claims to copy from south china timorning post.o_O
 
  • #13
I have a pair of one watt lasers, green (524 nm) and violet (405 nm).
A hit on a bare arm with the green laser will lift a person up off their toes the first time. The blue laser will cause them to look down at the spot. Wavelength is major. Green follows the nerves almost three inches both sides of the spot.
I was looking at ads for a five watt blue, nice, but I am betting it has little more effect than the one watt blue.
A five watt green is not available, I am guessing it would be dangerous, rather, more dangerous.
Eye hits with either are permanent.
 
  • #14
Article said:
“It will look like an accident,” the researchers said.
Just like the prequels did. :smile:
 
  • #15
No problem, we'll just invent some handy white plastic armor to protect ourselves from this Chinese laser threat. Yep, no way they pop a hole through a centimeter of white plastic. Problem solved!
 
  • #16
Rubidium_71 said:
No problem, we'll just invent some handy white plastic armor to protect ourselves from this Chinese laser threat. Yep, no way they pop a hole through a centimeter of white plastic. Problem solved!
Then they make an entangled beam and collapse the waveform inches from impact, creating a beam of particles instead of waves.
Goodbye reflection, hello penetration.

Arms race!
 
  • #17
Not really...



Their armor wasn't much good against wooden weapons from teddy bears either. :)
 
  • Haha
Likes   Reactions: DennisN

Similar threads

Announcement RIP Vanadium 50
  • · Replies 50 ·
2
Replies
50
Views
7K
  • · Replies 96 ·
4
Replies
96
Views
11K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
6K
Replies
10
Views
5K
Replies
39
Views
7K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
5K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
7K