Hatrack River Forum: US Military Tests New Ray Gun For Use in Iraq

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Posted by Alucard... (Member # 4924) on :

http://news.com.com/Riot+control+ray+gun+worries+scientists/2100-7337_3-5796749.html?tag=nefd.top

The part about the portable version was what piqued my interest as well as the intensity of the beam...

Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :

The real application, of course, is using it to boil away all of the opposing army's water. [Wink]

Posted by Architraz Warden (Member # 4285) on :

Maybe it's the slightly more sadistic side of me, but I like this technology. I've been following its development as much as possible for nearly 10 years now. And at the very least is has to be safer than rubber bullets (and now seemingly safter than Tasers).

I knew the metal hotspots were a concern, but other than that I hadn't read of any other side effects. Does anyone seee why glasses and contacts would be a concern (can microwaves be focused by the same lenses that are designed to focus the visible spectrum?) The technology activates (activates, not overloads) the pain nerves under the skin, so I'm guessing if someone was stuck in the beam they would passout from the pain. It doesn't cook skin or boil blood so the permanant effects would probably minimal physically (psychologically could be a different story I suppose).

EDIT: Fixed one of many grammar mistakes.

Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :

quote:
Does anyone seee why glasses and contacts would be a concern (can microwaves be focused by the same lenses that are designed to focus the visible spectrum?)

From now on, I'm wearing my Ray-Bans when I'm in a war zone.
[Cool]

<--me with my Ray-Bans, banning the rays

Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :

quote:
The real application, of course, is using it to boil away all of the opposing army's water.

No it's not. Have you never seen Real Genius? You use the microwave beam to make popcorn. Sheesh.

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

quote:
US Military Tests New Ray Gun For Use in Iraq

Shouldn't that be "Reagan?"

Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :

Ah, a Real Genius reference. Kayla is fast becoming one of my favourite posters. Tin foil hat or not.

Posted by Hamson (Member # 7808) on :

This article seems related to this article. Which I find slightly more fascinating.

Posted by Jay (Member # 5786) on :

Very neat.
Cool.
Can I get a small one to take care of the line at Wal-Mart?

Posted by Rico (Member # 7533) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Primal Curve:
Ah, a Real Genius reference. Kayla is fast becoming one of my favourite posters. Tin foil hat or not.

Might want to avoid going out with that tin foil hat, you never know when you'll be zapped with an experimental ray gun [Wink]

Posted by Sid Meier (Member # 6965) on :

lol, very interesting, set phasors to stun!

But ya, encredible now there'll be no more people you get hurt by rubber bullets have the odd chance of killing a 7 year old boy once in a while.

Posted by Rico (Member # 7533) on :

I don't think they'll have a "stun" setting but I bet it'll have a "medium rare" and "well done" instead [Big Grin]

Posted by littlemissattitude (Member # 4514) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bob_Scopatz:

quote:
US Military Tests New Ray Gun For Use in Iraq
Shouldn't that be "Reagan?"

Darn it, Bob. You beat me to it. I was just going to ask if they were going to name it "Ronald".

Probably better I don't even ask. You'd probably have to have grown up in California in the sixties to understand. Weren't you here around that time, Bob?

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

lma -- I was in SoCal from 1964 through 1980. Short time overall, but those the formative years (3rd grade through all of undergrad).

I mostly remember Reagan in California as the guy who single-handedly destroyed the public education system.

Of course he was far more dangerous as President.

California does seem to export it's problem children.

Myself included, I guess.

[Wink]

Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :

Hmm. Apparently Kayla hasn't seen Batman Begins.

Posted by Alucard... (Member # 4924) on :

First thought when I saw the 95GHz rating was if I could use that kind of power in my PC. I am guessing cooling would be a BIG problem...

Posted by littlemissattitude (Member # 4514) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bob_Scopatz:
lma -- I was in SoCal from 1964 through 1980. Short time overall, but those the formative years (3rd grade through all of undergrad)....

California does seem to export it's problem children.

Myself included, I guess.

You a problem child, Bob? Never. [Wink]

The thing I was referring to is that during Reagan's tenure as governor of California, some people got to calling him "Ronald Ray-Gun", especially over his handling of some of the things going on at the college campuses, with anti-war demonstrations and all.

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

Yeah! I remember that! I thought it was during his Presidency with all the Star Wars BS, but he sure was called Ronnie Ray Gun.

[ROFL]

I remember the day we found out that he and Nancy consulted astrologers. It was a low point for the American Presidency. Not even lying about oral sex has made me more ashamed of a President's flawed decision making. Whenever anyone tells me what a hero Reagan was, I just have to laugh. Yep...and he's also proof that a President could just throw darts blindfolded and some people would claim he's a genius.

Dangerous buffoon comes to mind.