Zap and You’re Dead

Or 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.