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The Active Denial System, an invisible heat ray that induces a painful burning sensation on human skin, has joined US marines in Afghanistan. Unlike the smaller, 750-foot-ranged Silent Guardian, the ADS can emit heat beams over 1,640 feet. [BBC] More »
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The terms "U.S. Marines" and "non-lethal" seem pretty antithetical to each other, but the Leathernecks are close putting in an order for Raytheon's Silent Guardian millimeter wave defense system. As far as non-lethal weapons go, this one's pretty hardcore - it slowly cooks you from the inside. But they swear it will stop before it does any "permanent damage." More »
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We've told you all about our favorite rayguns, blasters, flechette pistols, and laser guns before, but where did they all come from? Laser pistols are as identifiable with science fiction as rocketships, aliens, and robots, even though the first laser wasn't invented until 1960. So what spurred science fiction writers to start arming their characters with atomic blasters and disintegrator rays? More »
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