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San Francisco, 2:35 PM
Mon Dec 7
24 posts in the last 24 hours

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  • posts about #scienceisawesome more →

    OMFG: They've Made Real Lightsabers (Kinda)

    2008 Science Visualization Challenge Reveals the Teeth in a Squid's Suckers

    "Earth's Twin" Discovered In Distant Solar System?
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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of LittleDragon LittleDragon
    11/29/09

    In reply to OMFG: They've Made Real Lightsabers (Kinda)
    If the show is any where near as amusing as the comments here, this show will rock.
     Reply
    LittleDragon was starred LittleDragon was unstarred
    Image of twDarkflame twDarkflame
    11/29/09

    In reply to OMFG: They've Made Real Lightsabers (Kinda)
    well, obviously, you cant get light to just stop.
    Unless you have a black hole floating at the end of the saber.
    Or somehow had it cone shaped with ultra-precise destructive interference of the light wavelengths.

    (incidental, plasma in force shields arnt any easier then stopping light dead. Force fields are themselves one of the most impossible concepts of scifi).
     Reply
    twDarkflame was starred twDarkflame was unstarred
    Image of Asbestos_Underwear Asbestos_Underwear
    11/29/09

    In reply to OMFG: They've Made Real Lightsabers (Kinda)
    So that is one chapter from his book done, I wonder when they are going to start staring at goats.
     Reply
    Asbestos_Underwear was starred Asbestos_Underwear was unstarred
    Image of Bootknife-Jackson Bootknife-Jackson
    11/28/09

    In reply to OMFG: They've Made Real Lightsabers (Kinda)
    actually, as i can see form the pic, he succeeds in holding a toy lighsaber....
     Reply
    Bootknife-Jackson was starred Bootknife-Jackson was unstarred
    Image of comrade_leviathan comrade_leviathan
    11/30/09

    @Bootknife-Jackson: CORRECTION: That, my friend, is a collectible. Not a "toy".
     Reply
    Bootknife-Jackson promoted this comment comrade_leviathan was starred comrade_leviathan was unstarred
    Image of Bootknife-Jackson Bootknife-Jackson
    12/01/09

    @comrade_leviathan: touché!
     Reply
    Bootknife-Jackson was starred Bootknife-Jackson was unstarred
    Image of hideomgskojima hideomgskojima
    11/28/09

    In reply to OMFG: They've Made Real Lightsabers (Kinda)
    Holy crap... I think I just wet myself with excitement... I wonder if they are better quality than the ones my local games store sells?
     Reply
    crashedpc - Haifisch approved this comment hideomgskojima was starred hideomgskojima was unstarred
    Image of crashedpc - Haifisch crashedpc - Haifisch
    11/28/09

    @hideomgskojima: Ew! There's pee on the floor!

    You mean the "Light Sabers" made out of plastic tubes and cheap LEDs?
     Reply
    crashedpc - Haifisch was starred crashedpc - Haifisch was unstarred
    Image of TotalFanGirl TotalFanGirl
    11/28/09

    @crashedpc - Haifisch: Mock not, my lightsaber, or I shall bash you over the head with it until it bends in the middle and the light flickers out.
     Reply
    TotalFanGirl was starred TotalFanGirl was unstarred
    Image of crashedpc - Haifisch crashedpc - Haifisch
    11/28/09

    @TotalFanGirl: Or I could wave a rare earth magnet around it and watch it distort. Haha!
     Reply
    crashedpc - Haifisch was starred crashedpc - Haifisch was unstarred
    Image of hideomgskojima hideomgskojima
    11/29/09

    @crashedpc - Haifisch: Well, no pee on the floor, I had to change the sheets... And nope they sold the same style lightsbers but they broke very very easily
     Reply
    hideomgskojima was starred hideomgskojima was unstarred
    Image of 0kami 0kami
    11/28/09

    In reply to OMFG: They've Made Real Lightsabers (Kinda)
    IS THAT F***ING MICHIO KAKU HOLDING A F***ING LIGHTSABER? :O
    *explodes*
     Reply
    0kami was starred 0kami was unstarred
    Image of Fuji-kun Fuji-kun
    11/28/09

    @0kami: i wonder what Michio Kaku's jedi knight name would be??!?!?!??!! :O
    awesome!!!!!!!!!
    *hearts, then explodes*
     Reply
    0kami promoted this comment Fuji-kun was starred Fuji-kun was unstarred
    Image of 0kami 0kami
    11/28/09

    @Fuji-kun: Meech Kakuu
     Reply
    0kami was starred 0kami was unstarred
    Image of Torley Torley
    11/28/09

    In reply to OMFG: They've Made Real Lightsabers (Kinda)
    Michio Kaku is such a handsome man. He'd make a badass Jedi!
     Reply
    Torley was starred Torley was unstarred
    Image of Tooths Tooths
    11/28/09

    In reply to OMFG: They've Made Real Lightsabers (Kinda)
    An old-fashioned shotgun could still beat any lightsaber.
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana promoted this comment Tooths was starred Tooths was unstarred
    Image of schrodingers-katana schrodingers-katana
    11/28/09

    @Tooths: Not in style points, my friend.
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana was starred schrodingers-katana was unstarred
    Image of enderwiggin13 enderwiggin13
    11/28/09

    @Tooths: But a lightsaber isn't as clumsy or random as a shotgun. It's an elegant weapon from a more civilized age.
     Reply
    enderwiggin13 was starred enderwiggin13 was unstarred
    Image of phoghat phoghat
    11/28/09

    @Tooths:
    Mossberberg 600 stainless
    magazine extension 6 + 1 in the pipe
    OO buck
     Reply
    phoghat was starred phoghat was unstarred
    Image of Tooths Tooths
    11/28/09

    @phoghat: This, this is what I'm talking about. The shotgun has barely changed ever since it was introduced into the world as the blunderbuss. The light sabre would stand no chance against one even in the Star Wars universe.
     Reply
    Tooths was starred Tooths was unstarred
    Image of OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear
    11/28/09

    @schrodingers-katana: Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good shotgun at your side.
     Reply
    OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear was starred OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear was unstarred
    Image of schrodingers-katana schrodingers-katana
    11/28/09

    @OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear: I see your shotgun and raise you one Force Lightning.
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana was starred schrodingers-katana was unstarred
    Image of OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear
    11/28/09

    @schrodingers-katana: So you want force lightning? Good. I sense the hate growing within you. Strike me down with all your hatred and your journey to the dark side will be complete.
     Reply
    OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear was starred OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear was unstarred
    Image of crashedpc - Haifisch crashedpc - Haifisch
    11/28/09

    @OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear: "I'M SO OOOOLLLLLLLLLLLD!!!!"
     Reply
    crashedpc - Haifisch was starred crashedpc - Haifisch was unstarred
    Image of darrenjalbert darrenjalbert
    11/28/09

    @schrodingers-katana: Also an awesome comment and great comeback!
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana promoted this comment darrenjalbert was starred darrenjalbert was unstarred
    Image of schrodingers-katana schrodingers-katana
    11/29/09

    @darrenjalbert: Flatterer.
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana was starred schrodingers-katana was unstarred
    Image of schrodingers-katana schrodingers-katana
    11/29/09

    @OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear: Well, it's not so much hate, as a keen desire to strike people down with bolts of electricity from my fingertips. If that does make me evil, I can also invoke the pseudo-Christian Darth Vader move of repenting right before I die....
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana was starred schrodingers-katana was unstarred
    Image of OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear
    11/29/09

    @schrodingers-katana: And Anakin only wanted to check out the dark side to help out his wife. Whatever lets you sleep at night after you kill all the younglings.
     Reply
    OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear was starred OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear was unstarred
    Image of schrodingers-katana schrodingers-katana
    11/29/09

    @OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear: Hey, if those younglings didn't want to get light-sabered they should have been midichlorian-negative. I blame the Force myself...
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana was starred schrodingers-katana was unstarred
    Image of phoghat phoghat
    12/01/09

    @Tooths:
    Yeah, it's just "point and shoot" Used in every war since "the big one WW I"
     Reply
    phoghat was starred phoghat was unstarred
    Image of Memepunks Memepunks
    11/28/09

    In reply to OMFG: They've Made Real Lightsabers (Kinda)
    "he gets out the goggles and starts trying to form super-hot plasma into a three-foot blade. "

    Successful or not, I will be in front of the TV for this one.
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana promoted this comment Memepunks was starred Memepunks was unstarred
    Image of schrodingers-katana schrodingers-katana
    11/28/09

    @Memepunks: Fuck yeah!
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana was starred schrodingers-katana was unstarred
    Image of Fuji-kun Fuji-kun
    11/28/09

    @schrodingers-katana: i never hearted and shared such a simple yet great and compelling comment!!!!!
    AWESOME!!!!
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana promoted this comment Fuji-kun was starred Fuji-kun was unstarred
    Image of schrodingers-katana schrodingers-katana
    11/29/09

    @Fuji-kun: Sometimes there is elegance in simplicity... and profanity. ;)
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana was starred schrodingers-katana was unstarred
    Image of Memepunks Memepunks
    12/03/09

    @schrodingers-katana: An elegant comment, for a more civilized age...
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana promoted this comment Memepunks was starred Memepunks was unstarred
    Image of schrodingers-katana schrodingers-katana
    12/03/09

    @Memepunks: Well, one does what one can.
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana was starred schrodingers-katana was unstarred
    Image of Garrison Dean: R.O.A.C.H. Garrison Dean: R.O.A.C.H.
    11/28/09

    In reply to OMFG: They've Made Real Lightsabers (Kinda)
    Oh whatever. Publicity seeking futurists and plasma swords are no match for a good blaster at your side.
     Reply
    Garrison Dean: R.O.A.C.H. was starred Garrison Dean: R.O.A.C.H. was unstarred
    Image of Dr Emilio Lizardo Dr Emilio Lizardo
    11/28/09

    @Garrison Dean: R.O.A.C.H.: I suggest you try it again, Garrison. This time, let go your conscious self and act on instinct.
     Reply
    Dr Emilio Lizardo was starred Dr Emilio Lizardo was unstarred
    Image of jajbowler jajbowler
    11/28/09

    @Dr Emilio Lizardo: With the blast shield down he can't even see... how is he supposed to fight?
     Reply
    jajbowler was starred jajbowler was unstarred
    Image of Smeagol92055 Smeagol92055
    11/28/09

    @jajbowler: It's all just a bunch of simple tricks and nonsense.
     Reply
    Smeagol92055 was starred Smeagol92055 was unstarred
    Image of ggodo, the man from R.O.A.C.H. ggodo, the man from R.O.A.C.H.
    11/28/09

    @Garrison Dean: R.O.A.C.H.: Such a clumsy weapon. These elegant weapons will usher in a more civilized age.
     Reply
    ggodo, the man from R.O.A.C.H. was starred ggodo, the man from R.O.A.C.H. was unstarred
    Image of Akitsu Akitsu
    11/28/09

    In reply to OMFG: They've Made Real Lightsabers (Kinda)
    Yeah, I think people are expecting a bit much from this. The article says he makes a 3 foot long jet of plasma to illustrate the idea, but it doesn't say anything about them making anything close to the real thing. It does however say they share their findings with a crowd of people with the toy versions... which is 100% what they're holding in that promo shot. (Those things are pimp, btw. I've got the Darth Maul one)

    Also, is it just me or is the carbon nanotube science's answer for just about anything? Space elevator? Carbon nanotubes. Light saber? Carbon nanotubes. Potential 21st century health risk? Carbon nanotubes.

    Still, it's at least a step in the right direction. I'd love to see more scientastic shows like this...
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana promoted this comment Akitsu was starred Akitsu was unstarred
    Image of DasStan DasStan
    11/28/09

    @Akitsu: Carbon nanotubes are the Cowbell of the science world.
     Reply
    Bigdamnhero promoted this comment DasStan was starred DasStan was unstarred
    Image of schrodingers-katana schrodingers-katana
    11/28/09

    @Akitsu: Geez, you seem to be feeling down. Why don't you munch on some tasty carbon nanotubes I just pulled out of the oven. It will make you feel better.
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana was starred schrodingers-katana was unstarred
    Image of Grey_Area Grey_Area
    11/28/09

    In reply to OMFG: They've Made Real Lightsabers (Kinda)
    I always thought that a short piece of laser that could sometimes cut through anything, sometimes disintegrate old people, and deflect energy was very silly. What if light sabers were more like Larry Niven's variable swords? A length of monofiliment held rigid in a force field that glows so you don't accidentally lop off your own arm.
    Of course if I had my choice of magic sace weapons I'd go with the Lazy Gun. Pull the trigger and megadeath hilarity ensues.
     Reply
    Grey_Area was starred Grey_Area was unstarred
    Image of Chuck Chuck
    11/28/09

    @Grey_Area: I always liked the variable sword, but in Niven-land, I'd rather have the Slaver "digging tool".

    (who am I kidding? if I had my choice of Niven known space gadgets, I'd take the sleep fields...)
     Reply
    Chuck was starred Chuck was unstarred
    Image of EdificeComplex EdificeComplex
    11/28/09

    @Grey_Area: For my magic science fiction gadget I'd have to go with the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device from Portal. There's just something about manipulating the space time continuum with such hilarious results.
     Reply
    EdificeComplex was starred EdificeComplex was unstarred
    Image of Chip Overclock Chip Overclock
    11/28/09

    @Grey_Area: The variable sword is how I always rationalized light sabers too. The pyrotechnics when the blades collide are due to interactions of the force fields.

    The agents in Matt Ruff's book BAD MONKEYS carry NC guns: you pull the trigger and your prey dies of Natural Causes (typically a stroke or a heart attack).
     Reply
    Chip Overclock was starred Chip Overclock was unstarred
    Image of brentbent: C.O.C.K.R.O.A.C.H. )for all the queer super villians out there( brentbent: C.O.C.K.R.O.A.C.H. )for all the queer super villians out there(
    11/28/09

    @Grey_Area: Except the lazy gun might decide you'd gone to far and instead kill you be detonating itself so pick your targets carefully. Wait...is that how you ended up in this universe where the Shatner/West Kung Fu wasn't filmed?
     Reply
    Grey_Area promoted this comment brentbent: C.O.C.K.R.O.A.C.H. )for all the queer super villians out there( was starred brentbent: C.O.C.K.R.O.A.C.H. )for all the queer super villians out there( was unstarred
    Image of phoghat phoghat
    11/28/09

    @Grey_Area:
    Yeah Niven!
    Variable sword
    Autodoc
    Stasis field
    These are a few of my favorite things.
     Reply
    phoghat was starred phoghat was unstarred
    Image of Grey_Area Grey_Area
    11/28/09

    @brentbent: C.O.C.K.R.O.A.C.H. )for all the queer super villians out there(: Stupid cheap Formosan flux capacitors. When will I learn; never ever buy third-party peripherals.

    @phoghat: Just gimme a roast Bandersnatch handmeal and a tasp and I'll be a happy sentient. Well actually, I won't really need the handmeal if I have the tasp.
     Reply
    Grey_Area was starred Grey_Area was unstarred
    Image of DireWombat DireWombat
    11/28/09

    @EdificeComplex: I agree. Unfortunately, if I'm honest with myself, I have to admit that one day early on I'd end up sticking the blue portal in my hallway and the orange one in my office so I could get to/from work faster, and then never get around to moving either of them ever again.
     Reply
    EdificeComplex promoted this comment DireWombat was starred DireWombat was unstarred
    Image of EdificeComplex EdificeComplex
    11/28/09

    @DireWombat: In the back of my mind I've always wondered what it would actually be like if such a device was massed produced and sold to the public. Outside of the unintended consequences on the fabric of space-time, I imagine in the beginning people would use it to travel to exotic locals, rob banks and play practical jokes on friends and family. But after a while I think people would end up doing what you described: using it to go to work, send the kids to school and hoping over to the grocery store. The banality of existence is insidious.
    Okay, that ended up being a lot more serious than I had intended.
     Reply
    EdificeComplex was starred EdificeComplex was unstarred
    Image of Obama takes time to read kotaku's comments... Obama takes time to read kotaku's comments...
    11/28/09

    @EdificeComplex: its funny you bring up the portal gun... could you theoretically have sex with yourself? could you reach yourself and give a reach a round to yourself?
     Reply
    lukeoneil47 promoted this comment Obama takes time to read kotaku's comments... was starred Obama takes time to read kotaku's comments... was unstarred
    Image of lukeoneil47 lukeoneil47
    11/28/09

    @Obama takes time to read kotaku's comments...: :|
     Reply
    lukeoneil47 was starred lukeoneil47 was unstarred
    Image of EdificeComplex EdificeComplex
    11/28/09

    @Obama takes time to read kotaku's comments...: That would be... weird and slightly disturbing. I like it!
     Reply
    EdificeComplex was starred EdificeComplex was unstarred
    Image of MrPliskin0 MrPliskin0
    11/29/09

    @EdificeComplex: Bah, you want a Weighted Companion Cube like the rest of us!
     Reply
    EdificeComplex promoted this comment MrPliskin0 was starred MrPliskin0 was unstarred
    Image of EdificeComplex EdificeComplex
    11/29/09

    @MrPliskin0: It's an unhealthy love, but it's real.
     Reply
    EdificeComplex was starred EdificeComplex was unstarred
    Image of Belabras: now with Kung Fu grip! Belabras: now with Kung Fu grip!
    11/28/09

    In reply to OMFG: They've Made Real Lightsabers (Kinda)
    Do Want
     Reply
    Belabras: now with Kung Fu grip! was starred Belabras: now with Kung Fu grip! was unstarred
    Image of Lunargent Lunargent
    11/28/09

    In reply to OMFG: They've Made Real Lightsabers (Kinda)
    I've been a fan of Michio Kaku ever since I was given a copy of "Hyperspace" on a family trip at age 12 and told to shut up.
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana promoted this comment Lunargent was starred Lunargent was unstarred
    Image of schrodingers-katana schrodingers-katana
    11/28/09

    @Lunargent: Agreed. I'm coo-coo for Kaku-puff (pieces).

    Man, that is a fucking stretch right there.... Curse you, desire to make terrible puns all the time!
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana was starred schrodingers-katana was unstarred
    Image of FiorenzaDampt FiorenzaDampt
    11/28/09

    In reply to OMFG: They've Made Real Lightsabers (Kinda)
    I really, really want to see lightsaber battles as part of the Olympics now.

    If that were to come to pass, for the first time ever I would actually care about the Olympics.
     Reply
    schrodingers-katana promoted this comment FiorenzaDampt was starred FiorenzaDampt was unstarred
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