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Force Field. No, Really

tqft points out news of "a working force field, using plasma. Now to scale the sucker up." Here's the Brookhaven press release. I can think of so many uses for this.

22 of 434 comments (clear)

  1. An enormous breakthrough for parents by artemis67 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Finally, a solution to the "Dad, he keeps touching me!" dilemma.

    1. Re:An enormous breakthrough for parents by CptChipJew · · Score: 5, Funny

      The one problem though, is that this device runs at about 15,000 Kelvin.

      Wait, now that I think about it, that would really teach those damn kids to stop messing around.

      --
      Vonal Declosion
    2. Re:An enormous breakthrough for parents by indros · · Score: 4, Funny

      Also probably a good first line of defense as birth control as well. Make sure the swimmers don't reach their destination!

  2. I've already seen a working force field by Hogwash+McFly · · Score: 5, Funny

    There was a guy down the street from me who was in a force field. Can't remember his name but he had a black and white striped shirt, white face paint and he didn't speak that much.

    --
    Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
    1. Re:I've already seen a working force field by MaestroSartori · · Score: 5, Funny

      Apparently, he was keeping quiet about it until the patent came through...

    2. Re:I've already seen a working force field by TopShelf · · Score: 4, Funny

      Be very careful - this sounds like a French spy who's been trapped successfully. Sometimes they try to escape by climbing a rope, so be sure that field has a lid to it...

      --
      Stop by my site where I write about ERP systems & more
    3. Re:I've already seen a working force field by sharkey · · Score: 4, Funny
      ...he had a black and white striped shirt, white face paint and he didn't speak that much.

      Easily breached using the proper Force-Field Deactivation Device.

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  3. Now what I need.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    are some borg implants so I can walk through the force field unaffected.

  4. Uses? by Surak · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can think of so many uses for this.

    Like keeping PHBs out of the server room? ;)

    1. Re:Uses? by Smallphish · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just what I need in my server room. Another heat source at 15,000 Kelvin. . .

  5. am i reading this wrong by Neophytus · · Score: 3, Funny

    or is all its blocking at the moment air? then again 14k kelvin might keep us out.

  6. Protect your *nix by Tukz · · Score: 4, Funny

    Finally a decent way to protect your *nix server
    from physical contact!

    Yipee!

    *snicker*

    --
    - Don't do what I do, it's probably not healthy nor safe. -
  7. Blast... by foxtrot · · Score: 5, Funny

    I asked the guy how he did it, but he won't tell me.

    Hasn't anyone explained to him the wonders of open force?

    -JDF

  8. Force fields have existed for ages by fredrikj · · Score: 4, Funny
  9. Spam? by 955301 · · Score: 5, Funny

    They use the word plasma so many times in the last sentence of the first link, that for some strange reason (closely related to my sense of humor, I'm sure), I'm reminded of Monty Python and Spam:

    A much faster, more complex version of a previously introduced "spam window" (see New Scientist, 12 April 2003), the spam valve is the latest example of novel uses of spam for particle-beam applications; other recent ones include spam acceleration of antimatter (Update 634), a spam lens (Update 508), and spam deflection of high-energy beams (Update 540).

    Niiieeeeeeeeeeeeee!

    --
    You are checking your backups, aren't you?
  10. RTFA: NOT, NOT, NOT a "force field" by 1u3hr · · Score: 5, Funny
    1) It's a "plasma valve". Not a force (ie magnetic or something ethereal), the magnetic "force" confines the plasma.

    2) The plasma valve is INSIDE a copper container.

    If you think this is a "force field" then you might also be interested in the "ray gun" in your television tube.

    An interesting story nonetheless, spoiled only by the fatuous ignorance of the submitter and editor.

  11. It's already obsolete by jdfox · · Score: 3, Funny

    Because I brought my DINOSAUR! Who EATS force field dogs!

  12. What's next? by BobRooney · · Score: 3, Funny

    I suppose next we'll be hearing about a new sort of sci-fi device called a "laser". Perhaps this "laser" can be used with the "force field" to sculpt pictures of world leaders onto the face of the moon...

  13. Yeah but... by mikosullivan · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... does it make that cool "Bzzzzt" sound when you walk into it?

    --
    Miko O'Sullivan
  14. Re:You are smoking crack by Dr.Enormous · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or how about we don't convert away from an absolute temperature scale before dividing things all over the place?

    If you convert to C first, you've just assigned an arbitrary zero to the scale and cut off about 90% of room temp, but only about 2% of the force field temp, so of course when you then go dividing by 50 it doesn't work out.

    Remember kiddies: arbitrary scales are all well and good for addition and subtraction, but don't go messing around with multiplication and division; you'll end up a pregnant murderer who supports terrorists.

  15. Re:Zap Field by tantrum · · Score: 3, Funny

    Where can we find some pix?

    Let me get this right.. you want a picture of a vacuum surrounded by air. Now that sounds like a nice picture.
  16. Re:Zap Field by ebh · · Score: 5, Funny

    I've got a good picture of it here.