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E-Bombs: Technology Update
vaderhelmet writes "'In these media-fueled times, when war is a television spectacle and wiping out large numbers of civilians is generally frowned upon, the perfect weapon would literally stop an enemy in his tracks, yet harm neither hide nor hair. Such a weapon might shut down telecommunications networks, disrupt power supplies, and fry an adversary's countless computers and electronic gadgets, yet still leave buildings, bridges, and highways intact. It would strike with precision, in an instant, and leave behind no trace of where it came from.' (Story from IEEE Spectrum Online)"
It would strick with precision, ...
It appears to have already stricked someone...
So long, michael. Don't let the door hit you...
First, the geek in me says: "Cool!" I know the military has been working on these kinds of weapons for decades, and it looks like they're getting closer. Anything that adds to the arsenal is a win in my book.
Now, it's too bad we didn't have this weapon last year for use in the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Imagine the effectiveness of such a weapon! We could have annihilated the entire high-tech infrastructure of Afghanistan far more quickly than we could have using conventional weapons. The invasion would have been far more effective if the Taliban's high-tech, integrated command and control technology could have been disrupted from the start. I'd just like to see those camel-jockeys try to coordinate their attacks without their iPaq's and virtual reality headsets! Good luck with that one, Ahmed!
However, I'm a little concerned with the effectiveness of this type of weapon from a ratings point of view. How exactly do you keep the audience entertained without any explosions or visible signs of destruction? I really don't think people are going to stay tuned through the commercials for this. "After these exciting messages from our sponsors, watch all the lights blink off!" Great... Perhaps, as part of this research, they could integrated a conventional weapon with an E-weapon. I guess what I'd like to see is a combination E-Bomb/MOAB. Then you still get the visual effects, sure to scare the poop out of Terrorists (and their camels), with the added bonus of disrupting their sensitive, high-tech infrastructures. It's a win-win! Just make sure the next invasion is during sweeps week.
e-bomb eh? Well, I guess that's better than an i-bomb.. Already have too many i-bomb's on the market as it is..
i-surrender!
Just reading the story made my teeth tingle.
"Most types of matter are transparent to microwaves, but metallic conductors . . . strongly absorb them, which in turn heats the material."Maybe somebody with better physics can help me out here, but I think I'd rather be shot than have all my fillings melt.
The bigotry of the nonbeliever is for me nearly as funny as the bigotry of the believer. - Albert Einstein
It would strick with precision, in an instant, and leave behind no trace of where it came from.' (Story from IEEE Spectrum Online)"
That's why they didn't have any EMPs at Zion - they were still waiting for IEEE Compliancy.
The government's moral compass is controlled by GPS.
In times of crises, they alter it to suit their needs.
Don't tell that to Rockstar games!
(-1, Raw and Uncut is the only way to read)
It'll look a lot less impressive if the truck just slowly comes to a halt rather than have the entire bridge blow up.
On a more serious note, what about tactical bombing - you blow up bridges to deny the enemy choice within the battlezone. You attack dams to deny the enemy water, etc.
Somehow I think there'll still be big explosions in any up-and-coming war... Of course, it could be an E-bomb, targetted at a nuclear reactor...
Simon
Physicists get Hadrons!
++ NO CARRIER ++
Ever seen a rat after 15s in a microwave?
Yeah, the batter gets all mushy. They're better deep fried.
Trolling is a art,
Wow, so what you do for a hand grenade through your front door? Grimace menacingly?
the future's bright, the future's ginger
Don't. Make Me. Repeat. Some of the. Speeches. They Would Give.
As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
Your "e-bombs" won't stop our donkeycarts of doom, infidel!
Drop one of these on the house of file-swappers, that will teach em. 8)
Karma Whoring for Fun and Profit.
High Technology always loses! Hasn't anyone ever seen Stargate? Camel-riding nomads will always destroy their teched-out overlords!
+1 Insightful, -1 Troll. What can I say, I'm an Insightful Troll.
I think it was called Nimda!
When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
If I were in charge, I would pre-emptively put a pace-maker inside any president upon election, healthy or not.
Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.
-- Pablo Picasso
Actually the effects of the eBomb will not
affect medical facilities - using the same
rationale as smoke from smoking sections not
reaching non-smoking sections in restaurants.
the flux compression generator, or FCG, is a good choice
Marty! That's impossible! Unless... you can drop the bomb when the clock tower is struck at precisely twelve midnight going 60 mph...
I wonder what sort of effect this would have on our lives if one just "accidently" gets dropped on the Microsoft campus? Hmmm.
Considering our own George W. Bush, the man in control of the largest nuclear weapons stockpile in the world cant even pronounce the word "nuclear"...
Yes. I'd say developing weapons like these, even if it's only for the purpose of distracting Curious George away from the bright red buttons...i'd consider that a good idea.
Bowie J. Poag
[Grin.]
I'm not in the US until next April. I guess I'll find out then whether the FBI (or whoever) are as paranoid as they're made out to be.
In my defence, I've driven over it a number of times in the past 10 years, and never blown it up once. Honest.
Simon
Physicists get Hadrons!
Here's a perfect testing location, a place with many computers loaded with worthless information:
The SCO Group
355 South 520 West
Suite 100
Lindon, Utah 84042 USA
Yes, most people use a Discman with a Marvin Gaye CD as their Soul Rhythm generator.