DARPA Working On Arthur C. Clarke Weapon Idea

holy_calamity writes "DARPA is working on a weapon which is similar to one first described by Arthur C. Clarke in his 1955 novel Earthlight — firing jets of molten metal using strong electromagnetic fields. The Magneto Hydrodynamic Explosive Munition (MAHEM) will function on a smaller scale than Clarke's fictional blaster. DARPA's write-up says it could be 'packaged into a missile, projectile or other platform and delivered close to target for final engagement and kill.' Clarke is also widely credited with suggesting geostationary communications satellites — what other ideas of his will come to pass?"

Comments

what other ideas of his will come to pass?

[trolltalk.com]

I for one welcome Arthur C. Clarke's Overlords (Childhoods' End)

Re:what other ideas of his will come to pass?

[rthille]

Then where the hell is my flying car, and why do 80% of my countrymen still believe in bronze-age myths?

Re:what other ideas of his will come to pass?

[Minwee]

Similarly it is hard to miss shooting a rabbit with a sawn-off shotgun...

You'd better not miss. If that rabbit is armed with a shotgun you may not get a second shot at him.

Re:what other ideas of his will come to pass?

[turgid]

3D!=D

So, D!=0?

The Mark V Computer

[TimHunter]

I understand that the monks are up to about 8 and 1/2 billion. http://lucis.net/stuff/clarke/9billion_clarke.html/

Childhood's End's Telekinesis

[starglider29a]

One of these days, a guy will be looking at the TV remote on the coffee table and try to pull it to him with his mind... AND IT WILL WORK!

Re:Childhood's End's Telekinesis

[xj]

What is the need for a remote if you can use telekinesis? Does superman fly southwest?

Re:Childhood's End's Telekinesis

[LWATCDR]

Yea like I am going to make the effort to think all the way across the room when I could just think at the remote next to me.

Re:Childhood's End's Telekinesis

[geobeck]

Does superman fly southwest?

I did a mental double-take before mentally inserting the capital letter on "Southwest". Like, wha? He hates California or something? :p

Re:Who is Arthur C. Clarke?

[Uncle Focker]

He's most famous for his work with Stanley Kubrick on 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Magneto Hydrodynamic...

[ahoehn]

The Magneto Hydrodynamic Explosive Munition (MAHEM) will function on a smaller scale than Clarke's fictional blaster. Best. Acronym. Ever.

Re:Magneto Hydrodynamic...

[Anonymous Coward]

You could even say that use of a MAHEM will cause a lot of significant activity.

Re:Magneto Hydrodynamic...

[Chris Mattern]

Magnet Yielding Hydrodynamic Explosive Munition would've been better :-)

Re:Who is Arthur C. Clarke?

[Anonymous Coward]

I've heard his name, but don't know much about it. Unfortunately, I am one of those handicapped people who can not search Google or lookup on Wikipedia answers to my own questions. So if anyone would kindly please post a short biography or even a link, I would most grateful. Here's a good explanation of who he is to many of us.

Re:Automated memes

[trolltalk.com]

Let me be the first to welcome our molten metal jet wielding overlords.

Better you than me, mate!

In the DARPA lab...

[oodaloop]

First engineer: You've got your flamethrower in my railgun!
Second engineer: You've got your railgun in my flamethrower!
Both: Two great tastes that taste great together!

First Rule

[Junior J. Junior III]

The First Rule of Project MAHEM is:  Do not talk about Project MAHEM!

Solve the energy crisis

[sir_eccles]

Don't know if it's inhumane, but we could solve the energy crisis by strapping magnets to Arthur C Clarke's body as it spins in his grave.

Re:Why?

[geobeck]

...the 1.2 billion chinese that are poised to invade Taiwan.

They're all going? That's easy, then. Just find out when they're planning to stop by, then have all 23 million Taiwanese people slip out the back door and occupy the mainland while no one is home.

Since everyone in mainland China ia politically conditioned to believe that Taiwan = China, the Chinese invaders will never figure out that the Taiwanese are gone, and will continue fighting amongst themselves while the Taiwanese population sets up shop in their new, roomier lodgings.