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Experimental Magnetic Shield Against Cosmic Rays

Posted by timothy on from the but-not-against-hyperbole dept.

stiller writes "British scientists from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory have developed an experimental set-up in which a $20 magnet is used to deflect solar-wind-like radiation." Reader Dersaidin points out a slightly more enthusiastic article at Universe Today which emphasizes the possibilities of systems based on this phenomenon to protect astronauts during solar storms, writing "It's a good start. Hopefully, later versions will be able to protect spaceships from energy weapons. A beam from the LHC can melt a 500kg block of copper. Shields, check. Energy weapons, check. Now we just need a viable interstellar drive, and an energy source to power it all."

18 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. Oblig ... by polar+red · · Score: 1, Funny

    Modulate the shields !!

    --
    Yes, I'm left. You have a problem with that?
    1. Re:Oblig ... by CFBMoo1 · · Score: 5, Funny

      From Instructor: Now we're going to practice our impact procedures. Ok everyone lean to the left.

      *Whole class but one guy leans to the left*

      From Instructor: Good! Now lean to the right.

      *Whole class but same one guy leans to the right*

      From Instructor: Excellent! Your prepared for when the ship takes damage.

      From The One Guy: Uh? Why are we leaning to the left and right like that?

      *Instructor hands him a red shirt*

      From Instructor: Keep your insurance paid up son.

      --
      ~~ Behold the flying cow with a rail gun! ~~
  2. Experimental Magic Shield Against Cosmic Rays by davidwr · · Score: 4, Funny

    Did anyone else misread the title?

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
    1. Re:Experimental Magic Shield Against Cosmic Rays by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Oh ...takes off wizard robe and hat

  3. USS Liberty by Chairboy · · Score: 5, Funny

    I suggest mounting a standard generator at the core of the prospective space ship and attaching a coffin containing one of our founding fathers to it. The rapid spinning should provide plentiful power for all manner of techno-gadgetry.

  4. Tea or Death? by MaxwellEdison · · Score: 5, Funny

    According to TFA this thing uses about as much energy as an electric kettle, Does this mean British astronauts will need to choose between the two? I can see it now, a mustachio'd astronaut (in my mind I imagine him an old RAF captain) hovering over the button and staring at the kettle. Agonizing over the decision before muttering 'To the Queen' and putting the kettle on.

    This brings up a larger issue to me...how well does tea steep in zero G, And would there be a difference between an Earl Grey blend or a black tea blend?

    --
    -=Bang Bang=-
    1. Re:Tea or Death? by Amazing+Quantum+Man · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well, obviously for the Earl Grey, you have to say "Hot", as in "Tea, Earl Grey, Hot", or it comes cold.
      For the black tea blend, you get a cup of a drink that's almost but not quite entirely unlike tea.

      --
      Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
    2. Re:Tea or Death? by MaxwellEdison · · Score: 2, Funny

      Ah, but would such a tea stirring device add further energy calculations necessary to the question of putting on the kettle or preventing an agonizing death due to ionizing radiation. . . Also if it were attached to the ship the rotational force from such a device would eventually set about making the whole craft spin, or require more energy to counteract the spin. And thats not even beginning to touch the issue of crumbless biscuits! My fellows! We have much sciencing to do!

      --
      -=Bang Bang=-
  5. Checklist... by Cyclopedian · · Score: 2, Funny

    Shields, check. Energy weapons, check. Now we just need a viable interstellar drive, and an energy source to power it all.

    No, what we need is a strong hull that can withstand all the micro-meteoriods hitting it at 27,000+ mph.

    I recommend getting a General Products #2 hull.

    --
    /.'s 10 Millionth
  6. hot stuff by fyoder · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now we just need a viable interstellar drive, and an energy source to power it all.

    Then it's all alien babes from here to the farthest star! Warp factor exosex, Scotty, all power to the engines!

    --
    Loose lips lose spit.
  7. You know what this means... by jmcwork · · Score: 4, Funny

    No hope of becoming one of the Fantastic Four. Bummer.

  8. Re:Sounds like Highlander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I do now! Thanks a lot.

  9. Now available from Monster by PhrostyMcByte · · Score: 4, Funny

    up next: Monster Gold Diamond HDMI cables with Cosmic Ray protection.

  10. Re:Sounds like Highlander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    There is no sequel. There can be only one.

  11. Re:sure it can melt 500 lbs of copper... by CorporateSuit · · Score: 4, Funny

    Anyone know what the standard made-up unit is for energy/time?

    Sadly, we don't need a made-up unit for that. The one we have is bad enough:

    Horses

    --
    I am the richest astronaut ever to win the superbowl.
  12. Re:A beam from the LHC can melt a 500kg block of c by rcw-home · · Score: 2, Funny

    Anyone know what the standard made-up unit is for energy/time?

    Watt? Horsepower? Michael Phelps? NSA datacenter electricity usage? Total solar output?

  13. Re:From page 2 of linked article by Kreigaffe · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe, maybe not.

    Maybe we're in the alternate universe, where the Federation was evil.

    The theory bears scrutiny. Haven't you noticed the popularity of goatees?

    --
    ... still waiting for this free-as-in-beer free beer I keep hearing about. :|
  14. Re:Earth-based uses? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    How many earth based computers are fried by cosmic radiation? Or is that what we refer to as PEBKAC now?