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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."

5 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. 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.

  2. 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.
  3. 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! ~~
  4. Re:Sounds like Highlander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    There is no sequel. There can be only one.