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The Science of the Lightsaber

Posted by samzenpus on from the the-force dept.

Smartcowboy writes "Chances are that you have seen a lightsaber at one time or another, whether on the evening news or down at the local cantina. Therefore you know that a lightsaber is an amazing and versatile device that is able to cut through nearly anything in a matter of milliseconds. Have you ever wondered how these remarkable weapons work? Where does the energy come from, and how are they able to contain that energy in a rod-like column of glowing power? In this article, you will have a chance to look inside a lightsaber and discover the source of its incredible characteristics." I was sure the blade was made from the focused hate and disappointment of the last three movies.

2 of 197 comments (clear)

  1. Every-Day uses of the lightsaber by NecroBones · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Well, at least they didn't show any household uses for the lightsaber that I've already covered. :)

    Lightsaber Uses for the Everyday Dark Lord

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    I have not lost my mind... it's backed up on disk somewhere!
  2. Re:You know... by AdamThor · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ...I don't know why everyone wonders how a fictional lightsaber could work.

    Neither do I. Lasers? Plasma? Mechanical core? Containment? Lenses and gyrsoscopes?

    THERE WAS NONE OF THAT. There was a guy and his typewriter and a bunch of words that, while compelling, were not true. There is no technology of the lightsaber. There is no "how it works". It doesn't work. It doesn't exist. The same is true of teleporters, holodecks, warp speed, etc.

    If someone wants to have some fun writing or reading this kind of stuff that's fine. But it's just fanfic. People seem to ascribe to it some sort of weight it doesn't have b/c of the science tone.

    Now get off my lawn!

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    -- "Oh. This guy again."