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German Laser Destroys Targets More Than 1Km Away
kkleiner writes "A German company has brought us one step closer to the kinds of shootouts only seen in Sci-Fi films. Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall Defense recently tested a 50kW, high-energy laser at their proving ground facility in Switzerland. First, the system sliced through a 15mm- (~0.6 inches) thick steel girder from a kilometer away. Then, from a distance of two kilometers, it shot down a handful of drones as they nose-dived toward the surface at 50 meters per second."
Shooting down drones. Sort of like one of them electric bug zappers, but for bigger bugs.
Be seeing you...
It wouldn't do much against artillery shells or naval gunfire.
It would be somewhat effective against artillery shells. Most large shells travel slowly and rely on explosives for their damage. Heat one up enough and you'll either bork the fuse or set off the explosives prematurely. Now you've got non-aerodynamic shrapnel with a relatively low terminal velocity raining down rather than a high explosive shell.
The other thing about slow moving artillery shells is that they're slow, so there's time to effect the flight path. Heat the metal enough and you'll have superheated metal gas ablating from the surface of the shell. The force from that will be enough to alter the course of the projectile. With enough tracking/accuracy, you could theoretically divert the shell to land somewhere harmless (or at least less damaging).
Sharks.
Upward mobility is a slippery slope - the higher you climb the more you show your ass.
Because people in America are stubborn, arrogant, and resistant to change.
Therefore, 1 bag of popcorn every 3 seconds....(144k bags * 3 sec per bag) / 3600 secs per hour = 120 hours
Because I'm aiming my laser at each bag individually. If I were going to cook a room-sized tin of kernels, I'd disperse the heat using a stained glass window.
I drank what?