German Laser Destroys Targets More Than 1Km Away 338
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."
Pop Corn (Score:5, Funny)
Popcorn? (Score:3, Funny)
So how well does it make popcorn?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089886/ [imdb.com]
Sharks? (Score:5, Funny)
Why did they test it in a country where there are no sharks?
Oooh shiny!!! (Score:4, Funny)
Germans acquire an advanced weapon! (Score:5, Funny)
What can possibly go wrong...?! :p
Re:wake me up.. (Score:3, Funny)
It has already been done.
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/05/wicked-lasers-shark/ [wired.com]
Re:Pop Corn (Score:5, Funny)
So instead of dropping bombs, the enemy will just drop disco balls. That ought to be fun.
Re:Germans acquire an advanced weapon! (Score:4, Funny)
Once all the Germans were warlike and mean,
But that couldn't happen again.
We taught them a lesson in nineteen eighteen,
And they've hardly bothered us since then.
Tom Lehrer, Mlf Lullaby
American translation (Score:3, Funny)
50 m/sec is 894.776 furlongs/sec for y'all in the US. :)
Re:Two words (Score:5, Funny)
German Laser Destroys Targets More Than 1Km Away.. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:American translation (Score:5, Funny)
The preferred unit is furlongs/fortnight you insensitive clod!
Re:Oblig: Pew! Pew! Pew! (Score:2, Funny)
Brought to you by the Pew Pew Pew Research Center.
Re:Germans acquire an advanced weapon! (Score:4, Funny)
Most of us Polacks who are not elderly or nationalist are already in Ireland, UK, or, well, Germany, so you can take the old piece of dirt if you want.
Re:Pop Corn (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Pop Corn (Score:4, Funny)
Get that shit away from me. I can't stand it.
Now I know you what to get for your birthday. When is AC's birthday, anyway? 1/1/1970?
Re:it had to be said (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Pop Corn (Score:1, Funny)
And "Anonymous Coward" is an anagram of "Roy on mad cow anus". Just saying.
Re:Pop Corn (Score:4, Funny)
Sheesh, and you people have the nerve to call yourselves nerds. A quick back of the envelope calculation:
Laser output: 50kW Average microwave oven: 1kW Duration of popping: 2 m. 30 sec. = 150 sec. Therefore, 1 bag of popcorn every 3 seconds.
House volume: 2000 sq ft * 6 ft high = 12000 cu ft Volume of a bag of popcorn = 0.25 cu ft Therefore, 144k bags of popcorn would be needed.
(144k bags * 3 sec per bag) / 3600 secs per hour = 120 hours
Hope Val Kilmer isn't in a hurry.
Would that be metric hours?
Re:Pop Corn (Score:5, Funny)
"It has come to my attention that the entire Linux community is a hotbed of so called 'alternative sexuality', which includes anything from hedonistic orgies to homosexuality to paedophilia."
You know you could have waited till April 1st and won an award. Posting now is just plain stupid.
Re:Pop Corn (Score:5, Funny)
Grammar Nazis!