# 1920s style death rays score a mention **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 7, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-rays-score-a-mention/307366 "2005-06-07T22:42:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-rays-score-a-mention/307366/1 "2005-06-07T22:42:27Z")
I’m reading a book about RAF fighter command prior to WWII - and R A Watson Watt just scored a mention for his investigation into death rays. His analysis concluded that death rays were impractical - but lead to the invention of…anybody? ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-rays-score-a-mention/307366/2 "2005-06-07T22:49:17Z")
1920’s-style inside jokes? He may claim they are impractical, but I would have sworn they got those to work once. In 1960. For 20 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![flood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-rays-score-a-mention/307366/3 "2005-06-07T23:01:03Z")
Start hoarding air. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-rays-score-a-mention/307366/4 "2005-06-08T00:11:06Z")
It’s a little-known fact that Mr. Watt was listening to Duran Duran’s “Rio” when the inspiration struck. True story! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2005, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-rays-score-a-mention/307366/5 "2005-06-08T00:22:01Z")
> [@cabdude](#): > > His analysis concluded that death rays were impractical - but lead to the invention of…anybody? . . . a submersible capable of descending to the bottom the Marianas Trench. . . . Hampsters. . . . Asshats. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2005, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-rays-score-a-mention/307366/6 "2005-06-08T00:24:12Z")
Is R.A. Watson a Doper? He should be. Or should have been, if the case so goes. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2005, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-rays-score-a-mention/307366/7 "2005-06-08T01:21:37Z")
> [@cabdude](#): > > I’m reading a book about RAF fighter command prior to WWII - and R A Watson Watt just scored a mention for his investigation into death rays. > > His analysis concluded that death rays were impractical - but lead to the invention of…anybody? The under-wiener bra? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2005, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-rays-score-a-mention/307366/8 "2005-06-08T01:31:28Z")
Tesla Coil? ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2005, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-rays-score-a-mention/307366/9 "2005-06-08T01:44:16Z")
Radar? ---
**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-rays-score-a-mention/307366/10 "2005-06-08T01:47:29Z")
> [@Nicodemus2004](#): > > Radar? Bing! ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-rays-score-a-mention/307366/11 "2005-06-08T01:51:38Z")
Thank You…thank you. Oh no…really…you’re too kind! ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2005, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920s-style-death-rays-score-a-mention/307366/12 "2005-06-08T01:52:51Z")
PS. this is the birth of the “Radar Range” microwave oven