# Are scalar weapons for real? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 4, 2003, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879 "2003-08-04T12:50:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bbeaty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@bbeaty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbeaty)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/21 "2003-08-05T11:16:26Z")
Nikky Tesla’s [own version](http://www.netsense.net/tesla/questions.html). From the 1930s! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/22 "2003-08-05T11:35:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bbeaty \* > \*\*Nikky Tesla’s [own version](http://www.netsense.net/tesla/questions.html). From the 1930s! \*\* Does it come with its own Martian Tripod War Machine? I assume Orson Welles & the Mercury Theatre Player are extra. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/23 "2003-08-05T12:49:38Z")
Ferchissake. They’re 1920’s style “Death Rays”. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/24 "2003-08-05T12:56:04Z")
Ferchissake. They’re 1920’s style “Death Rays”. ---
**Author:** ![Achilles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dc4da7/32.png) [@Achilles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achilles)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/25 "2003-08-05T13:35:47Z")
It’s like a “Rappin’ Ronnie Regan” thread. Would everyone chill the fuck out with their multiple posts ? ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/26 "2003-08-05T13:38:05Z")
Did they even have WMD in the 1920’s? Why is it that everything is a WMD now? ---
**Author:** ![SkyBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@SkyBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyBum)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/27 "2003-08-05T13:46:45Z")
Did I just hear someone say “1920’s style Death Ray’s”? Nah, probably just imagining things. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/28 "2003-08-05T14:15:36Z")
> [@](#): > > 1920’s Style Death Days Band Name! ---
**Author:** ![inertia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@inertia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inertia)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/29 "2003-08-05T15:27:23Z")
The US military used EMP weapons in Bosnia. Knocked out the power grid with minimal physical damage. Those were bombs thought, not projectile weapons. ---
**Author:** ![zhlf210](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c4cdca/32.png) [@zhlf210](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zhlf210)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/30 "2003-08-05T15:33:39Z")
Hmm…I appreciate everyone’s responses, but the signal to noise ratio has been a little low…:rolleyes: Can anyone come up with anything more substantial? Or is this just fantasy? (Scalar weapons that is, not my wish for more substantial answers!) ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/31 "2003-08-05T16:00:02Z")
Yes, its a fantasy. “Scalar” energy is made up nonsense brought to you by free energy kooks everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![kikkapoo\_joy\_juice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/85f322/32.png) [@kikkapoo\_joy\_juice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kikkapoo_joy_juice)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/32 "2003-08-05T17:39:16Z")
I think it’s origin is in the valid concern that atomic bombs will screw up global communications, and especially that a bomb exploded over a country could screw up all their warheads at once. Not just the physical things blasted around, not just the heat and light, but magnetic interference, which could destroy all on-board megnetic bubble memory and make all our smart weapons stupid at once. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/33 "2003-08-05T17:45:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ludovic \* > \*\*Band Name! \*\* Too late. There’s already [The Death Ray Davies](http://www.deathraydavies.com/). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/34 "2003-08-05T17:58:39Z")
This sounds to me like the sort of rays used to kill people a few years after the First World War, but largely before the Wall Street Crash. If only I could remember what they were called. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/35 "2003-08-05T18:22:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by inertia \* > The US military used EMP weapons in Bosnia. Knocked out the power grid with minimal physical damage. Those were _ **bombs thought** _, not projectile weapons. _italics mine_ So it’s a telepathy weapons system? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/36 "2003-08-05T19:35:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*This sounds to me like the sort of rays used to kill people a few years after the First World War, but largely before the Wall Street Crash. If only I could remember what they were called. \*\* “Flapper Zappers.” ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/37 "2003-08-05T19:37:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kikkapoo joy juice \* > I think it’s origin is in the valid concern that atomic bombs will screw up global communications, and especially that a bomb exploded over a country could screw up all their warheads at once. > Not just the physical things blasted around, not just the heat and light, but magnetic interference, which could destroy all on-board megnetic bubble memory and make all our smart weapons stupid at once. \*\* Course it’s kind of a moot point since the bomb pretty much destroys anything you would need electricity for. To learn about atomic bombs and 1920’s style “Death Rays” consult your local library. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/38 "2003-08-05T19:48:37Z")
Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Death Rays”. ---
**Author:** ![daldai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/278dde/32.png) [@daldai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daldai)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/39 "2003-08-05T19:50:21Z")
:o ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/40 "2003-08-05T19:53:55Z")
Funny, they don’t seem a bit more modern than Death Rays from 1919. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879.md?page=3)