# 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:** 26
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/501 "2003-09-01T06:37:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Patricinus Scriblerus \* > \*\*Just when I was starting to doubt the existence of a 1920’s style death ray I came across a reference for a little known element called “destructonium” that a scientist was using to develop his ray gun. He was quoted as saying “Mad-scientific progress has been set back 20 years,” Mortis said. “If you want to see yet another boring paper on relativistic heavy-ion colliders or synchrotron radiation, by all means, drain my lifeblood! But don’t come crying to me when you need technologies to enslave the human race.” > > You can check out the full script of his comments on his [positronic raygun](http://www.theonion.com/current_news1.html) here \*\* You see, I read the entire bloody thread to make sure that no one else had provided that link so that I could do it without being a johnny-come-lately, but you? Noooooo you just go right ahead and post it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![klockwerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/klockwerk/32/6475_2.png) [@klockwerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/klockwerk)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/502 "2003-09-01T07:37:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by daldai \* > \*\*:o \*\* I’m afraid I must agree. As well as being one of the longest threads in the SDMB, it’s also probably made the record for ruining the most posts (many which have little to do with the 1920s or Death Rays in particular). Heh, but it all still makes me laugh from time to time. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2003, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/503 "2003-09-01T10:23:02Z")
Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Death Rays”. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2003, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/504 "2003-09-01T11:25:33Z")
Ah, 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:** [September 1, 2003, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/505 "2003-09-01T11:47:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by klockwerk \* > **I’m afraid I must agree. As well as being one of the longest threads in the SDMB…** Not by a long shot. It’s the longest GQ thread, but by my count it’s only number 43 overall. _The_ longest thread is _ten times_ as long as this one. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/506 "2003-09-01T12:18:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \* > \*\*I was going to link to a photo of the invisible Brazilian Tucker Death Ray Carraige Vehicle, but that would be silly. \*\* Obviously tied to the Invisible Pink Unicorn. ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/507 "2003-09-01T12:33:47Z")
[Graham Chapman dressed as bristling, indignant colonel in uniform]Stop that!!..this is just too silly![/GC] ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/508 "2003-09-01T13:04:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \* > \*\*I was going to link to a photo of the invisible Brazilian Tucker Death Ray Carraige Vehicle, but that would be silly. \*\* ok then, i’ll do it. Silly ? you decide :- ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/509 "2003-09-01T14:22:34Z")
**Oh My God, They’re Real!!!** Once again, we are falling behind the Japanese in the “anti-death ray” race" From the [Mainichi News](http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20030831p2a00m0dm004001c.html) : > [@](#): > > “We have to protect ourselves from scalar (electromagnetic) wave attacks,” one of the cult members explained. The members added that they would eventually increase the number of reflectors to around 130. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/510 "2003-09-01T14:26:07Z")
**Tuckerfan** , I stated that I’m glad I’m not a stockholder in the context of the criminal investagation, as Standard Death Rays is an unlimited liability company. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/511 "2003-09-01T18:07:43Z")
**Desmostylus** I don’t know if this is the longest GQ thread. Have we so quickly forgotten “Abalone - Mollusk of Death” ? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/512 "2003-09-01T18:14:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Governor Quinn \* > \*\ ***Tuckerfan** , I stated that I’m glad I’m not a stockholder in the context of the criminal investagation, as Standard Death Rays is an unlimited liability company. \*\* Heh, there’s ways around that. 😉 You see, my shares are owned by a dummy corporation. If the Feds crush Standard Death Rays, the dummy corp gets dissolved and I walk away scott free. If it’s cleared and becomes insanely profitable (which I think it will), then I get to pocket a nice chunk of change. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/513 "2003-09-01T22:59:02Z")
Ahh, you’re a sneaky, sneaky devil. I like that. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/514 "2003-09-02T02:26:38Z")
Well…he is a wanna be Evil Overlord. ALways runner up to me. But he’s used to that at this point 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/515 "2003-09-02T13:38:44Z")
Would anyone on this board know about a death ray designer named H. W. Robichaux? I’ve just received an offer to buy stock in a venture of his, the United States Death Ray Company, but, despite all the books and articles on death rays I’ve read, I’ve never heard of him. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/516 "2003-09-02T14:51:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by frixxxx \* > I heard that CHOAM had stockpiled these weapons for a raid on the House Atreides, but that could never be substantiated. Left them on Arrakis as I understand it…the **Fremen** got’em all > > _bolding mine_ That should read the **Freemasons**. The secret organization whose goal is world-domination via small-town business networking and fraternization. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/517 "2003-09-02T16:14:27Z")
Small town networking my ass! The freemasons own a building on 14th Street in manhattan with a three story emblem on it. What is small town about that? they said I wasn’t cool enough to join ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/518 "2003-09-02T19:40:24Z")
Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Death Rays”. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Freiheit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e8c25b/32.png) [@Freiheit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freiheit)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/519 "2003-09-02T19:48:19Z")
So, what are the very longest threads? ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/520 "2003-09-02T20:00:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 1920s Style Death Ray \* > **\** Um, there really is a user that registered in Aug 2001 with the username **1920s Style Death Ray**? With 6xx posts? Am I being whoosed? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879.md?page=27)