# 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:** 32
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/621 "2003-09-10T14:53:03Z")
Nothing to do with Deepthroat or Watergate. The only similarity is that an informant revealed a very important event under strict conditions of anonymity. Numerous advisors, cabinet members and scientist made sure that Nixon never became involved with death rays. The consensus was that Dick could not be trusted with such weapons. It was felt he would use them not only against enemies of the nation, but his personal enemies as well. ---
**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 10, 2003, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/622 "2003-09-10T19:24:36Z")
And of course it was rumored for years what Nixon was quoted as saying in those missing minutes: > [@](#): > > Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Death Rays”. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/623 "2003-09-10T23:04:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Governor Quinn \* > \*\*Ahh, never mind, never mind. > > On a related note: The person who tipped off Clerow Wilson will be revealed soon. By a general agreement, it was determined that the name of the person who be exposed five years after either 1) the death of Wilson, or 2) the death of the person in question. > > Wilson died in October 1998. Therefore, the truth will out soon. \*\* Let’s hope. Supposedly the executor of Wilhelm Reich’s estate has decided to surpress his writings in excess of Reich’s wishes. The same could happen here. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/624 "2003-09-11T02:43:25Z")
Do you think there is any truth to the Rumor that JFK was taken out by a 1960s style death ray? I think the colorful flash was well documented at the time, but (obviously) doesn’t show on the Black and White video. It all makes sense you see. 1920s style death rays were loud and very flashy, but the 60’s were more considered with a much more flashy and loud death. In fact, Dr. Beeblebrox (the man behind the 1960s death-ray revival) was known to incorporate a feature into his designs that cause the body of the target to move back and to the left, even if blasted from the right and the rear. It was his way of thumbing his nose at all those physicists who said it couldn’t be done ---
**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 11, 2003, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/625 "2003-09-11T03:15:42Z")
Unlikely. Most of the probable death rays that the assasin could have used weren’t designed in that manner. If it were to make sense, it would have had to either 1) completely destroy the President’s head, 2) killed Connoly as well, 3) blown the entire car up, 4) destroyed the overpass that the first shot hit, or 5) slaughter most of the crowd. Death rays are too powerful to make good assasination weapons. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/626 "2003-09-11T03:33:41Z")
GQ, you are ignoring Dr. Beeblebrox’s work on refining the amplitude of the death-rays themselves. If you wire 5 bendex coils in series as well as two Flux capacitors in parallel the beam is refined to mere microns. This device when couple with his Beeblebrox’s own invention the _Tradex module_ Which would reduce the effects of the death-ray a well as account for the back and to the left motion. Add on a sniper rifle and you could blow people heads off from a mile away. What a hippy frood that Beeblebrox was ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/627 "2003-09-11T03:51:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MonkeyMule \* > \*\*GQ, you are ignoring Dr. Beeblebrox’s work on refining the amplitude of the death-rays themselves. If you wire 5 bendex coils in series as well as two Flux capacitors in parallel the beam is refined to mere microns. This device when couple with his Beeblebrox’s own invention the _Tradex module_ Which would reduce the effects of the death-ray a well as account for the back and to the left motion. Add on a sniper rifle and you could blow people heads off from a mile away. What a hippy frood that Beeblebrox was \*\* I think you’re wrong there on the range, **MM**. I have a _Mechanix Illustrated_ from the late 1950s which has an article discussing Hughes Industries research into death rays, which had a **seven** mile range! The unit was also man-portable, however, it’s stopping power left something to be desired, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/628 "2003-09-11T03:52:50Z")
I ment sniper scope, not rifle. sorry ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/629 "2003-09-11T04:01:52Z")
It’s hoopy frood, you twit. Beeblebrox was a cover name for an entire department in what was then known as NACA. You should know that. Their death ray work was the predecessor of ion engines, a “new” development of what is now known as NASA. The slow implementation of those engines is a result of their technological similarity to death rays. The similarity puts them in a restricted class of the ODRT (Orbital Death Ray Treaty) between the U.S., USSR, and Portugal. Bush’s controllers were able to ease those restrictions at the same time they eased the treaty restrictions on missile defense systems. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/630 "2003-09-11T04:08:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*I think you’re wrong there on the range, **MM**. I have a _Mechanix Illustrated_ from the late 1950s which has an article discussing Hughes Industries research into death rays, which had a **seven** mile range! The unit was also man-portable, however, it’s stopping power left something to be desired, IIRC. \*\* I was really speaking of the range of the scope. even though the ray fires a beam to a maxim of 7 miles, it’s very hard to aim a 3 micron beam at that range with only a scope. Computer Controled devices however can make uses of the extended range ---
**Author:** ![frixxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@frixxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frixxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/631 "2003-09-11T23:16:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MonkeyMule \* > \*\*… Computer Controled devices however can make uses of the extended range \*\* Speaking of computer assisted firing of a “1920’s style Death-Ray”, the last time I checked, WANG was out of business and the only supplier of the bug-ridden “Compulators”, replacement parts are now being produced by Columbian Drug Cartel. The Panamanian invasion brought to light the extensive manufacturing development. The US was going to take out most of these other countries but figured they could still get cheap labor and just stopped at Ortega. Hence, the mob _ **IS** _ involved!! ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/632 "2003-09-11T23:51:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*I think you’re wrong there on the range, **MM**. I have a _Mechanix Illustrated_ from the late 1950s which has an article discussing Hughes Industries research into death rays, which had a **seven** mile range! The unit was also man-portable, however, it’s stopping power left something to be desired, IIRC. \*\* I remember that article – vaguely! **MI** got heavily into “marvels of future technology” in those days. And, of cours, the 1950s style were substantially advanced over the 1920s style. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/633 "2003-09-12T03:31:09Z")
Waitaminute. You don’t mean that article from MI by that guy Blascowitz? The one in December '58? Snort. The guy’s an idiot, fer chrissakes! Take my advice and don’t believe a word of it, Tuckerfan. Now, if you’d been talking about that article in '49, by Robertson, now, there’s a guy worth listening to. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/634 "2003-09-12T03:38:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Princhester \* > \*\*Waitaminute. You don’t mean that article from MI by that guy Blascowitz? The one in December '58? Snort. The guy’s an idiot, fer chrissakes! Take my advice and don’t believe a word of it, Tuckerfan. Now, if you’d been talking about that article in '49, by Robertson, now, there’s a guy worth listening to. \*\* I’m not sure if it’s that one or not. I’ll have to dig out my copy and find out. ---
**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 12, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/635 "2003-09-12T04:07:21Z")
Can’t be Blascowitz. My copy of the December 1958 MI has him discussing a different subject. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/636 "2003-09-12T08:06:27Z")
S.H Blascowitz or S.H Blascowitz Snr? Because the latter was a well known for his discussion of different subjects, but the former was an idiot. Coulda been November. It’s been a while. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2003, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/637 "2003-09-12T11:45:49Z")
## quote: ## Originally posted by Tuckerfan I think you’re wrong there on the range, MM. I have a Mechanix Illustrated from the late 1950s which has an article discussing Hughes Industries research into death rays, which had a seven mile range! The unit was also man-portable, however, it’s stopping power left something to be desired, IIRC. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Polycarp \* > \*\*I remember that article – vaguely! > > **MI** got heavily into “marvels of future technology” in those days. And, of cours, the 1950s style were substantially advanced over the 1920s style. 🙂 \*\* The Hughes Industries device was a _Hyper_-Death Ray, and careful examination of the literature will show it. And Hyper Death Rays are off limits in this thread, as stated in a previous post. ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/638 "2003-09-12T11:45:54Z")
Has there been any research into the use of 1920’s style death rays for execution? It would seem most humane. ---
**Author:** ![smam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@smam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smam)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/639 "2003-09-12T12:20:04Z")
Yes there has been research, it takes about a week to kill you but seemingly it leaves you with a lovely perm. ---
**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 12, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/640 "2003-09-12T13:28:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Princhester \* > \*\*S.H Blascowitz or S.H Blascowitz Snr? > > Because the latter was a well known for his discussion of different subjects, but the former was an idiot. > > Coulda been November. It’s been a while. \*\* It says Samuel H. Blascowitz without a “Snr” or “Jnr”, and, according to my index, no other Blascowitz published an article in 1958. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879.md?page=33)