# 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:** 46
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/901 "2003-10-21T03:45:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bewildebeest \* > \*\*Forgive an ignorant question - IANA high energy physicist, but aren’t 1920’s style “death-rays” either electrostatic discharge or particle beam weapons? \*\* They can be, as [this photo from the National Ray Gun Association](http://uplink.space.com/attachments//594041-DSC00546.JPG) shows. However, there _were_ some primitive laser based versions built in the 1920s. They weren’t called “lasers” because no one had thought of the concept at that time, but they were lasers just the same. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/902 "2003-10-21T06:09:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*She goes on to describe not only the other experiments they did together, but also how she became pregnant by Dr. Calvin (he always refused to claim paternity, claiming that Hobbes was the father of Ms. Derkins six illegitimate children, however Dr. Calvin _did_ provide financial support for Ms. Derkins and her children). > > Fascinating read, I highly recommend picking it up. \*\* This is all incredibly, horribly wrong. I love it! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/903 "2003-10-21T07:21:52Z")
You sad, sad people. The rest of the living world has tried to reach out to you, you guys seem to be beyond help. There are many other jokes out there other than retarded-ass jokes about double posting, there are also subjects worth talking about. Please wake up, or sober-up, or do whatever it takes in order for you to re-enter society. The world would appreciate it if you could join them again, as opposed to being a cancerous source of pointless conflict, and stale humour. Next jackass, you’re up. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/904 "2003-10-21T08:23:21Z")
Don’t be so cynical, **dnooman**. Even the White House admits that we have had [‘Ray Guns’](http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/rr40.html) [sic] in government service! ---
**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:** [October 21, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/905 "2003-10-21T16:15:29Z")
**dnooman** Let me see if I understand you correctly, we should stop fighting ignorance, and discussing esoteric scientific matters because you don’t think they’re funny? It’s because of people like you that only a small community of enthusiasts even remembers 1920s style Death rays. If anything, we have been quiet too long. If anything, there are not enough Death Ray threads on the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/906 "2003-10-21T21:50:20Z")
dnooman: If your society is comprised of individuals such as yourself, I’m not interested. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/907 "2003-10-22T01:39:31Z")
**Tuckerfan** , my copy of Watterson has the numbers for the end-notes, but not the end-notes themselves. (BTW, does the book end at Dr. Hobbes’ funeral, or does it go on to the last years of Prof Calvin? The paganation at the introduction of my copy suggests that the last 6 pages are missing.) ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/908 "2003-10-22T01:47:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Governor Quinn \* > **The paganation at the introduction of my copy suggests that the last 6 pages are missing.** I know his ideas were a bit different, but was he really trying to get the polytheists their own country? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/909 "2003-10-22T03:26:36Z")
**Wikkit** , ROTFLMAO. **GQ** , I’ll have to dig up my copy this weekend and check what it says, but IIRC it _does_ mention the last years of Dr. Calvin’s life. BTW, what year is your edition again? ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/910 "2003-10-22T11:48:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dnooman \* > \*\*You sad, sad people. The rest of the living world has tried to reach out to you, you guys seem to be beyond help. There are many other jokes out there other than retarded-ass jokes about double posting, there are also subjects worth talking about. > > Please wake up, or sober-up, or do whatever it takes in order for you to re-enter society. The world would appreciate it if you could join them again, as opposed to being a cancerous source of pointless conflict, and stale humour. > > Next jackass, you’re up. \*\* Feh… ---
**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:** [October 22, 2003, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/911 "2003-10-22T13:05:44Z")
My edition is the first edition, but, as I said earlier, someone ripped out the index, end-notes, bibilography, and (probably) the last 6 pages of text before I got it. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/912 "2003-10-22T22:22:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Governor Quinn \* > \*\*My edition is the first edition, but, as I said earlier, someone ripped out the index, end-notes, bibilography, and (probably) the last 6 pages of text before I got it. \*\* You should really try and find a third edition. It’s nearly 100 pages longer than the first edition, and contains some pretty critical corrections to errors found in the first edition. Oh, and a rather interesting [article](http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/military_laser_031021.html) appeared in my inbox dealing with current military research into death rays > [@](#): > > The gun program falls under the Combat Hybrid Power System. Initiated by DARPA six years ago and handed over to TARDEC two years ago, the program is developing the FCS’ “pulsed power” weapons. Here’s a description of one of the units > [@](#): > > The mock up showed how TARDEC wants the system to work. On one end was a pack of three lithium-ion battery modules. When it was “fired” it went through a converter that increased the charge from 100 volts to 1,000 volts. > > From there it goes to the pulse-forming network, a nest of capacitors and inductors, where the now 1,000 volts will be turned into a “pulse discharge” that will last less than one-millionth of a second, he said. Oh and **dnooman** , feel free to click that link, it goes to a page on [space.com](http://www.space.com/)’s site. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/913 "2003-10-23T00:09:09Z")
Although I’m new to this thread, I can’t help but believe that someone has written either a limerick or haiku about 1920s Style Death Rays–or about their inventor. Anyone remember this happening? ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/914 "2003-10-23T01:45:19Z")
Yes, Bogore’s “The Sqelerpock”. Short stories and poetry, with a few nice pictures. I love my death ray. I keep it clean with my tongue. My death ray shot me. Ray of shiny zinc, Bakelite in gaudy pink, it’s my only kink. ---
**Author:** ![ChadHammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@ChadHammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChadHammer)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/915 "2003-10-23T17:44:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Now never try and pass off a spud cannon as a death ray again. > its just wrong, and tin foil is just not gonna cut it. It’s lacking the flash and flair of a REAL death ray. Anyone who’s read this thread will not so easyly be fooled. \*\* Even if you declair very firmly \"I have a 1920’s style death ray aimed at you this very moment! \ dressed in a smart pants suite and sparkly, but fashionable pumps? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2003, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/916 "2003-10-25T07:21:14Z")
C’mon you guys, we’ve almost reached the goal of putting 1000 posts on this thread! 😃 #915 ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2003, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/917 "2003-10-25T07:22:22Z")
Oh, and BUMP! #916 ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2003, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/918 "2003-10-25T11:16:10Z")
I can say “me too”, also. Next time someone posts a question about quantum physics, we’ll take turns saying “fartknocker”. Now you try… ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2003, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/919 "2003-10-25T11:51:34Z")
What is quantum physics, and can it make omelettes taste better? ---
**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:** [October 25, 2003, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/920 "2003-10-25T13:15:38Z")
Sadly, it can’t. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879.md?page=45) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879.md?page=47)