# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![substatique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@substatique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/substatique)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/101 "2003-08-15T12:37:21Z")
Hmm. The disinfo jockeys are hard at work here. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2003, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/102 "2003-08-15T13:13:54Z")
Disinformation? No, oh no. I believe it was Lily Tomlin who said “The truth can be made up if you know how.” ---
**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:** [August 15, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/103 "2003-08-15T13:26:48Z")
Does it involve a :quotey things with fingers: _laser_? :quotey thing with fingers: Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Death Rays”. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/104 "2003-08-15T14:28:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DocCathode \* > \*\*Done properly, electrocuting yourself is not only safe and fun, it’s a great way to interest kids in science or pick up girls. \*\* I’ve never picked up girls that way. Balloons, yes; iron filings, yes; girls, never. Has it worked for you? How much charge do you need to build up? ---
**Author:** ![smam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@smam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smam)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/105 "2003-08-15T15:20:37Z")
All I wanted was some sharks with frikken 1920’s style " Ray-Guns " on their heads? ---
**Author:** ![frixxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@frixxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frixxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/106 "2003-08-15T15:38:26Z")
This is a 1920’s style “death ray”, the most powerful handgun in the world. So you have to ask yourself this one question, “Do I feel lucky?” Well Do YA!?! ---
**Author:** ![smam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@smam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smam)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/107 "2003-08-15T15:52:03Z")
You go in the cage, cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark’s in the water, our shark! Shark has 1920’s style " Death-Ray" on his head? ---
**Author:** ![frixxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@frixxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frixxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/108 "2003-08-15T16:06:49Z")
This is the way the world ends, This is the way the world ends, This is the way the world ends, Not with a bang, but a 1920’s style “Death Ray” ---
**Author:** ![tramp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tramp)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/109 "2003-08-15T18:35:40Z")
A 1920’s style Death Ray surely must have the ability to crash the stock market. ---
**Author:** ![T.Slothrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@T.Slothrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Slothrop)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/110 "2003-08-15T19:35:44Z")
> [@](#): > > A 1920’s style Death Ray surely must have the ability to crash the stock market. and don’t call me surely. ---
**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 15, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/111 "2003-08-15T22:33:23Z")
I was listening to Coast2Coast AM last night on my crystal radio and all the kooks were calling in with their blackout conspiracies involving 1920’s style death rays. ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/112 "2003-08-16T00:44:14Z")
Someone (I forget now) said: > [@](#): > > The US military used EMP weapons in Bosnia. Knocked out the power grid with minimal physical damage. Those were bombs thought, not projectile weapons. no cite to back me up, but I think that what they used were essentially long metallic streamers which would short out high-tension wires. Also, didn’t Louis Dumbrowsky (of _Bowery Boys/Dead-End Kids fame)_ once develop a **Hydrogen Ray?** ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/113 "2003-08-16T01:10:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bbeaty \* > \*\*Nikky Tesla’s [own version](http://www.netsense.net/tesla/questions.html). From the 1930s! \*\* From the quoted website: > [@](#): > > \_\_\_ After studying the Van deGraaff electrostatic generator, which used a cardboard belt to generate the high voltages, Tesla came to utilize the same essential set-up to generate tremendous charges, but he replaced the belt with an ionized stream of air and then used this electrified stream to “repel” the small pellets which were made out of tungsten. These pellets were shot out of an **open-ended vacuum tube** which was shaped in the form of a cannon. Bolding mine. So, is an “open ended vacuum tube” like a Klein bottle, or is it more like a 1920’s-style death ray? ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/114 "2003-08-16T01:29:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by T. Slothrop \* > \*\*and don’t call me surely. \*\* OK, surly. [sub]Please don’t kill me with a 1920s style death ray.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/115 "2003-08-16T02:50:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bizzwire \* > \*\*Someone (I forget now) said: > no cite to back me up, but I think that what they used were essentially long metallic streamers which would short out high-tension wires. > > Also, didn’t Louis Dumbrowsky (of _Bowery Boys/Dead-End Kids fame)_ once develop a **Hydrogen Ray?** \*\* Think you’re right on that, **bizzwire** , however, we _were_ threating to use one on the Iraqi’s along with a MOAB. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/116 "2003-08-16T03:41:08Z")
So has anybody mentioned that this sounds a lot like a 1920s-style death ray? ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/117 "2003-08-16T06:50:19Z")
Are you sure? ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/118 "2003-08-16T07:40:55Z")
Ahhh. Didn’t that feel good, everyone? I suspect you’ve just been massaged by [the hypers of](http://firingsquad.gamers.com/news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=5295) [Half Life 2](http://www.planethalflife.com/), which seems to be one heck of a clever game… as all big, expensive games appear to be before release. 1920s style death rays are rather passe these days. Telikinetic projection weapons are where it’s at. ---
**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 16, 2003, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/119 "2003-08-16T13:58:28Z")
Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Death Rays”. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/120 "2003-08-16T14:58:42Z")
'20’s-style death rays are out. Anyone care to borrow my 1906-model death ray? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879.md?page=7)