# Could new powerful laser pointers distrupt professional sports **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 24, 2011, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251 "2011-12-24T04:24:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/21 "2011-12-24T22:10:36Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Pointing out constellations with a high power laser is useful. It’s amazing how far you can see the beam stretch into the sky. A guy did this at an observatory I went to a couple months ago and it was really helpful. He could point out individual stars in seconds with his pointer. Yeah, but you can do that with a 5mW Green laser pointer. Anything more powerful than that is unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/22 "2011-12-24T23:05:36Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > And that’s just with a visible laser. Wait until some guy with a score to settle gets a powerful IR one and **attaches it to a binocular or camera or something to help disguise and aim it.** It’ll look like he’ll just watching the game, even as the victim player on the field screams in pain and covers his eyes for apparently no reason. Holy shit, this is such a good idea I’m amazed it doesn’t happen all the time. When you say, “a score to settle,” are you referring to sports betting? Because that’s what I thought of immediately, and someone could make millions of dollars this way. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/23 "2011-12-24T23:21:49Z")
Someone pointed a not very powerful laser at an NBA player attempting a free throw several years ago. > **[Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos](https://www.yahoo.com/?err=404&err_url=https:%2F%2Fsports.yahoo.com%2Fnba%2Frecap?gid=2006012501&prov=ap)** > > Latest news coverage, email, free stock quotes, live scores and video are just the beginning. Discover more every day at Yahoo! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/24 "2011-12-24T23:48:23Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Holy shit, this is such a good idea I’m amazed it doesn’t happen all the time. When you say, “a score to settle,” are you referring to sports betting? Because that’s what I thought of immediately, and someone could make millions of dollars this way. Well, it’s not as easy as all that. First, you need to get an IR laser that small enough to be unobtrusive, and powerful enough to cause eye damage. IR light doesn’t damage the retina - it damages the [cornea](http://www.jhuapl.edu/techdigest/TD/td2601/McCally.pdf), and it takes a lot of power. For instantaneous damage to occur, the laser would have to be pretty damn powerful, on the order of thousands of watts for millisecond pulses, which is going to make it pretty big. Then you need to create a binocular with the laser mounted in it, and align it - which requires and IR imager or sensor. You then need to be willing to blind someone, and to take the risk of getting caught, which would certainly result in felony charges. Still, people cheat in all kinds of ways, so I suppose someone might try it someday. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/25 "2011-12-24T23:59:34Z")
I’m not saying you’d need the IR laser, or need to blind anyone. The key is that the laser pointer be disguised behind the lens of a binocular or camera. _That_ would be virtually undetectable. As long as it was powerful enough to reach the player on the field, and distract him, it would work. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/26 "2011-12-25T00:03:21Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I’m not saying you’d need the IR laser, or need to blind anyone. The key is that the laser pointer be disguised behind the lens of a binocular or camera. _That_ would be virtually undetectable. As long as it was powerful enough to reach the player on the field, and distract him, it would work. Sure, but then you’re really lookin’ to get the crap kicked out of you when you are discovered - and I don’t think it’s going to be as easy to hide as you think. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/27 "2011-12-25T10:24:44Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I’m not saying you’d need the IR laser, or need to blind anyone. The key is that the laser pointer be disguised behind the lens of a binocular or camera. _That_ would be virtually undetectable. As long as it was powerful enough to reach the player on the field, and distract him, it would work. Exactly. I was in fact referring to sports betting. We’re not talking “death ray” here (of any decade), just a pulse – visible or otherwise – that lasts long enough to disrupt concentration. As for aiming it, it wouldn’t really be terribly hard to drill a hole into a camera body, insert a small laser pointer, rewire the button to the camera shutter, and then align the beam with the camera’s focusing crosshairs so that in a stadium, the laser (diffused from the distance) would be able to hit an eye-sized target just long enough to make somebody pause for a second. And if you really want to go the IR route, anything that causes sensible discomfort would probably be enough. And as for imager, many camcorders and older digicams can already partially see into the IR, and can do so more readily if they bother to take apart the body to remove the IR filter. Maybe you could even do a through-the-lens setup with an SLR, either by fiddling with the optics and focusing (hard) or by simply drilling a tiny hole through the center of all the lens elements so that the laser will go right through them while still making it look like a regular lens. You’re not really limited to obvious things like cameras, either. Penlaser on the ear that mimics a ballpoint, glued to a pair of glasses with an etched crosshair for a given distance? Something built into the glasses frame? Into a baseball cap? Part of a cell phone with a laser or mirror replacing the camera? A wax hot dog? Etc. ETA: If any of you end up making an eye-tracking hot dog death ray, I want an autographed unit. ---
**Author:** ![\_cc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/e19b73/32.png) [@\_cc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_cc)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/28 "2011-12-26T07:39:34Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > in about two weeks Cecil will be highlighting some “cooking” experiments we did using the blue version of that laser. I was very interested in procuring one of those when I first heard about them, until I read that the scattered reflected light [causes freakin’ _cancer_](http://www.wickedlasers.com/laser-tech/blue_light_hazard.html)? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/29 "2011-12-26T14:46:59Z")
> [@'\[cc](#): > > ;14603079’]I was very interested in procuring one of those when I first heard about them, until I read that the scattered reflected light [causes freakin’ _cancer_](http://www.wickedlasers.com/laser-tech/blue_light_hazard.html)? Maybe, but your actual exposure time is incredibly small, unless you’re using the laser for hours at a time frequently, and have a large amount of uncovered skin. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/30 "2011-12-26T15:02:07Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > What is the motivation for a person to post something both patently untrue and clearly without having read the thread? I often wonder. I often wonder this as well. Especially with google available, how hard is it to check your “facts”? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/31 "2011-12-26T15:25:32Z")
> [@TokyoPlayer](#): > > I often wonder this as well. Especially with google available, how hard is it to check your “facts”? The problem is that there are likely just as many sites supporting the facts as refuting them. Not to mention the number of sheer idiots who are online. Yahoo! Answers, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/32 "2011-12-27T12:05:12Z")
Did those sites mention what happened to the scumbags lasering the goalie? Because given how serious the rest of the world seems to take their soccer games, I can’t see any other outcome other than fans of the other team, ah, beating them to death! Don’t deserve to die, but they do deserve a good thrashing! ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/33 "2011-12-27T14:12:18Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > Sure they could. They already disrupt concerts, films, and other performances. Not to mention air traffic and law enforcement. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/34 "2011-12-28T22:19:28Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > Not to mention air traffic and law enforcement. I’ve never heard a good explaination as to how air traffic, other than right at point of landing or take off, is endangered by a laser pointer. Sure, I can shine a laser that may shine on the windows of an aircraft, but since it’s going to be over my head, all that is going to happen is bit of a green glow appears on the window or the ceiling. More likely, I’m going to light up a spot on the bottom of the fuselage or the wings. What am I missing? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/35 "2011-12-28T22:26:50Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > I’ve never heard a good explaination as to how air traffic, other than right at point of landing or take off, is endangered by a laser pointer. Sure, I can shine a laser that may shine on the windows of an aircraft, but since it’s going to be over my head, all that is going to happen is bit of a green glow appears on the window or the ceiling. More likely, I’m going to light up a spot on the bottom of the fuselage or the wings. What am I missing? It’s only the landings that are a concern. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/36 "2011-12-28T23:02:48Z")
Pilots have been injured by lasers damaging their vision; this cite claims two pilots in separate incidents: Gettleman, Jeffrey “F.B.I. to Investigate Reports of Lasers Beamed at Planes” _New York Times_ 31 December, 2004: B6. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/37 "2011-12-29T01:32:16Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > I’ve never heard a good explaination as to how air traffic, other than right at point of landing or take off, is endangered by a laser pointer. Sure, I can shine a laser that may shine on the windows of an aircraft, but since it’s going to be over my head, all that is going to happen is bit of a green glow appears on the window or the ceiling. More likely, I’m going to light up a spot on the bottom of the fuselage or the wings. What am I missing? At that distance, I think it’d be more like a flashlight in your eye rather than a small dot somewhere unseen. There are some pictures in this BBC story, but I’m not sure if that’s actually how it looks or if it’s just an illustration: > **[BBC NEWS | Technology | Police fight back on laser threat](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7990013.stm)** > > As the number of incidents of aircraft targeted by hand-held lasers rises, so does the devices police have to fight the crime. ---
**Author:** ![Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zany_Zeolite_Zipper)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/38 "2011-12-29T03:23:49Z")
How powerful of a laser do you need to safely kill spiders, scorpions, or other creepy crawlies that live in the house but need killing? I am particularly interested in lasers that can kill before one of those little SOBs sting my toes to death; it is not sufficient to me for the bastards to die of blue laser cancer some time after the attack. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/39 "2011-12-29T15:09:03Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > It’s only the landings that are a concern. A pilot with impaired vision is going to have difficulty landing. I suggest interested Dopers go to [www.pprune.org](http://www.pprune.org) and read the various threads there. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251/40 "2011-12-29T16:41:19Z")
> [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](#): > > How powerful of a laser do you need to safely kill spiders, scorpions, or other creepy crawlies that live in the house but need killing? I am particularly interested in lasers that can kill before one of those little SOBs sting my toes to death; it is not sufficient to me for the bastards to die of blue laser cancer some time after the attack. My 1W laser would kill most insects, provided you could get them to stay still long enough. It would probably kill a spider in about 5 seconds, but the stupid thing wouldn’t stay put, and it becomes very hard to keep the spot on something once it starts moving. In the meantime, you’ll be dragging that hot spot across the carpet, your walls, your pets, and anything else nearby, possibly damaging other things. My guess is if you want to kill with a quick zap you’d need a 10W laser to be sure. It depends on how long of a zap. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-new-powerful-laser-pointers-distrupt-professional-sports/607251.md?page=3)