Firstly, go read this GQ thread, which started asking about ‘scalar weapons’, and rapidly degenerated into something surreally amusing (to me, anyway.)
Secondly: let’s talk about death rays! It’s an important issue, really. All this talk of 1920’s style death rays - 1920 was a long time ago, guys! I personally am a huge fan of the 1950’s era death rays: like lasers, but they’re death rays instead. The scenario is comfortably familiar with that era. The Evil Scientist builds his Evil Moon Base on the moon, good ole’ Luna. And then, you know it’s just a matter of time before he (and yeah, it’s always a he) has his Evil Minions build a Death Ray - by default, an Evil Death Ray. It will, inevitably be big, and, of course, look like a very large ray gun.
And now, I think I’ve found the Holy Grail, what we’ve been looking for, to build the brand new, ultra-powered, 2000’s style Ray Gun: Behold, the Grail
I shall bravely offer myself up as the Evil Scientist (bending the gender rules, because it’s now the 21st century and I can do that). All I need now to complete my Evil Death Ray are some Evil Minions, an Evil Moon Base, a lot of plastic, red paint, and maybe some gold for highlights. Oh, and a cool and appropriately Evil costume, complete with shiny cape.
Thank goodness you started this thread. It would be terrible if that other thread got hijacked. Or Hijinxed. Or something.
I really ought to try and contribute something better, but I don’t have a picture of a death ray (any era). But here’s of picture of an invisible monster hitting a force field from Forbidden Planet.
I’d just like to know why it’s assumed that s cientist working on a death ray is automatically evil. Maybe he’s working on his death ray for the betterment of mankind.
Why does this thing have cooling fins on the hand grip? I much prefer a Star Trek phaser - the type that vaporizes the enemy without damaging the wall behind him.
Lisp is optional? Great, it was starting to thit me off. Just one question… Once we get the giant death ray, which major city are we gonna point it at? Can we zap the white house? Please?
I don’t know how the Weird Science community has remained so phallocentric.
Aren't we supposed to trust in evidence and quantifiable data?
Why then, have all the studies showing that women are every bit as capable of expanding the boundaries of knowledge and of constructing technological wonders been ignored? I have seen scientists plunge their hands into molten lead to demonstrate the Ladenfrost effect. I have seen them eat poinsettie leaves to prove that they are not toxic. Yet I have seen very few Scientists accept the evidence that women are our equals.
I’ve asked this many times, when you tell your wife that your death ray doesn’t work would you rather hear “Oh honey, you know I don’t understand that sciencey stuff.” or “How could such a brilliant man overlook such an obvious thing? You simply need to recalibrate the neutronium interferometer to allow for the heat generated by the…”?
Back To The OP-
Death Rays can indeed benefit the human race. Selective death rays have a myriad of uses.
Imagine a death ray that can be swept over crops, leaving the plants and beneficial organisms untouched but killing parasites. Crop yields would soar and there would be no need for pesticides.
Or a small unit that kills micro-organisms and nothing else. The people of poor nations could use such a device to purify their water. Some diseases would almost entirely disappear. Infant mortality would be reduced.
A ray that killed only insects and arachnids would mean that you could rid your house of roaches, ants, silverfish, etc without using chemicals that are toxic to pets and family members.
Finally, imagine a death ray of such precision that it does no harm to healthy tissue, but kills cancer cells. No more surgeries. No chemotherapy-no more nausea, hair loss, weakness, etc.
Imagine a world where we have mastered death itself and made it a tool for life!
