Page 1 of 2
The Pentagon's "Ray Gun" - for real
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:06 am
by tnf
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8644374/
"LONDON - Scientists are questioning the safety of a "Star Wars"-style ray gun due to be deployed in Iraq for riot control next year.
The Active Denial System weapon, classified as “less lethal” by the Pentagon, fires a 95-gigahertz microwave beam at rioters to cause heating and intolerable pain in less than five seconds.
The idea is that people caught in the beam will rapidly try to move out of it and therefore break up the crowd."
I can see all sorts of complications with this - but you have to admit, it'd be fun to use it at times....I'd like to put one on my car - I can think of lots of uses.

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:17 am
by ajerara
They're going to microwave people's guts? What happened to tear gas? That is less lethal than tear gas? To cook someone's guts? They expect people not to die from this? I wonder who they've tested it on, that they're so sure it's less lethal.
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:19 am
by Dave
The only problem I see is that if you shoot it into crowds, what happens if there's no room for crowds to disperse?
Re: The Pentagon's "Ray Gun" - for real
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:25 am
by Hannibal
The Active Denial System weapon....fires a 95-gigahertz microwave beam at rioters to cause heating and intolerable pain in less than five seconds.
Dunno why exactly, but I laughed my ass off the first time I read that quote.
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:30 am
by tnf
ajerara wrote:They're going to microwave people's guts? What happened to tear gas? That is less lethal than tear gas? To cook someone's guts? They expect people not to die from this? I wonder who they've tested it on, that they're so sure it's less lethal.
It doesn't "cook their guts."
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:36 am
by bitWISE
That's more intense than the time I forgot how to sit down.
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:48 am
by Transient
LOL, look at the 3 holes on the disk. The smallest is for "discomfort", the middle for "painful", and the largest is "gibbed".

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 5:07 am
by menkent
and microwaves don't really penetrate past the skin. the whole point of them is that they're absorbed very efficiently by water molecules.
if you left it on someone long enough you could certainly melt their skin and eyes pretty effectively, but people will <i>find</i> a way to get out of the beam before then.

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 5:40 am
by ajerara
it still sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 6:04 am
by tnf
Could be, but I'd like to hear what specific, long term aspects of exposing the body to microwave radiation bother you.
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 7:13 am
by Dave
This is better

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:03 am
by seremtan
so long as they pierce the film lid several times first and don't wear tinfoil they'll be fine
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:10 am
by Ryoki
Oh look, an RPG magnet!
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:13 am
by Nightshade
Dave wrote:The only problem I see is that if you shoot it into crowds, what happens if there's no room for crowds to disperse?
Hilarity ensues.
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:15 am
by o'dium
Fucking hell your dumb abough to get burned if you dont see that thing look at the bloody size of it!
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 11:38 am
by andyman
ajerara wrote:it still sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Stop being a baby, they have it coming if they cant figure out how to move.
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 11:40 am
by Transient
riddla wrote:with microwaves i would assume the opposite to be true, as the condensed beam would be more effective

Damn you and your logic! :icon33:
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 11:42 am
by Survivor
If i'd see that thing i'd step aside take out the old trusty rpg and then step back where i came from.
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 11:53 am
by Dek
I wonder what if you were holding a frozen pizza..
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 12:05 pm
by werldhed
I'd hate to give linking credit to rep, so I apologize. But...
http://quake3world.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7407
Apparently a handheld version is on its way.
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 1:55 pm
by eepberries
Don't microwaves cause like, cancer? :icon27:
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 1:58 pm
by Dr.FrasierCrane
Sod killing people , you could pick up Sky Digital with that fucker
edit: :icon27:
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 2:01 pm
by CrinklyArse
i SO want one
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 6:49 pm
by Guest
lol so they're microwaving people now!? :icon19:
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 7:22 pm
by tnf
eepberries wrote:Don't microwaves cause like, cancer? :icon27:
Yes and no.