Harvard, MIT Scientists Create Real Lightsaber

Harvard, MIT Scientists Create Real Lightsaber

They may have been used a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away but researchers at Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology say they are on the way to building an actual lightsaber, like the ones used in the Star Wars saga.

By wookiefit - Sep 26, 2013 09:09 AM EST
Filed Under: Other
Source: geek.com



So in the 80's we had flashlights that made a "vroom" sound when we swung them. In the 90's it was play swords we swung and the blade uncolapsed to make it appaer to come out of the hilt. Fast forward to mid-to-late 2000 and we had Force FX lightsabers costing $100 to $500. In the past few years we've gotten Force Unleashed lightsabers that cost about $30-$50 and we can play with making all the cool sound effects. But in the end, they're just toys. But now, thanks to M.I.T. researchers, we may actaully get real lightsabers. Let the accidental slicing your own foot and your friend's arm off commence.

Without getting all super nerdy (basically because I'm not that smart), A Team of scientists from Mi.I.T. and Harvard have been working on passing photon atoms thru a vaccuum chamber that has been super cooled to get the atoms to bind or group together. These then become molecules. Normally light keeps going until something blocks it's path, but these would become solids that can be shaped. According to a new paper just released, they may have created a new form of matter made up entirely of photons which is the same thing that lightsabers are made out of.

It's a long way off, but at the rate of technology I can completely see a real "light" weapon or lightsaber being built and used.

May the force be with us.

STAR WARS: Henry Cavill Rumored To Have Had Talks About Potential Role In Simon Kinberg Trilogy
Related:

STAR WARS: Henry Cavill Rumored To Have Had Talks About Potential Role In Simon Kinberg Trilogy

THE 4:30 MOVIE Interview: Filmmaker Kevin Smith On How His Passion For The Theater Shaped New Film (Exclusive)
Recommended For You:

THE 4:30 MOVIE Interview: Filmmaker Kevin Smith On How His Passion For The Theater Shaped New Film (Exclusive)

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

BlackIceJoe
BlackIceJoe - 9/26/2013, 10:10 AM
Well that would be interesting if lightsabers some day could become real. I can see the dangers that would come from a real life one. You would not know that the person next you is going to kill you or not. Plus other safety issues like getting sick from the radiation from the atoms.
TheRationalNerd
TheRationalNerd - 9/26/2013, 10:12 AM
Going to really need one of those for cutting Turkey leftovers after Thanksgiving Day.
Brainiac13
Brainiac13 - 9/26/2013, 10:14 AM
Cool.

I love science.
FrankieDedo
FrankieDedo - 9/26/2013, 10:23 AM
The light is not solid or anything, they've "only" found a way to make photons behave like atoms, and therefore, to bind themselves into molecules composed by two photons, it's a huge achievement, but we're really, really, REALLY away from a "solid" light, if it's even possible to use at atmospheric temperatures, in our universe. This new state of matter is HIGHLY unstable... so, no lightsabers for 2-3 centuries at least, sadly :/
FrankieDedo
FrankieDedo - 9/26/2013, 10:28 AM
@OldGreg he was Michio Kaku, but he just theorized a thing that required a LOT of hot plasma = 3500 C° at 5 cm from your hand... ;) this is a new thing, and it isn't anything like a real lightsaber... probably the Michio Kaku one was more realistic :)
NovaCorpsFan
NovaCorpsFan - 9/26/2013, 11:24 AM
Michio Kaku explained this on his show, "Sci fi science"

He's got theories on everything you can think of in scifi, a ray gun, starfighter, Death Star, hovercars, you name it.

Theoretically, it makes sense but the question is, will it work?
TheBeard
TheBeard - 9/26/2013, 11:43 AM
real light saber you say....




Exactly which building and workshop will they be keeping this in
krylonshadow
krylonshadow - 9/26/2013, 1:17 PM
Love the idiots who don't know how to read. Yes, Michio Kaku THEORIZED about how to create real lightsabers. He's a smart guy but he didn't actually do shit. Anyone can theorize.

These scientists are actually claiming to have succeeded in making molecules out of photons--a new form of matter that is composed of bonded photon particles. We'll see how this holds true in the near future but this would actually be a pretty significant discovery.

And yes, could in theory lead to the creation of a lightsaber. No guarantee it'll slice people up though. It could still just end up being a concentrated area of light that just passes through you.
AsgardianHobo
AsgardianHobo - 9/26/2013, 1:39 PM
@Jedi

and what a chainsaw it is!


VaCubFan
VaCubFan - 9/27/2013, 12:24 AM
But would T.S.A. allow us to carry it on, or make us check it in our luggage!
View Recorder