The Vulcan 20-20 will help scientists working on nuclear fusion, understanding plasma, new renewable energy sources and studying electromagnetic fields.

  • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝A
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    1 year ago

    A single pulse from the laser will deliver more power than the entire National Grid, in a blast lasting a trillionth of a second on a minuscule target.

    It all sounds very impressive. I wonder how long it’ll take for them to start thinking about stuff they could stick in front of it. I did some training with guys who worked at nuclear reactors and they had an almost endless collection of stories things they put into the most radioactive places - the one that stuck with me was a gonk troll doll that slowly lost its fine mop of hair.

    • Blackmist
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      1 year ago

      Power of national grid = 30GW according to GridWatch.

      30,000,000,000W * 1/1,000,000,000,000s = 30mJ.

      Which doesn’t sound like a lot. It’s about the same energy as lifting 6 sheets of A4 paper one metre in the air.

      • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝A
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        1 year ago

        That makes it sound a lot less impressive. I may have to wait a little longer before I can get my supervillain lab properly kitted out with a laser that can punch the Moon in its smug face.

    • Echo Dot
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      1 year ago

      I was going to say someone is definitely going to try and write on the wall with it from the other side of a warehouse.