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SupaLegit
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SupaLegit
644 posts
Nomad

Well, I was searching to see if this was already made, but the searches didn't show a thread with my idea so here it is. I am making this thread so we can have a typical tavern discussion thread for all things science! Basically, a thread for everything science! Ranging from discussions about laws and theories, scientific debate, breakthroughs, discussion about new scientific breakthroughs, certain scientists/philosophers, and all that good stuff!
So go out there and let out your inner science! ;P
To get us going somewhere I'll start: what do you think the future holds for technology? I think our knowledge will allow us to overcome the obstacles thrown at us in the future, I mean, we have discovered so much and have come so far!

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MageGrayWolf
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MageGrayWolf
9,462 posts
Farmer

What do you think of orbital lasers used as weapons of mass destruction?


I think orbital systems can be too easy of a target. This is basically what the Star Wars Program proposed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Defense_Initiative
Dragonblaze052
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Dragonblaze052
26,677 posts
Peasant

Good point, but they wouldn't look like WMDs, they would look like satelites. Kind of a sleeper cell in space. Just call in some "divine intervention" and wipe a continent clean.

MageGrayWolf
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MageGrayWolf
9,462 posts
Farmer

Good point, but they wouldn't look like WMDs, they would look like satelites. Kind of a sleeper cell in space. Just call in some "divine intervention" and wipe a continent clean.


We keep a pretty close eye on what is and goes up there. It would be pretty hard to conceal. Even if some did manage to conceal the deployment of such a weapon it would lose that camouflage once it was used.
Dragonblaze052
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Dragonblaze052
26,677 posts
Peasant

A sniper only gets one shot before he is found.

Masterforger
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Masterforger
1,824 posts
Peasant

But they are not snipers, are they? Also, my great grandfather was a sniper in world war 2, and he got at least 5 shots before he moved on.

Dragonblaze052
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Dragonblaze052
26,677 posts
Peasant

What I mean is that you will only get one shot before everybody knows you're there.

MageGrayWolf
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MageGrayWolf
9,462 posts
Farmer

A sniper can get away after the job is done. This weapon would just sit up there.

Dragonblaze052
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Dragonblaze052
26,677 posts
Peasant

The metaphor was mrant to be neither absolute nor extended.

Masterforger
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Masterforger
1,824 posts
Peasant

Whatever. Whats the point of putting them up there anyway? Has anyone read Philip Reeves book, Mortal Engines? If so, you will know why its not a good idea.

MageGrayWolf
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MageGrayWolf
9,462 posts
Farmer

Whatever. Whats the point of putting them up there anyway? Has anyone read Philip Reeves book, Mortal Engines? If so, you will know why its not a good idea.


Care to give us a rundown of what it says?
Masterforger
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Masterforger
1,824 posts
Peasant

Simple. The books are set a thousand or so years from now. The Ancients, us, wiped themselves out using weapons of mass destruction. Some of the weapons were orbital weapon platforms. I think you will know what they are. The world went backwards, and modern electronics, even phones, are marked as valuable old-tech. Even flight was lost. Soon, everything was more gear then solder.

Dragonblaze052
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Dragonblaze052
26,677 posts
Peasant

That is the problem with any WMD.

Masterforger
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Masterforger
1,824 posts
Peasant

Yes, tis, isn't it? Thats why we should be satisfied with nukes.

Dragonblaze052
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Dragonblaze052
26,677 posts
Peasant

A nuke is one of the worst WMDs as far as consequences go and it has an exponential effect because if one fires, they all fire.

Subterrainian nuke causing a resultant seismic discharge?

Masterforger
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Masterforger
1,824 posts
Peasant

Yes. They are so powerful they could probably do that. But wouldn't there be nothing to shake, since it would blow everything apart?

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