Amazingly Scary Science

Science is amazing.

In a recent article I read I was reminded just how amazing, and possibly scary, science is as they reported on a new toy scientists had succeed in testing out. This new toy, a laser, apparently worked in stopping a vehicle from over a mile away. I can’t help but read that and be amazed as I realized the future is indeed in our grasps as technology such as this begins to pop up, and not just on the drawing board but on the practice field.

The ATHENA system, aside from being awesomely named, creates great anticipation for current development as you picture it being moulded further into other areas aside from a simple laser that could take out a truck in the testing grounds. Given the time and demand this laser could be taking out moving cars as it is worked into a manageable device catered to law enforcement or even other interested parties, in which case certain protocols would then need to be put in place to regulate such dangerously useful technology.

But why stop there?

These are lasers, the kind that little boys have been dreaming about since they could hold sticks and run around pointing them at people. Knowing that the market exists I’m sure it won’t stop at just being equipped to cars and helicopters for long as innovators somewhere in the world will find a way to create a handheld device.

And here is where my inner voice kicks in with the dark side.

Not only have we stepped into the future of lasers, but the future of war games has now been upgraded to a new deadly level. Can you even imagine? Or maybe I’m just being overly negative, who knows?


What I do know is that man has finally unlocked lasers and we have stepped one inch closer to a future we coveted in books and movies. Hopefully with each step we gain and technological advance we make a little wisdom and peace follow along.