Scientists create Star Trek-style phaser that can both stun and revive
- Thread starter jefferiestubes8
- Start date
Re: Scientists create Star Trek-style phaser that can both stun and re
Okay, this wins the prize for Most Misleading Science News Headline of the Month, if not the Year. They didn't create a weapon. They fed worms a chemical substance that caused them to become paralyzed when exposed to a certain wavelength of light. It's totally bizarre, and completely missing the point, to focus the report on the light when it's the chemical that's actually causing the effect. I've seen reporters distort the point of a science report in order to create some spurious tie to something from mass-media sci-fi, but this is one of the most egregious misrepresentations I've ever seen.
Okay, this wins the prize for Most Misleading Science News Headline of the Month, if not the Year. They didn't create a weapon. They fed worms a chemical substance that caused them to become paralyzed when exposed to a certain wavelength of light. It's totally bizarre, and completely missing the point, to focus the report on the light when it's the chemical that's actually causing the effect. I've seen reporters distort the point of a science report in order to create some spurious tie to something from mass-media sci-fi, but this is one of the most egregious misrepresentations I've ever seen.
Re: Scientists create Star Trek-style phaser that can both stun and re
"Dr Branda said: 'We aren't trying to pretend that it's important that we can turn on and off paralysis in worms. But it opens new opportunities for the use of light in medicine.'"
It's a very very loose connection to phasers.
But it's a combination of the light and chemicals, not just the chemicals, since it requires both to get the above reactions.
However if one was to create a device that could penetrate skin and get this chemical into the body a fraction sooner prior to the light hitting the body, I could see how they could connect it to a phaser...... althought still not the same thing.
"Dr Branda said: 'We aren't trying to pretend that it's important that we can turn on and off paralysis in worms. But it opens new opportunities for the use of light in medicine.'"
It's a very very loose connection to phasers.
But it's a combination of the light and chemicals, not just the chemicals, since it requires both to get the above reactions.
However if one was to create a device that could penetrate skin and get this chemical into the body a fraction sooner prior to the light hitting the body, I could see how they could connect it to a phaser...... althought still not the same thing.
Re: Scientists create Star Trek-style phaser that can both stun and re
From the sound of it, the effect of the chemicals is far from instantaneous. This is something that was fed to the worms, meaning that it would've taken time to disperse all the way through their bodies.
Not to mention that this is a specially bred form of transparent worm. Light can only penetrate so far into the human body.
Here's a more detailed piece on the subject, though it repeats the idiotic "phaser" analogy:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8367081.stm
As usual, the press is completely misrepresenting the purpose of this. It's got nothing remotely to do with weapons. This is something that potentially has applications for certain types of medical treatments, analogously to the way photosensitive dyes and laser treatments are sometimes used to treat cancer. This wouldn't be something you could spread throughout an entire person and use to knock them out. It's something you could apply to a targeted area in order to achieve some therapeutic purpose.
From the sound of it, the effect of the chemicals is far from instantaneous. This is something that was fed to the worms, meaning that it would've taken time to disperse all the way through their bodies.
Not to mention that this is a specially bred form of transparent worm. Light can only penetrate so far into the human body.
Here's a more detailed piece on the subject, though it repeats the idiotic "phaser" analogy:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8367081.stm
As usual, the press is completely misrepresenting the purpose of this. It's got nothing remotely to do with weapons. This is something that potentially has applications for certain types of medical treatments, analogously to the way photosensitive dyes and laser treatments are sometimes used to treat cancer. This wouldn't be something you could spread throughout an entire person and use to knock them out. It's something you could apply to a targeted area in order to achieve some therapeutic purpose.
Re: Scientists create Star Trek-style phaser that can both stun and re
If this food could be released airborne, the enemy inhale it, give it time to work it's way into the body, then flashes of light from planes and troops, could disable the enemy. theoretically.
If this food could be released airborne, the enemy inhale it, give it time to work it's way into the body, then flashes of light from planes and troops, could disable the enemy. theoretically.
Re: Scientists create Star Trek-style phaser that can both stun and re
I doubt that something that works on simple nematode worms would be directly translatable to humans. Also, it doesn't put the worms to sleep, it paralyzes them. If -- and that's a huge if -- this could have a similar effect on the metabolic pathways of more complex organisms, paralysis could be fatal if it effects, say, the heart or the lungs. So the whole "phaser" thing is just one big fat media lie. Science reporters (and, alas, many scientists) assume that the general public won't be interested in research like this unless they dress it up with some kind of tenuous sci-fi analogy, and all too often that completely misrepresents the actual significance of the discovery. This isn't about a weapon, it's about a possible new form of medical treatment. Which, to me, is immensely cooler.
I doubt that something that works on simple nematode worms would be directly translatable to humans. Also, it doesn't put the worms to sleep, it paralyzes them. If -- and that's a huge if -- this could have a similar effect on the metabolic pathways of more complex organisms, paralysis could be fatal if it effects, say, the heart or the lungs. So the whole "phaser" thing is just one big fat media lie. Science reporters (and, alas, many scientists) assume that the general public won't be interested in research like this unless they dress it up with some kind of tenuous sci-fi analogy, and all too often that completely misrepresents the actual significance of the discovery. This isn't about a weapon, it's about a possible new form of medical treatment. Which, to me, is immensely cooler.
Re: Scientists create Star Trek-style phaser that can both stun and re
Yeah, but you're a science geek. The Average Joe Blow won't care about it otherwise.
Yeah, but you're a science geek. The Average Joe Blow won't care about it otherwise.
Re: Scientists create Star Trek-style phaser that can both stun and re
Still no reason for them to be misleading like that. It's all about money and attention nowadays.
Still no reason for them to be misleading like that. It's all about money and attention nowadays.
Re: Scientists create Star Trek-style phaser that can both stun and re
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my god that was HILLARIOUS!!!
What a way to relate Star Trek to weird stuff!
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my god that was HILLARIOUS!!!
What a way to relate Star Trek to weird stuff!
Similar threads
