Welcome to orientation vault dweller! What you’re holding is a standard issue pre-war laser rifle. Now, before you think about ever leaving the vault — though the Overseer expressly forbids it — you should probably familiarize yourself with the technology that will keep you safe throughout your wasteland wandering (read: endless hours of playing Fallout 4). That weapon in your hands shoots out more energy that a couple lightning bolts, so listen up.

How much energy does it take to vaporize a person? In my latest Because Science, I’m looking at the physics of what it takes to separate a person’s atoms (not bring them to a boil like a pot of water). It turns out that—because humans are mostly water, and because the bonds of a water molecule are very strong—it takes a gargantuan amount of energy to turn a raider to ash. Or ghoul. Or super mutant. Or deathclaw. Dear god the deathclaws…

I’ll get back to you with how much it takes to deal with synths.

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