close menu
Because Science

Let’s Build a Lightsaber!

Gather ’round young Padawans, we are going to learn about lightsabers.

In my latest Because Science, I outline the basic science behind the construction of a lightsaber, how the beam is shaped and what it is made out of, and how that iconic humming sound is actually “force thunder.”

One thing I was actually surprised to learn was that even according to Star Wars canon, a lightsaber beam is actually a tight loop — one so tight that it looks like a single beam. The energy needed to create such a configuration would be immense but it was nice to know that Star Wars aficionados already dealt with my biggest complaint, which was that a beam of plasma wouldn’t just stop itself in space.

Check out my last video on my top science stories of 2014, subscribe to this playlist to stay current with the show, and follow me on Twitter to barrage me with nerdiness!

Love Meets Corpse Disposal in Warren Ellis’ “Dead Pig Collector”

Love Meets Corpse Disposal in Warren Ellis’ “Dead Pig Collector”

article
9-Year Old Skateboarding Fairy Princess Shreds

9-Year Old Skateboarding Fairy Princess Shreds

article
The Jonah Keri Podcast

The Jonah Keri Podcast : Kelsie Whitmore and Stacy Piano of the Sonoma Stompers

podcast

Comments

  1. ericmci says:

    Why does Kyle always look shock- surpised or scared in all of his article pictures?

  2. lookcho says:

    Da Frack with 135000km/s … around which star was the comet ? 😛