Hot on HuffPost Tech:

See More Stories

AOL Tech

AOL
MAIL

Switched

Tech Tips

A Baker's Dozen Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Mac

Advice

Switched's Comprehensive Guide to Video Game Emulators

11 Movie Gadgets You Might See in Real Life

by Dan Reilly on May 21, 2008 at 01:12 PM

Force Fields

If 'Independence Day' or 'Star Trek' taught us anything, it's that we're screwed if our enemies invent force fields. Maybe that's why our military and many scientists around the world are putting so much money and effort into developing Plasma Shields, which have similar properties to their fictional counterparts.

The basic premise is this – plasma, which is gas with all its particles ionized, thickens at high temperatures. If properly focused and controlled, it could prevent objects from passing through. The US Military is currently developing the Plasma Acoustic Shield System, which creates mini explosions of plasma to both momentarily stun an attacker and deflect projectiles.

Still in development, the technology isn't yet at the point where it deflects bullets or even missiles, but it certainly looks to be on the horizon.

<< Back Next >>

Comments

Rick BadmanMay 26th 2008 4:28PM

Neutral

By using electromagnetic fields and circulating the plasma fields plus using a small injection reactor to provide the energy, a force field should be possible. But a force field is only as powerful as it is at one point. The smaller the object that needs to be protected, the less energy that will be required and the less the field density. It should be easier to use a force field around a fighting suit than around a tank and easier around a tank than a plane or ship. But since some planes in the future will use external field propulsion systems, the force field will be built-in. Also, the field could be discharged to knock down projectiles.

Dislike

Report

AndreaJul 24th 2008 12:35PM

Neutral

What's wrong with the one kitty's using?

Dislike

Report

Add your comments

Your comments:

Remember me

E-Mail me when someone replies to this comment

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.