University of Michigan creates most intense laser in the universe

Rest assured, we've seen some wicked frickin' lasers in our day, but apparently, even the two-kilowatt rendition that heats coffee in mere seconds can't hold a candle ray of light to HERCULES. Intentionally named in all caps by University of Michigan gurus in order to highlight its awesomeness, said laser contains 300 terawatts of power (or 300 times the capacity of the entire US electricity grid) and could "help scientists develop better proton and electron beams for radiation treatment of cancer." Still, we can't help but conclude with UMich's own description of this masterpiece: "If you could hold a giant magnifying glass in space and focus all the sunlight shining toward Earth onto one grain of sand, that concentrated ray would approach the intensity of [HERCULES]." Damn.

[Via Physorg]

[foxdude333 Posted Feb 17th 2008 11:51AM]

... I wonder if this was the laser on the Blu-Ray camp that took down HD? =P

[kcellb Posted Feb 17th 2008 11:55AM]

This is crazy. Are we really messing with lasers that powerful? Frankly, I'm not sure if I fully believe the part that says, "If you could hold a giant magnifying glass in space and focus all the sunlight shining toward Earth." Now I don't know much about how powerful the sun is but it's not an absurd reaction to be a bit skeptical about this claim.

-- Karim Baz

[snrsuave Posted Feb 17th 2008 12:17PM]

Will it pop a giant Jiffy Pop container?

[mm360 Posted Feb 17th 2008 12:41PM]

I'm going to ask them to heat my coffee with that thing.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 24th 2008 3:43PM]

Also can't believe that was the 1st Real genius comment, great movie...but the question is, would they get Val Kilmer involved?

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 17th 2008 1:38PM]

if this were a laser, it'd be set on stunning

wait, it is.


So when they fire this laser, how do they not annihilate everything in its path for miles?

[Buttabean Posted Feb 17th 2008 2:31PM]

I think Bill Gates should make the moon a giant windows symbol with a few of these puppies :)

[The Turtle Posted Feb 17th 2008 2:42PM]

I want one for my HOUSE! Sh'yeah!

Wolverines still suck, though.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 17th 2008 3:05PM]

Imma chargin mah laser

SHOOP DA WHOOP!

[TheHiFiKid Posted Feb 17th 2008 4:27PM]

do want

[Paulmichael Posted Feb 17th 2008 7:47PM]

"Related Products:
* Dell Inspiron 2100 US (7804T) Keyboard - Notebook Parts.com
* Dell (PH513) 80 GB SATA Hard Drive - Dell
* Dell (4C449 ) 20 GB ATA-66 Hard Drive - LA Computer Center"

Because nothing goes with lasers better than Dell hard drives!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 17th 2008 9:23PM]

First Kurzweil restating 2029 then this .. Hellloooo ?

[Crash Posted Feb 17th 2008 11:14PM]

But can it cook popcorn?

[the steven Posted Feb 17th 2008 11:19PM]

But ours goes upto 11...

[the steven Posted Feb 17th 2008 11:21PM]

Chairface Chipendale, eat your heart out!

[PerryAJ Posted Feb 18th 2008 1:59AM]

Thats not a laser!

This is a laser:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_ignition_facility

Imagine focusing all the energy of this bad boy into a single 1.2 micron beam. Ouch.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 18th 2008 5:49AM]

So that's how the death star works

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 21st 2008 8:53AM]

I'M UH FIRIN' MAH LAZER!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 20th 2008 9:40PM]

I think people need to calm down a little and look up the difference between power and intensity. Actual power transfer from this thing is going to be tiny, it certainly isn't going to blow anything out the sky.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 23rd 2008 11:55AM]

I say we use it to etch a picture of a wedge of cheese into the Moon.

[CongressDJ Posted Mar 24th 2008 10:37PM]

Kent, have you been touching yourself again?