Mar 13 2008Scientists Build Coilgun That Stops "Bullets"
Scientists at the University of Texas-Austin have developed a coilgun that can allegedly stop projectiles in mid-air. The coilgun works in the opposite manner of a typical coilgun -- this one slowing down projectiles as opposed to speeding them up. Unfortunately (and I know you will all hate me for this) the "bullets" used in the tests are atom and molecule sized. Not .38s or 9mms or anything like that. But still, it's a step.
The coilgun consists of 64 hand-made units (about $25 each) and is powered by its own capacitor. Here's how it works: The researchers trap particles from the air, store them in a tiny chamber, and release them in the direction of the gun. When a particle reaches the gun and encounters the coils, each coil's magnetic field progressively slows the particle down without touching it. The coilgun brought atoms and molecules traveling at 500 meters per second (1,118 mph) to a complete stop.
Yeah, a lot less exciting than I made it out to be. I apologize. I mean, they already have things that can stop bullets. It's called me. Well, to be fair I haven't actually stopped any bullets. I'd like to think my vital organs slowed them down a bit though. Anyway, the eventual goal of this coilgun project is to weigh neutrinos, which, if I had to guess, are particles that don't want to get involved in the fight between positrinos and negatrinos. But what do I know? I'm no scientist. I'm just a guy who sneaks into the physics lab to heat my coffee with a laser.
Magnetic Gun Stops Teen Bullets Mid-Air [discoverynews]
Thanks to Michelle, who is aw-aw-AWESOME, for the tip
Reader Comments
1. guate6 - March 13, 2008 10:50 AM
Fake, Frist, Old, November, Ass-hat.
Neat...now if there was a way to make it bigger...
2. PB&J - March 13, 2008 11:19 AM
Neo is...The One.
3. J - March 13, 2008 11:44 AM
Change the title, douchebag. It stops projectiles.
4. Sarah - March 13, 2008 4:01 PM
Too bad it's not powered with a flux capacitor.
5. sheigh - March 13, 2008 10:06 PM
so wait, lemme get this straight... you need to be able to aim the coil gun at a speeding bullet in order to stop it?
Who, pray tell, with the exception of the cartoon Wizard kid on Dungeons & Dragons - and only on a good day, when he doesn't screw up the chant - could possibly react that quickly to being shot?
6. Cyberwulf - March 14, 2008 12:34 AM
I could, but that's only after taking more stimulant filled liquids than the human body can handle, and that sometimes kills people.
7. 7egend - March 28, 2008 10:09 AM
Well any smart person would realize that a human couldn't act this fast, thats why you would build a version with multiple coil guns mounted in a 360 array to fend off bullets coming from multiple directions and equip non-armored vehicles with this setup.
Also, I don't know about you but I don't think I would want to be walking around in a suit that has to produce enough voltage and push enough current through the coilguns to repel the bullets, i'd take my chances hiding behind a wall over strapping a Neon Ballast to my back with wires running every where.
Save the coil guns for projectiles, not stopping them. You won't have to stop projectiles if you build a weapon that kills everyone first. Duh.
8. mat - July 5, 2008 11:54 PM
bullets are lead and copper there nonferris metal so a magnetic feild wouldnt do any thing.