Endless energy banks and zero logic: the joys of particle beams in space battles (video).
The technology and uses of particle beams in futuristic space battle are explored by Spacedock in this video.
Particle beams have long been a staple of sci-fi space combat, with their flashy special effects and ability to vaporize enemies in a single shot. But let’s be real. Sometimes the way we depict particle beams in science fiction can be downright hilarious.
For starters, there’s the question of how these beams are supposed to work. Do they travel at the speed of light? Perhaps they need to be charged up before firing? Might they run on some sort of obscure particle fuel that can only be found on certain moons? The truth is, we do not know, and it’s unlikely that the writers of these stories do either.
Then there’s aiming for these things. In some stories, it seems like all you have to do is point your spaceship in the general direction of the enemy and let the beams fly. In others, there are complex targeting systems and crosshairs to deal with. But let’s be honest, if you’re really in the middle of a space battle, do you really have time to worry about all that? Just point and shoot, and hope for the best!
But perhaps the most amusing aspect of particle beams in sci-fi space combat is the way they always seem to have a never-ending supply of ammo. No matter how many times you fire those beams, they never seem to run out. Maybe it’s because the writers just don’t want to deal with the headache of trying to explain how space ships would refill their particle beam tanks, or maybe it’s because they know that if they did, it would just ruin all the fun.
In the end, particle beams in sci-fi space combat are just one of those things that we have to suspend our disbelief for. They may not make sense, but they sure look cool. So let’s just sit back and enjoy the show, and try not to think too hard about the science (or lack thereof) behind them. So, particle beams in sci-fi space combat may be amusing, but they sure make for some epic space battles.
