A powerful laser gun, capable of firing energy beams that burn through clothes and incinerate the skin of your enemies. Sounds like something straight out of a science fiction movie, doesn’t it? A little far-fetched, like the futuristic blasters in Star Wars, or phasers from Star Trek?
Turns out that those guns might be closer to reality than we think, as researchers in China have created a new laser weapon that can do just that. According to an article by the South Morning China Post, the ZKZM-500 laser assault rifle produces beams invisible to the naked eye, but can pass through windows and cause “instant carbonisation” of human skin and tissues”.
The weapon is a 15mm calibre rifle that weighs 3kg, roughly the same as an AK-47, with a range of about 800 metres. No physical bullets are required, as the weapon is powered by rechargeable lithium batteries that allow it to fire over a thousand “shots”, each lasting up to two seconds.
Set phasers on stun!
It is classified as “non-lethal”, but scientists who worked on developing it described it as being able to “burn through clothes in a split second. If the fabric is flammable, the whole person will be set on fire.” A researcher who participated in developing and testing a prototype even described that “the pain will be beyond endurance.”
The guns are ready for mass production, although their sales will likely be limited to anti-terrorism squads in the Chinese Armed Police for use in covert military operations.
Is this it? Has Star Wars or Star Trek come to life? But while laser weaponry may seem awesome when blasted about in space at Rebel forces or Stormtroopers, their emergence in real-life situations are concerning to say the least, with the untrackable shooter, sniper-like range and invisible beams. Let’s just hope these don’t fall into the wrong hands.
Joyce is a language nerd whose idea of a good time includes speed-solving Rubik’s cubes and binging Netflix, all fuelled by drinking many, many mugs of tea.
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