Chinese scientists are apparently cooking up some sci-fi tech straight out of Star Wars! Reports say they’ve developed a real-life energy shield using plasma to protect drones and military assets. Cue the lightsaber sound effects!
This energy force field is designed to block potentially damaging microwaves that could screw with sensitive electronics. If it works as claimed, this is a huge advancement toward the types of directed energy weapons seen in movies.
The idea is that powerful microwaves can overload and fry electrical components, especially in today’s micro-tech devices. So researchers created a “plasma shield” to protect against electromagnetic attacks up to 170 kilowatts from just 10 feet away.
They say it takes very little power to produce a stable plasma layer that absorbs and reflects incoming energy waves. The denser the plasma, the stronger the shield. And when the threat passes, the plasma reverts to normal.
The team says they were driven by advances in US weapons tech like microwave cannons. Their plasma shield takes inspiration from Tai Chi by using the attacker’s energy against them.
While still early, the applications could be game-changing beyond military uses. The shield concept might protect all kinds of sensitive electronics from electromagnetic interference.
Of course, we have to take reports of bleeding-edge tech with a grain of salt. China is known for exaggerating capabilities to flex its science muscle. Until there’s proof this plasma shield works as advertised, it’s wise to be skeptical.
But you have to admit, the idea of force field-toting drones dogfighting in the skies is pretty epic! Maybe one day China’s plasma shield research will bring sci-fi energy weapons to life. For now, it remains a deflector dream straight out of Star Wars.
