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The concept of
harnessing energy
as a weapon is as
old as the legends
of Atlantis, whose
scientists were
said to have focused
sunlight into a
beam that could
set ships ablaze.
Futurists and science
fiction writers
in the Technological
Age have envisioned
a variety of death
rays whose power
comes from more
esoteric sources,
including atomic
power and crystals.
Malevolent beings
as disparate as
Marvin the Martian
and H.G. Wells'
Martians have wielded
ray guns to manifest
their superiority
over Mankind.
With the advances
of modern science,
beam weapons have
become a reality
in the form of lasers,
particle beams and
high-powered microwaves.
The effects of such
devices, if used,
could be as chilling
as blinding adversaries
to as humane as
simply disabling
hostile weapons
or causing enough
temporary physical
discomfort to deter
an attack.
Considering the
course of history,
'humane' beam weapons
are not likely to
predominate in future
wars.
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