US

Teen‘s Homemade ’Death Ray’ Melts Cans, Rocks, and Sets Logs on Fire

If this is real, it’s quite incredible.

Meet 19-year-old Eric Jacqmain. He’s a typical kid from Indiana, except for one small difference: he built a death ray that he says can “melt steel, vaporize aluminum, boil concrete, turn dirt into lava, and obliterate any organic material in an instant.” And he’s got a video that reportedly shows all this things happening. Really.

“The R5800 is my latest and greatest solar creation,” Jacqmain writes in the YouTube description of his video. “Made from an ordinary fiberglass satellite dish, it is covered in about 5800 3/8″ (~1cm) mirror tiles. When properly aligned, it can generate a spot the size of a dime with an intensity of 5000 suns!”

Since posting the video last year, the R5800 was destroyed in a shed fire. But not to worry, Jacqmain is planning on building a more powerful model with 32,000 mirrors.

The Daily Mail gives a rundown of comments Jacqmain has made on the video that offer more details:

Jacqmain, commenting on YouTube said : ‘I drilled a small hole in the dish and glued a piece of PVC pipe on the back.

‘Light shines through the hole and hits the translucent plastic on the end of the pipe. All I had to do was aim the dish once and mark the spot.

‘As long as the target doesn’t conduct heat away too fast it will melt or vaporize just about anything eventually.

‘I have vaporized before carbon, which occurs above 6,500 Fahrenheit.’ [...]

Jacqmain added: ‘Yeah. It “committed suicide”. It’s very likely that it was the cause of the fire. Nothing left of it but half melted wagon parts and the adjustable mount.’

(H/T: Hot Air)

Comments (293)

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  • VAWhiteFighter
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:10am

    Dude, thats you direct ticket to MIT. Don’t get burned!!!!

    Report Post » VAWhiteFighter  
  • AriBenTZion
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:10am

    Obama uses something similar but he added smoke.

    Report Post » Ari Ben TZion  
  • eflow504
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:09am

    great weapon if you can keep the enemy three feet away from it and not move.. ha

    Report Post »  
    • DeVain
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:09am

      Actually Desert Dog, Mythbuster‘s did it TWICE and it didn’t work. Being from California I guess they did something wrong!!! lol

      Report Post » DeVain  
  • DeVain
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:09am

    That reminds me of the Archimedes Death Ray.

    Report Post » DeVain  
    • joe3
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:24am

      yep

      Report Post »  
    • Desert Dog
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 10:15am

      Didn‘t Mythbusters do a segment on this and it didn’t work?

      Report Post » Desert Dog  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:13am

      Correct. The Archimedes didn‘t work however it wasn’t truly a concave reflector, it was rather a line of kids holding mirrors and all pointing them at the same place. Concave mirrors, long in use, can heat up objects to unbelievable temperatures and are used by many people who experiment with or engineer solar technology.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
  • VAWhiteFighter
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:07am

    Dude, thats your direct pass to MIT. Be careful don’t get burned!!!!!!

    Report Post » VAWhiteFighter  
  • Airbornebob
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:05am

    great lil weapon on a sunny day….a night battle could prove difficult!!

    Report Post »  
    • Longbow
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 1:47pm

      Killjoy …

      and that’s a clear, cloudless day, no bad weather allowed.

      Report Post »  
  • MikeP157
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:03am

    Fake?? “Mythbusters” built a HUGE mirror “death ray” which did little if anything. Not that Mythbusters is in any way the standard for scientific standard for accuracy, but still.

    Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:26am

      They didn’t build this. See my comment above.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • abseas
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:55am

      GHOSTOFJEFFERSON is right. There isn’t anything particularly unique or earth shaking about this simple science project. The principle involved is nothing new. It’s basically a backyard toy. However, as some have suggested, placing a highly accurate mirror at the focal point and then moving the mirror (within a limited range) might be interesting to experiment with. They do this with lasers . . . I wonder if it would work with this application? Just a thought. If there are any experts out there . . Chime in.

      Report Post »  
    • franknshadow
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 1:32pm

      Helped install a solar system on a commercial building that concentrated sunlight on a solar cell or cells. Adjustable curve to the concave.. Great system but pricey.. Adjusting the aspect of a concave mirror is quite possible, Maglite does it in their flashlights.. That lends itself to focusability..

      Report Post » PrfctlyFrank  
  • Willie Wonka
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:03am

    Wonder what he could do with a “Slinky!”

    Report Post »  
  • csmatteson
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:01am

    The mythbusters have done a few episodes on these kinds of things and they don’t really work. This is another youtube fantasy video. Note the convenience of it having been destroyed so he doesn’t have to prove it and the promise of a new version, but promised to a very indefinite time frame. All hooey.

    Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:22am

      False. They tested Archimedes mirrors focusing on a ship. Flat mirrors, hundreds of them being held in a wall by people, with infinite focus point (iow, reflecting back without concentration). I strongly suspect that they got it wrong and continue to get it wrong on the revisions, but that’s just a hunch. If the “mob” of mirrors were curved, connected instead of spaced, instead of in a flat straight line of seperated mirrors, and the ship brought to within the focal point, there would likely be fire.

      A concave mirror is lethal in its modern form, but only out at its focal point, which is not infinity. It is used already in a myriad of solar applications, including extremely high temperature Sterling engine running, solar cooking (high temp) and other applications.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • VRW Conspirator
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 2:20pm

      actually…i think they only tested like a few dozen mirrors held up by middle school children trying to focus a flat polished metal shield onto a sail…

      Archimedes was a REALLY smart dude…he figured out bouancy, fluid dynamics and displacement, and a host of other things that we dedicated entire classes in Physics too now….they have rebuilt some of his other machines that were used to create animation during Greek theatre performances, locke systems for ships, water saws and hydro-power plants…this guy was damn SMART…the Einstein and Da Vinci all rolled into one of Ancient Greece… surprisingly…there are dozens like him floating around in the same couple of centuries….we owe our entire western civilization to about a dozen or two ancient Greeks – modern thought, critical thinking, philosophy, basic tenants of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geometry…

      but back on topic…the device made…Archimedes mirror….was supposedly put atop a light house and set the invading navy to flame before it was able to land…now…MythBusters assumed that it had to be some type of mirror, assumed the Greeks couldn’t/didn’t know how to make lenses/mirrors out of glass, and assumed their only energy source for light would have been fire..
      some historical fact to those assumptions but not completely accuracte.
      Greece had collected the knowledge of the world under Alexander – it was kept in the Library of Alexandria which was around until the early centuries after Christ….we really don’t know what they knew…but recently we do know more about who they knew and associated with/conquered…
      Ancient Egyptians made chemical battery lanterns that date back 3000 years or more…yes primitive wet cell battery technology that created light…3000 years before Edison made the fight lightbulb…
      there are stories from Egypt, India, other Mediterranian cultures of laser-like devices that caused fires or shot beams of light that blinded and killed….
      so lets do MythBusters one better….

      lets assume that with Archimedes knowledge of fluid dynamics, he could create a hydro-electric power plant at the mouth of the river that feed the harbor of his city-state. (we know that the Romans pirated some of this technology actually and used it for their aquaduct systems and possibly even for power – there are stories of Roman hydro heating and cooling systems for bath houses and residences of the wealthy – the Greeks and the Romans also knew about geothermal power BTW….) next, lets assume that Archimedes knew a little Geometry from his Egyptian and Greek friends and was able to fashion a parabola mirror, even if only out of polished brass or copper..(i would suggest that the Greeks and other ancient people actually could built lenses out of glass or crystal -the same way we make laser crystals today BTW)..but lets just say only a metal parabolic mirror…lets say that the Greeks had a way to focus this device offshore a good distance..say 1/4 mile or so..giving them a good 2 or 3 minute window…the light from just one parabola mirror focused correctly with a source of electric light could easily cause the sails of a ship from that day to burst into flames… do you think an invading navy would continue advancing when the lead ship suddenly bursts into flames.. NO WAY…so Archimedes wouldn’t have to burn the whole fleet..just the dozen ships or so and the rest would turn tail in fear…..Power of the Gods and all you know…

      Now lets take this one step further…lets say not only could the Greeks make the mirrors and use hydroelectric energy…lets say they figured out that if you focus several mirrors onto a collector mirror (like we do in solar power generation today) you can get a REALLY hot beam…in the 100′s of thousands of degrees or more….now lets say they would a way to collect and condense that energy into a beam about the size of a quarter…direct it from the top of the lighthouse at a ship they could see not a 1/4 mile off but miles away…what do you think would happen to the invading navy that comes over the horizon, sees the top of the lighthouse and prepares for battle, looks up and sees the lighthouse flash as a white hot beam of light literally melts through their sails like a hot knife through butter, bursting their sails into flame and then cuts across the rest of the fleet…by the time the panic stops and they try and turn around, dozens upon dozens of ships are ablaze and the fear leads to dramatic stories about the event for centuries to come, each retelling getting bolder and bolder as the Tall Tail grows….
      wars come and go….invasions happen….cities are razed….knowledge lost….and today we look back and make TV shows about the myth of Greek laser systems that destroy entire fleets….

      Report Post » VRW Conspirator  
  • V-Forge
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:59am

    I did this once on a smaller scale. It would light up paper pretty good.
    here’s some fun. next flight you take hand out a single sock and 5 bucks worth of nickles to anybody on the plane that (Yes it’s profiling) does not look like a terrorist . Then when some fool yells alla akbar he will go down beaten by 20 guys wielding socks full of nickles. I suppose janet would then start taking our socks away. and no cash on a plane.

    Report Post » V-Forge  
    • tifosa
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:26am

      Your post speaks volumes about you.

      Report Post » tifosa  
    • bread and circuses
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:31am

      TIFOSA is a hufPOS troll, with NO sense of humor
      A typical socialist lemming

      Report Post »  
    • Wilma
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:33am

      Tifosa, where is your sense of humor?

      Report Post » Wilma  
    • Bob_R_OathKeeper
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:34am

      Sounds like an honest American to me, you must be a commie liberal Tifosa, at least be honest about that.

      Report Post » Bob_R_OathKeeper  
  • shy
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:56am

    So the kid made a Fresnel lens. I have one from my old big screen TV out in my garage.

    Report Post »  
  • old white guy
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:54am

    i don‘t know much about physics but how would a piece of pvc pipe and translucent plastic focus the sun’s rays with that much intensity?

    Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:24am

      The reflection and curvature is what causes the temp to rise, not the materials of the reflector. Or better put, you can use a clear piece of plastic as a lens just like an expensive piece of crystal, just like a piece of glass, and get the same magnification. I have flimsy plastic Fresnel lenses which I can fry objects with and catch things on fire with, with easy.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
  • Susan
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:54am

    Geeze, I’m sure the government wants this kid. I pray he is able to stay free of their evil. I do mean evil, 89 microbiologiest have met with untimely deaths since 9/11.

    Report Post »  
  • Moocephus
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:46am

    Careful, I smell a NEW government regulation in the making.

    Report Post » Moocephus  
  • ObserverOnTheHill
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:44am

    sorry, I should proof read before posting.
    What do you think might HAPPEN if I hold a mirror up to his ray and reflect it back on him ?

    Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 2:08pm

      It’s the “I’m rubber, your glue” theory.

      Report Post »  
  • proliance
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:44am

    Jamie and Adam would like to speak with you.

    Report Post » proliance  
    • bigE6ft4
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:01am

      I do believe Mythbusters has tried this twice (the last time being commissioned by President Obama) and they were unsuccessful.

      Report Post » bigE6ft4  
    • youguysready_letsroll
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 10:00am

      They actually tried it 3 times – all failed to catch the boat’s on fire. I think the parabolic shaped mirror like the 19 year old’s is a better design since it bounces the sun light to a focus a certain distance away as opposed to using a flat mirror which just reflects the light.

      Report Post » youguysready_letsroll  
  • nacilbuper
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:42am

    Nice, simple and smart.

    Report Post » nacilbuper  
  • ObserverOnTheHill
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:41am

    I’m sure the military is knocking on his door as we read this. What do you think might if I hold a mirror up to his ray and reflect it back on him ?

    Report Post »  
    • timm84
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:37am

      this is not a battle worthy concept, you could break these things with a rock, it also requires line of sight to the target and the sun, you could park above it with helicopters to disrupt it

      Report Post »  
    • gofigureinternational
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:02am

      Easy to suggest what is possible “theoretically”, since his unit is no longer available for scientific observation. There were rumors shortly after flight 93 crashed on 9/11 that the government actually already possessed a weapon similar in design only much more advanced deployed in orbit that actually cut the tail off of flight 93 once it hit a non-populated area. Then the rumors were quickly squashed after stories of the 93 personnel tried taking control of the situation started emerging. Or perhaps that was all propaganda to hide their own death ray:):) If the government did possess something like this (and I am not suggesting they do), but does anyone think we would know it. The propaganda released on the last launch out of California a week or so ago called that bird a satellite that could “read a license plate or model of car from space”. They have been able to read the logo on a golf ball since the late 80’s, and likely earlier. If a death ray truly exists or existed, we would be the last to know!

      Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:09am

      Are you suggesting that the military cannot figure out what Archimedes figured out thousands of years ago?

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • gofigureinternational
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 12:33pm

      Ghostofjefferson good posts pointing out what doesn’t seem to be taught in public schools lately, though they are all well armed with different sexual orientations and global warming indoctrination…Timm84…If indeed this is possible or exists, your theory of defense would require a very large supply of helicopters and a unending supply of brave, albeit stupid, chopper pilots. The two qualities do not coexist very long in a chopper pilot. The rock theory is equally thin given if they had or have this in space; no doubt the engineers designed a defense system on board to deter any weapons that would place it at risk.

      Report Post »  
  • Bob_R_OathKeeper
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:39am

    I’m building one with a million mirrors, muhahahaha!

    Report Post » Bob_R_OathKeeper  
  • evilbert
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:37am

    Dude the kid will be listed on the Do NOt Fly List because he is now considered a terrorist because he is smarter than those who run the country. BA tank with the letters ATF will be barreling down his door because he has a weapon of mass destruction if he can get you to stand a few feet in front of the “Death Ray”

    Way go kid… I can’t wait to see the R32K

    Report Post »  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:01am

      He screwed up by putting it on You Tube. Now he will have to face Govenment “take over” of his weapon. Or they will offer him a job working for them. No private enterprise can profit from it now…

      Report Post »  
    • code green
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:28am

      I doubt the government is too worried because its range is only to the vortex of the reflection just like a magnifying glass.

      Report Post »  
    • 8jrts
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:15am

      Evilbert & Dustyluv

      Both of you are right…either way the kid is smarter than any one in government so they will shut him down, shut him up or shut him off.

      Report Post » 8jrts  
    • SeeMoore2
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:28am

      So, if we can get the enemy within the 3 foot area, get them to move back and forth until the full power of the ray in realised or park thier vehical for a few minutes in front of the ray, then it might work.
      Oh, and as long as it’s not overcast when the battle starts.

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 1:58pm

      I built a bird house and no government agents have shown up yet.

      Report Post »  
    • VonMetal
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 6:40pm

      He’s not smarter then then Obama – Obama‘s Health care bill can’t be destroyed by it… Yet.

      Report Post »  
  • GeauxAlready
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:34am

    Got to love it. Maybe we should help him build a giant one and shine it on the middle east. Fire is a good way to get rid of trash……………..

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • RabiaDiluvio
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:56am

      You can’t dismiss an entire region of the earth as home to trash. If this were ok, most of the Bible Belt would have been expunged long ago.

       
    • 13thGenerationAmerican
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:32am

      Great idea, let’s use technology to kill people

      MORON

      Report Post » 13thGenerationAmerican  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:42am

      13thGenerationAmerican, it can also be used to create steam in a closed-loop system. The steam can be used to generate electricity.

      Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
    • AmericanSoldier
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 10:32am

      And we wonder why the world hates us?

      Report Post » American Soldier (Separated)  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:04am

      It’s also used to fire high power Sterling engines.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
  • OUTRIDER WRITER
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:33am

    Could this be the same kind of hoax that claimed that water could fuel a car?

    Report Post »  
    • bread and circuses
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:49am

      chemistry is NOT your forte, is it ???
      Hydrogen and Oxygen make the hydrogen car go

       
    • youguysready_letsroll
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:02am

      If the hydrogen is separated from the oxygen it can, but the problem is it takes so much energy to create the hydrogen gas that it is very inefficient.

      Report Post » youguysready_letsroll  
    • Lagnar
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 10:59am

      Bread and Circuses, physics is not your forte is it. Ever hear of the law of conservation of energy? How do you propose to “make” the hydrogen? Maybe your own oral flatulence.

      Report Post »  
    • stifroc
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:34am

      “chemistry is NOT your forte, is it ???
      Hydrogen and Oxygen make the hydrogen car go”

      Well with that logic you should be able to grill your dinner over a bed of burning ice cubes right? Or toss a match into a bucket of water and have it burn like gas? I mean it’s just that simple right?

      Report Post » stifroc  
  • blanco
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:33am

    Cool!!!

    Report Post »  
    • Kid Charlemagne
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 10:02am

      So there’s an article on a kid playing in his backyard, but no mention of Bachmann’s proposal to cut veterans benefits?!?!

      http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20110130/DEPARTMENTS04/101300301/1021/DEPARTMENTS04

      Report Post »  
    • tierrah
      Posted on February 2, 2011 at 3:56am

      @Kid: I’m a bit confused – maybe there is some overspending if a veteran is receiving BOTH disability and SS. I’m not thinking about those soldiers who ACTUALLY fought on the front lines and sacrificed. In my opinion those guys deserve everything they can get and MORE! I’m thinking about those who sat in offices or trained in friendly foreign countries and receive both benefits. My uncle was a WWII veteran who contracted the measles while stationed in Germany (never was in a war time situation) and he received both disability and SS for about 10 years before he died. There’s probably some substance to what Ms. Bachman is proposing. I would NEVER support the cut back of “legitimate” aid to our veterans but am also aware of the loopholes (shall I say fraud) that just might exist in the government’s direction and supervision of the actual proposed intent of the program.

      Report Post » tierrah  
  • emertz8413
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:33am

    “Yeah, It “committed suicide”. Dude, ever think it was God saying “Don’t go there?” Revelations comes to mind.

    Report Post »  
    • bread and circuses
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:45am

      bible thumpers always sound stupid, lol

       
    • JRserious
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:02am

      and bread and circuses doesn’t?

      Report Post »  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:38am

      “Bread and Circuses” (or bread and games) is a metaphor for a superficial means of appeasement. In the case of politics, the phrase is used to describe the creation of public approval, not through exemplary or excellent public service or public policy, but through the mere satisfaction of the immediate, shallow requirements of a populace. The phrase also implies the erosion or ignorance of civic duty amongst the concerns of the common man.

      In modern usage, the phrase has become an adjective to deride a populace that no longer values civic virtues and the public life. To many across the political spectrum, left and right, it connotes the triviality and frivolity that in popular culture is supposed to have characterized the Roman Empire prior to its decline.

      Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
    • philm1
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 10:41am

      Wtf?

      Report Post » epmonroe  
    • BeerSnob
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:51am

      @B & C … agreed. Kind of ruins the site for the rest of us, and makes us all look silly

      Report Post » BeerSnob  
    • Soldiers_Son
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 12:15pm

      @BEERSNOB
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:51am
      “@B & C … agreed. Kind of ruins the site for the rest of us, and makes us all look silly”

      I am sorry that I have to disagree with you. All opinions and ideas should be welcome here, even if you don’t agree with them, or feel that they are “silly”.

      Report Post »  
    • Max jones
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 12:17pm

      texas common sense……and describes what is going on in this country whaen it comes to the current political diatribe. It is all a diversion and a distraction from the REAL issue which is the inevitable and demonic installation of global governance and the genocide of billions of ordinary people. There IS no political solution to this problem. Pray, pray like you are a crazy bible thumping Christian. Help your neighbors. Plant a garden. If you can’t afford precious metals, stockpile ammo….A-1 barter wealth.

      Report Post » Max jones  
    • davuf
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 12:18pm

      Wow, I must have missed something last time I read revelations. I would have thought horsemen flying around with satellite dish death rays would have stood out more…

      Not everything ties into the end of the world….

      Report Post »  
    • maryslittlelamb
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 12:25pm

      @B&C
      It was “bible thumpers” who founded America and so far it’s out-lived anything you Marxist Maniacs have established. Historical fact, you dumbass!

      Report Post »  
    • gofigureinternational
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 12:45pm

      Maryslittlelamb…People who agree with you or disagree have to LOVE your politcal correctness! LMAO.

      Report Post »  
    • BeerSnob
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 2:33pm

      So if you’re not a bible thumper, you must be a marxist maniac?
      I rest my case, your honor.

      Report Post » BeerSnob  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:28am

    Does this kid have any plans on building the death star?

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • 912er
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:54am

      Who cares about a “Death Star”? Can this thing melt SNOW?

      912er  
    • Susan
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:19am

      I followed through and watched a few more youtube videos and this one impressed me much more.

      This guy is running his car with water as fuel and is now building a Hummer for the government that uses water as fuel.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ceOL83PM24&NR=1

      Report Post »  
    • mimitweetin
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:22am

      How about ENERGY??????

      Report Post »  
    • mikem1969
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:59am

      that would work wonders for solar steam energy. I also watched the video of the guy with the car listed above in this thread and that would be great as well.

      Report Post »  
    • Arkansan by Choice
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:00am

      Holly solar holocost thats funny

      Report Post »  
    • What-A-Joke
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:11am

      Hope he had the proper PERMITS to build that?

      http://timnbettyp.blogspot.com/p/club-sea-breeze_03.html

      Report Post » What-A-Joke  
    • FUBARSNAFU
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:17am

      Unfortunately, and quite predictably, the man in Clearwater Florida who was running his car on water has died a few years back. Someone needs to pick up that torch…If they dare try.

      Report Post »  
    • DashRipRock
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:22am

      Give me liberty
      or give me a death ray.

      Report Post »  
    • Rogue
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:35am

      @fubar – is this the guy who told the government about his water car, got a visit from a military representative, then mysteriously dies a few days later? I’ve heard the story, but I can’t remember his name… scary stuff

      Report Post » Rogue  
    • mikelivi
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:47am

      912er, that is hillarious!

      Report Post »  
    • Anarcho Capitalist
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 10:14am

      we all had to do this in my high school. Its not that hard and very hot.

      Report Post » Anarcho Capitalist  
    • churchdog
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 10:42am

      Smoke and mirrors…

      Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 10:57am

      Wow, a concave mirror to heat objects. He’s only countless years after the fact, but hey, it’s a “death ray!” and not a boring old conventional concave solar reflector.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • pajamash
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:06am

      This is a job for Myth Busters.

      Report Post »  
    • abc
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:37am

      Archimedes built this contraption–only much larger in size and devastating in impact–only 2,000+ years ago, protecting his native Siracusa from attacking Roman warships. Only scientifically illiterate folks would find this novel.

      Report Post »  
    • USAMama
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:40am

      Hope he’s not a progressive! Whatever you do, don’t let them learn how to make this thing! We’ll have “Global Warming” for real!

      Report Post » USAMama  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:44am

      @ABC

      “Archimedes built this contraption–only much larger in size and devastating in impact–only 2,000+ years ago, protecting his native Siracusa from attacking Roman warships. Only scientifically illiterate folks would find this novel.”

      Well, we think he might have. Mythbusters continues to toy with this, and I suspect they’re getting it wrong, but there’s not a whole lot to go on that is solid. “Mirrors” “point at ships” and “caught on fire” pretty much are what the legend boils down to (no pun intended) as far as hard data on the contraption. I don‘t think there’s any mention of him directing the soldiers to hold their polished shields in a concave “lens” shape, and Mythbusters themselves tend to line them up into a flat wall, which is why they cannot catch ships on fire.

      I’m not disagreeing with you, but there’s no definative proof that Archimedes actually did what has been claimed, as of yet, and no real detail that I know of that says he directed them to make a concave mirror “lens”. This does not refute the notion however that a concave mirror produces stunning levels of heat, and even if Archimedes got it wrong on the shape of the mirror object, he was on the right path.

      I do worry that anybody considers this even vaguely novel. The solar concentrator fields in California work by this principle exclusively, this is not “new” tech under any imaginable scenario.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • abc
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:47am

      Susan,

      The water car is a hoax. There is not enough energy in the water, using hydrolysis to generate the amount of work described. Nothing in what that supposed inventor desribed is new, except for the bogus claims. This is as bad as the cold fusion claims.

      Report Post »  
    • Xcori8r
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:56am

      Congrats to the kid,

      Good lesson on leveraging geodesics and an old DBS dish. It sure beats the heck out of casting and polishing your own solid surface mirror. He should have kept the LNB arm and then he wouldn’t have to hold the target with a plier. If he could just auto-track the sun he would have a nifty, though tiny coverage daytime bug zapper.

      Report Post » Xcori8r  
    • GEW
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 12:02pm

      doesnt the government already have that death ray in outerspace that doesnt even have to be over the target.

      As to the water for fuel….I want one of those….

      Crazy, isnt it wonderful what living in a republic can do, imagination, creativity ….one can dream and have those dreams come true. (sounds like Disneyland.).

      Report Post » GEW  
    • lecar
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 12:12pm

      You are correct ABC. I have looked into this. It essentially uses hydrolisis to produce Oxygen and Hydrogen gas that is then consummed by the cars engine. The best results is that it is used to supplement the fuel requirement and increase gas mileage. The problem is the electricity used for the hydrolisis is generated by batteries that need to be recharged. Overall, the batteries run down and require charging over time (the gas engine cannot charge the batteries fast enough through generators or altenators). The claim is OK if you disregard the need to plug-in a battery charger after a certian amount of use. The other issue is the potential build up of hydrogen and oxygen. This is very volitale and could lead to disaterous results (think of the Challenger accident).
      One interesting claim, which I have not been able to confirm, is that a specific design of the hydrolisis chamber produces a resonance effect and the amount of gas production (and subsequent conversion to mechanical energy) exceeds the electrical input (converting mechanical energy into electrical energy). This is essentially a perpetual machine and is not possible.
      AS to this “death ray”. Let’s at least give the young man credit for exploring, testing, and building the device (even if it is proven technology). Most young men spend their time in less ambitious pursuits.

      Report Post »  
    • home_of_the_brave
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 12:39pm

      This is what American ingenuity is all about! Bravo Eric, hope you get into MIT.

      Report Post »  
    • ->Click for online job<-
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 12:43pm

      A better question is “Got news?”

      Report Post » -&gt;How To Work From Home Site&lt;-  
    • abc
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 12:48pm

      Ghost, MythBusters is not exactly cutting edge on the task of evaluating Archimedes’ burning mirrors. There are many others who have validated the idea:

      http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mirrors.htm

      Of course, we can never prove what happened in Archimedes’ day, since historians who write about him were not alive then, nor do we know whether the idea was to burn wood, cloth sails or merely the skin of Roman sailors, who were undoubtedly terrified by the contraption. In any case, the physics behind this are not novel, as we can agree.

      Hopefully, those who found this teen’s homemade “death ray” novel–and there probably are more of them than we would care to admit–will be inspired to learn a little more about science, since our democracy doesn’t function well when those who are allowed to vote know less than people living over 2,000 years ago.

      Report Post »  
    • highcarry
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 12:50pm

      big deal. i‘ve got a solar cigarette lighter from the 60’s that does the same thing.

      Report Post » highcarry  
    • jbl8199
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 12:56pm

      You could burn a pretty big ant with that thing.

      Report Post » jbl8199  
    • franknshadow
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 1:17pm

      Can but it takes sunlight.. Then it sounds like it can vaporize snow..

      Report Post » PrfctlyFrank  
    • Sevens
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 1:30pm

      912 Im with you on that.. just imagine harnessing that power to create electricity!!!?

      Report Post » Sevens  
    • JESUS-IS-LORD
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 1:34pm

      when are the masonic elite going to take it away from him?

      Report Post » JESUS-IS-LORD  
    • Endstatism
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 3:05pm

      Maybe Obama will hire him to design the death star

      Report Post » Endstatism  
    • Lantern
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 3:19pm

      What’s next, a kid burning ants with a magnifying glass? This is pretty much the same principle.
      The water as fuel story isn’t so amazing as the process has been around for years and no one would want to be carrying around ultra-flammable hydrogen. Remember the Hindenburg?

      Report Post » Lantern  
    • azmomof6
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 3:40pm

      If this is authentic, give that young man a scholarship!

      Report Post »  
    • timej31
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 4:25pm

      How does it work on Progressives?

      Report Post » timej31  
    • home_of_the_brave
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 5:25pm

      This kid did what the two guys from “Myth Busters” couldn’t do. Guess they’ll have to go back and look at that one again.

      Report Post »  
    • crackerone
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 6:36pm

      Little MacGuyver! Little buggger!

      Report Post »  
    • The Noodle Fish
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:02pm

      Kid’s a genius. I want to date him. Beside that… this is an amazingly useful invention. I hope he can rebuild it and get it patented

      Report Post » The Noodle Fish  
    • Dingdong
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:08pm

      Melt Snow!? Bwahahahahahahahaha…

      Report Post » Dingdong  
    • technoid
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:35pm

      ROGUE The man you were refering to was Stan Meyers. Here is the site http://www.waterpoweredcar.com/stanmeyer.html. He ran a dune buggy on just plain tap water. It can be done and our Gov won’t persue it. And The Arabs are behind blocking it. Meyers found out how to make a Fuel cell work on very low current. He used Telsla’s coils and resonance.

      Report Post »  
    • Thatsitivehadenough
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:35pm

      interesting. But, more important:

      George Soros buying up agriculture; does he want to control food too?
      http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/01/13/soros-bets-the-farm/

      Report Post » Thatsitivehadenough  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:21pm

      While I would congratulate the kid if this is true, Myth Busters demonstrated a ‘similar’ technique and a half hearted attempt and failed. Solar power could use this kind of a boost…

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • watchmany2k
      Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:22pm

      A fresnel lens works the same way, and you can buy them pretty cheap these days in large sizes.
      As far as the car on water thing, or the battery acid and current, they are hoaxes to get you to buy VERY expensive gizmos. Yep you can make hydrogen by electrolysis in both cases, and even buy plans or DIY, doubtful you will increase mileage very much.

      Better to get a local hot rodder to hook you up with a nitro boost kit and BUY a cylinder of hydrogen, at least that technology IS proven to work, Make sure you have good seatbelts and helmet, and for your family’s sake, PAY your life insurance….
      Remember the Hindenberg !

      Report Post » watchmany2k  
    • roguetea
      Posted on February 2, 2011 at 4:09am

      rogue, THEE Energized American
      Simplicity defies intellect, and a culture hell bent on super-technology perhaps has too much intellect to solve basic problems. We ask, how can WE solve OUR energy needs when the question ought to be much more simple. How can I provide for my energy needs. WE are far too much of the lazy herd mentality inclined to only fantasize on big (understand collective) solutions. Has the internet and cell pone collected us too much by the ear and fingertip… screwing up our ability to do?

      This kid did it for himself… with simple ease. He holds the power in his hands. We can all do it, but he did, do it. Get it? It does not matter how many did in in the past, only that he did it in his day, for his day.

      Parabolic mirrors for solar applications, I understand, require expensive manufacturing. But, a throw-away dish, a few mirrors, a little glue and a whole bunch of patient time accomplishes close to the same thing, and exist in your own back yard. A couple years back I saw college students doing a similar thing with flat mirrors driving steam generation. The big thing is that this is easy tech that can become personal tech. 50% of transmitted electricity is used to, transmit electricity. We pay for that sacrifice, and the equipment, and for the idiots to argue why we do no pay enough, yet. Simpletons fail to personalize simple solutions.

      As to the water car thing, only a ‘know-it-all’ fails to know, we do not know it all, yet.
      tea party, Own 11, ROGUE ON

      Report Post » roguetea  
    • GONESURFING
      Posted on February 2, 2011 at 5:35am

      Awesome, dude.

      Report Post » GONESURFING  
    • BoiseBaked
      Posted on February 2, 2011 at 11:21am

      I’d give the kid a C- for innovation, an A+ for a super ant burner and pyromaniac. Didn’t your Momma tell you? That ain’t no way to have fun.

      Report Post »  
    • rigel1
      Posted on February 3, 2011 at 8:30am

      Sounds like free heat with no emissions. Put one those on a roof with a telesope clock drive that is set to track the sun. It might provide enough energy to run your entire house for free.

      Report Post »  
    • Kookaburra
      Posted on February 3, 2011 at 11:12pm

      We‘ll be needing this kid’s invention when the govt starts frying us with its death rays. Already the blimps are in the skies above us spying and tapping into our every move pointing the death rays at us. Cattle mutilations and crop circles are multitudes of examples.

      Report Post »  
    • GeoBible
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:37pm

      The death ray is great and can find lots of uses. The car running on water is about as good as it can get. ext I would like to see all the kids of the world become more like the kids of the 50′s.
      .
      Now for my plug. I discovered over 30 years ago that the Earth has always had a way of capturing images of people, objects, and events.
      .
      I can get these images from the worlds past all day long every day . This is the most amazing discovery right under our nose. I can get images around Stonehenge and The Nazca Lines in Peru that would go a long way in helping us to understand these areas. I will not go into all I can do with this discovery right now but I wanted to find out if it would work on other planets like it does on earth to see if the is or was ever life forms and on one planet that I never figured there would be life I found very human looking images all in one picture of that which looks like Male and female.
      .
      I want to get a really good artist to see this and I want him or her to paint the most priceless painting the world could ever see—Life on another planet—
      .
      There is too much to mention here and it needs to be taught in person so if someone wants to look into this the person must be someone who could work with me to show the world or a great Artist.
      .
      I assure you this is very real and I could rock the world with this story .

      Report Post » GeoBible  
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