Experimental Magnetic Shield Against Cosmic Rays 199
stiller writes "British scientists from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory have developed an experimental set-up in which a $20 magnet is used to deflect solar-wind-like radiation." Reader Dersaidin points out a slightly more enthusiastic article at Universe Today which emphasizes the possibilities of systems based on this phenomenon to protect astronauts during solar storms, writing
"It's a good start. Hopefully, later versions will be able to protect spaceships from energy weapons. A beam from the LHC can melt a 500kg block of copper. Shields, check. Energy weapons, check. Now we just need a viable interstellar drive, and an energy source to power it all."
Drive and Power source (Score:2, Insightful)
Make the drive coils out of uranium and power it with allotropic iron.
Of course, you will have to give the ship a good British-sounding name like "The Dentless".
ANd remember to really reinforce the breech shielding on the Q-Gun.
Sounds like Highlander (Score:3, Insightful)
Anyone else remember that awful sequel [imdb.com]?
Re:What if you don't want to deflect? (Score:5, Insightful)
You only need to protect the occupants and sensitive equipment. You can just put the ramscoop out ahead of the magnetic protection field.
Space elevator (Score:3, Insightful)
When the space elevator eventually gets built, passengers are going to need something to protect them from the radiation in the Van Allen Belts. Rather than hauling a bunch of passive shielding up and down, these isomagnetic shields would be pretty useful.
Power would come from the same source that drives the climber (whatever that is...).
Re:Checklist... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Drive and Power source (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Experimental Magic Shield Against Cosmic Rays (Score:3, Insightful)
I thought it said "Experimental Magnetic Shield Against Cosplayers". I was planning to pick one up next time I went to Fry's.