The death ray or death beam was a theoretical particle beam or electromagnetic weapon first theorized around the 1920s and 1930s. Around that time, notable inventors such as Guglielmo Marconi,[1] Nikola Tesla, Harry Grindell Matthews, Edwin R. Scott, Erich Graichen[2] and others claimed to have invented it independently.[3] In 1957, the National Inventors Council was still issuing lists of needed military inventions that included a death ray.[4]
While based in fiction, research into energy-based weapons inspired by past speculation has contributed to real-life weapons in use by modern militaries sometimes called a sort of "death ray", such as the United States Navy and its Laser Weapon System (LaWS) deployed in mid-2014.[5][6] Such armaments are technically known as directed-energy weapons.
- ^ Rachele Mussolini, Mussolini privato, Milano, 1979, Rusconi Editore.
- ^ To, Wireless (June 4, 1928). "Finds a 'Death Ray' Fatal to Humans. German Scientist Says it Inflames and Destroys Cells, Hence Aids in Disease. Expects to Split Atom. Dr. Graichen Has Device to Make Blind See With Light Sent Through the Skull". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
Berlin, June 4, 1928. The discovery of a new 'death ray,' capable of destroying, though not intended to destroy, human life, has just been announced by Dr. Graichen, a young physicist and engineer employed as an experimenter by the Siemens Halske Electric Company.
- ^ "The 'Death Ray' Rivals". The New York Times. May 29, 1924. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
The inventors of a 'death ray' multiply every day. To H. Grindell-Matthews and Professor T.F. Wall have been added two other Englishmen, Prior and Raffe, and Grammachikoff, a Russian. Herr Wulle, 'chief of the militarists' in the Reichstag, has informed that body that the Government has a device that will bring down airplanes, stop tank engines, and 'spread a curtain of death.'
- ^ "Council Seeking Death Ray and Greaseless Bearing for Armed Forces". Associated Press in The New York Times. November 3, 1957. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
Washington, DC, Nov. 2, 1957 (AP) Anyone who has a death ray lying around the house, a hole digger that disposes of the dirt as it goes along, or a greaseless ball bearing that can be used in temperatures ranging
- ^ Gallagher, Sean (2014-06-03). "Navy will deploy first ship with laser weapon this summer". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
- ^ Hodge, Nathan (2010-06-03). "Navy's drone death ray takes out targets - CNN.com". CNN.com. Wired. Retrieved 2018-05-28.