This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
Describe Phlebotinum Du Jour Discussion here.
zero29: Quantum Mechanics is hot, Superstrings is not?
1. Q Ms are way more older than S Ss.
2. Currently S Ss are just a neat theory to enable the theory of everything. Q Ms have left the theory-only-department a long time ago (L.A.S.E.R.s).
3. With requirements like eleven dimensions or so to function and a length of smaller universes S Ss are infact real-science-worlds hottest phlebotinum to day.
So, i'd rather put Q Ms into the 90s and S Ss to the current phlebotinum. Wonder when the first superstring-powered hero will be born...
Darktalon/rsm109 on friend's computer: Considering that QM was formulated in the late '20s and early '30s it wouldn't surprise me if it had been used as phlebotinum long before the '90s.
Spott: I would like to see EMP's added to the list of current hot phlebotini. I have heard far too much over-hyped support in the existence of practical and effective EMP weapons in the last few years. Even a fellow-student in one of my Electronic Engineering classes tried to put it forth as a valid research project...until the rest of the class ganged up on him with such weapons as the inverse-square law.
Eric DVH: EMPs? I've never heard of a story with somebody gaining superpowers from/powering supertech with EMP, since that's just any strong magnetic field. Its only current use is as a REAL superweapon: A surge of energy will cause electronics to melt just enough to fuse. Radio and microwave antennæ can be used to overload moderately far electronics, very small atomic bombs will overload electronics for miles, and even large motors' magnetic fields can destroy nearby electronics, this can be prevented to a degree using Faraday cages (I.E.: T.E.M.P.E.S.T. compliance).
