Could Star Wars blasters exist?
Pew pew pew! Delve into the science of how a Stormtrooper’s weapon of choice could work
by STEPHEN KELLY
As the late, great Han Solo once said, “Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.” A bit disrespectful, in retrospect, but a good point nonetheless. Just take new series Star Wars: Andor, which is based around the struggle of ordinary people – those who are born without space magic – who must stand up to the Empire with nothing but firearms that, according to Wookieepedia, are fire bolts of ‘particle-based energy’. But what does that mean? Patrick Johnson, author of The Physics Of Star Wars, has a few ideas.