Lightsabers, false alarm!

This week, as you enter the colourful webpage of The Guardian, your sci-fi instinct will immediately draw your attention to the article titling: "Star Wars lightsabers finally invented" by Ben Child. Your curiosity is awakened. Typical catch-phrase, you might say, but you can't help clicking on the link...

Harvard and MIT scientists have found a "molecule which behaves almost exactly like George Lucas's deadly devices". Is this finally the end of the age of pretending: with your plastic, telescopic and overpriced lightsaber? Is this too good to be true?

It is.

First, it hasn't been made just yet, and second, is far away from being commercialized. Also, were it to exist, you still won't be able to play Fruit Ninja with it. The subtlety lies in the "behaves almost exactly like", which tells you it may look pretty, but it doesn't exactly fulfil its role. The new lightsaber will just be made of photons, or light, which corresponds to its title, but as far as I know will only be able to give your adversary a few minor burns. Even though pretending will just be a little easier, it is just another toy. So there is no need to get carried away, dear Ben Child. Call it a weapon you must not.

This brings us to the famous debate: is Star Wars sci-fi?

Considering that sci-fi logically includes both science and fiction, we can note the obvious lack of science in the Star Wars saga. Elements such as 'the Force' belong to outright fantasy, while the scientific challenge of the Death Star, for example, is not in the least explained. This has earned Star Wars the qualification of 'space opera', instead of our beloved 'science-fiction'. However, now that Harvard and MIT physicists are focusing all their neuron-power on the mysteries of the famous films, shouldn't it deserve an upgrade? Methinks it does. George Lucas may not have included a significant amount of science in his creation, but he definitely made us think about it and provoked a scientific research around his inventions. So, let us be fair, and welcome Star Wars as a rightful and wonderful example of sci-fi!

Here is the link to the article. http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/30/star-wars-lightsabers-invented Enjoy!

Yours faithfully,

Cam