” Star Wars ” opened in US cinemas 44 years ago. Since then, the universe with all its films, series offshoots and merchandise has enjoyed continued popularity. Then the birth of all sorts of merchandise related to Star Wars, from best star wars novels to classic star wars apparel.
The “Star Wars” day is even celebrated on May 4th – resulting from the phonetic similarity of the English date “May the Fourth” and the famous greeting “May the Force be with you” (“May the force be with you”) – where the fans celebrate the saga and last but not least themselves.
The star saga owes its great appeal to its dazzling characters and heroic stories, but not least to its fantastic gadgets and ideas. But what of it could actually be implemented or is even already part of our reality – and what remains utopia forever? Time for a physics check.
Star Wars Tag: Can Lightsabers Really Work?
Young Luke Skywalker – the main protagonist in the original film – discovers one such weapon in the home of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. “Not as clumsy and inaccurate as firearms. An elegant weapon from more civilized days,” explains Kenobi.
But would a lightsaber even work in real life? For the Star Wars expert and physicist Sascha Vogel not – for two reasons: “Light doesn’t just stop somewhere”. What is meant is the columnar shape of the lightsabers in the science fiction saga. The second reason: “Light is not interested in other light”. That means: Neither resistances nor noises, which arise in the duel with lightsabers in the film, are currently feasible in reality.
One solution is called the plasma sword. Resourceful inventors from Canada have already implemented this, Vogel explains. Electrically charged gas is held in place with magnetic fields. Vogel: “It’s like a highly aimed flamethrower”.
A key scene from “Star Wars”: Hologram of Princess Leia
In the universe of “Star Wars,” they are used for communication. In the case of Princess Leia Organa, the droid R2-D2 first records her call for help to Obi-Wan Kenobi and later plays it back as a hologram. “It’s relatively easy these days,” says Vogel. He cites laser installations in event technology as an example.
An invention by the University of Sussex in Brighton (Great Britain) goes one step further. The technology creates three-dimensional images with sound. A small ball is moved very quickly by ultrasonic waves. Another highlight: the 3D image can be influenced if you approach it with your hand. Physicist Vogel: “On a small scale, we build holograms that you can touch. In principle, we can check it.”
“May the fourth” – C-3PO and R2-D2: When are lifelike robots coming?
The most famous representatives in the saga are called C-3PO and R2-D2. They also serve as narrators of the story and comment on what is being presented a little apart from what is happening. A tradition from ancient Greek dramas in which the chorus played this role.
A company near Boston has specialized in the lifelike movement of robots. The US company caused a sensation a few years ago with a model that moves like a dog. But it is more difficult to create a robot that behaves like a human and can also communicate, says Vogel. It’s not far from someone who still looks like a human.