Walnut-Sized Generators and Force Fields: Period 6, Group 2: Post Three

Whittle
Lottes
Abernethy
Sankey

If Mallow’s force field is not powered by a nuclear generator, in the most literal sense of the word, the potential for a walnut-sized nuclear power source is much more realistic, in terms of our modern scientific advancements and developments. For instance, there are pacemakers powered by Plutonium batteries. While these devices are no longer widely installed, for fear of potential radiation, there are still people supported by them decades after receiving them. In any case, a nuclear battery the size of a walnut has already been created, if not perfected.

     There has not been any recent work on Force Fields in the UK, or anywhere else for that matter. Scientific advancements in that area till have not reached the point where serious questions are being asked about how they would be developed. All that is really known is that a lot of time and money would have to be put into the manufacturing of just one, but for purposes undecided. People might ask if the mechanism would be worth it or not. Is it feasible to make a Force Field that takes longer to create a reaction but can penetrate more at the same time? Is it reasonable to create such a weapon could keep people or buildings inside the shield? All these questions would be asked when producing a Force Field. Someday when Force Fields are in production, scientists may even consider not using Force Fields as weapons; but for something more useful for everyday life.

     Based on the knowledge we have gathered, we believe that force fields should be logically possible, but our science has not reached that point yet. Once we come to a conclusion on its real purposes, we will be able to make better advances. As stated in our previous blog entry the concept of the force field would be extremely useful. It would protect us from overseas, and creating a barrier from weapons such as bullets. There is a real potential for it to be more than just a tool of war. The great bounds we make technologically are bringing us closer to a force field's physical conception as more than ink on a page. 

On the other hand, nut-sized nuclear generators are not as feasible. Based on our research, we have come to the result that the concept of a nuclear generator the size of a walnut is not currently possible. Like also stated in our previous blog posts, the idea if the having a miniature generator would post many problems and have very limited power. The smallest nuclear generator that was created was the size of a trash can which was only allowed to be used for a military submarine. To create a generator small enough that would be able to function, as suggested in the Foundations, would be extremely difficult. It is possible to create a nuclear battery the size of a walnut, though. Ergo, it would be possible to make a device similarly powered to the one in the text, but it is not currently possible to make one exactly like it.

     As a team, we worked well. We divided up each entry into manageable parts for each of us to write, then combined the four perspectives into one for the post itself. There was, however, a problem with organization. In retrospect, there should have been clearer time deadlines within the group to keep us on track. Overall, doing solitary research and working together in a google document proved to be an effective method.

Works Cited 

"Are Force Fields Possible?" Sci­Fi Real. N.p., 28 Feb. 2013. Web. 5 Oct. 2013.

Gray, Richard. "Star Trek­style Force­field Armour Being Developed by Military Scientists." The Telegraph. The Telegraph Media Group Limited, 20 Mar. 2010. Web. 6 Oct. 2013.

"Is It Possible to Create a Science Fiction­type Force Field?" The Straight Dope:. N.p., 17 Jan. 2002. Web. 4 Oct. 2013.

"What's the smallest nuclear reactor we can build?: askscience." Reddit: the front page of the internet. Reddit, Jun 2013. Web. 5 Oct 2013.