Comments on: To Send a Message to a Submarine, Fire Up the Laser Beams http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/08/to-send-a-message-to-a-submarine-fire-up-the-laser-beams/ 80beats is DISCOVER's news aggregator, weaving together the choicest tidbits from the best articles covering the day\'s most compelling topics. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:15:24 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kelvin98 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/08/to-send-a-message-to-a-submarine-fire-up-the-laser-beams/comment-page-1/#comment-60711 Kelvin98 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:45:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/08/to-send-a-message-to-a-submarine-fire-up-the-laser-beams/#comment-60711 What are they going to do next: deny you a bank loan? , What are they going to do next: deny you a bank loan? ,

]]> By: Joseph http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/08/to-send-a-message-to-a-submarine-fire-up-the-laser-beams/comment-page-1/#comment-47999 Joseph Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:12:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/08/to-send-a-message-to-a-submarine-fire-up-the-laser-beams/#comment-47999 Not only will others be able to hear it, they'll also be able to see it. Both are a dead giveaway to the location of a sub in the area. This then raises the logical question: since the transmission/laser light is giving away the presence of a sub in a general area, what's the big deal about surfacing? BTW< the information given in the article is probably wrong. I don't know about "most subs", but current U.S. subs like the 688(I) Los-Angeles class and the Seawolf, as well as the Russian Akula, can go to approximately periscope depth and stream a long trailing wire to function as a radio antenna. Actually, none of those subs need to surface for radio communication at all: they have radio masts that are raised above the surface of the water. So as a general communications medium, this laser technique is somewhat pointless. The only use might involve real-time location updates of allied forces during a naval operation when the sub is actively engaged in deep sea warfare and unable to come close to periscope depth. Not only will others be able to hear it, they’ll also be able to see it. Both are a dead giveaway to the location of a sub in the area. This then raises the logical question: since the transmission/laser light is giving away the presence of a sub in a general area, what’s the big deal about surfacing? BTW< the information given in the article is probably wrong. I don’t know about “most subs”, but current U.S. subs like the 688(I) Los-Angeles class and the Seawolf, as well as the Russian Akula, can go to approximately periscope depth and stream a long trailing wire to function as a radio antenna. Actually, none of those subs need to surface for radio communication at all: they have radio masts that are raised above the surface of the water. So as a general communications medium, this laser technique is somewhat pointless. The only use might involve real-time location updates of allied forces during a naval operation when the sub is actively engaged in deep sea warfare and unable to come close to periscope depth.

]]> By: Shaking head http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/08/to-send-a-message-to-a-submarine-fire-up-the-laser-beams/comment-page-1/#comment-47930 Shaking head Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:02:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/08/to-send-a-message-to-a-submarine-fire-up-the-laser-beams/#comment-47930 I hate that people only care about it because it would benifit humans... What about other creatures... This is exactly the type of behaviour that puts species on the endangered list and that will ultimatly be the end of us all... Small things have large effects on their environment.. For instance look at the problem with bees at the moment. They are in colony collaspse disorder worldwide right now. This means that there are less bees to pollinate the food that you eat. And the food that cows, chickens, pigs eat which we in turn eat as our food. I hate that people only care about it because it would benifit humans… What about other creatures… This is exactly the type of behaviour that puts species on the endangered list and that will ultimatly be the end of us all… Small things have large effects on their environment.. For instance look at the problem with bees at the moment. They are in colony collaspse disorder worldwide right now. This means that there are less bees to pollinate the food that you eat. And the food that cows, chickens, pigs eat which we in turn eat as our food.

]]> By: Andy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/08/to-send-a-message-to-a-submarine-fire-up-the-laser-beams/comment-page-1/#comment-47882 Andy Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:21:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/08/to-send-a-message-to-a-submarine-fire-up-the-laser-beams/#comment-47882 Of course it can be intercepted, as can most current forms of communication. That's why there are codes and encryption. If the laser can't be deployed on a satellite then I fail to see the utility. If you have to send a plane out to the general area a submarine is operating in order to communicate with it, then that pretty much eliminates messages that are time sensitive. Still, cool tech. Of course it can be intercepted, as can most current forms of communication. That’s why there are codes and encryption.

If the laser can’t be deployed on a satellite then I fail to see the utility. If you have to send a plane out to the general area a submarine is operating in order to communicate with it, then that pretty much eliminates messages that are time sensitive. Still, cool tech.

]]> By: robot makes music http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/08/to-send-a-message-to-a-submarine-fire-up-the-laser-beams/comment-page-1/#comment-47843 robot makes music Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:53:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/08/to-send-a-message-to-a-submarine-fire-up-the-laser-beams/#comment-47843 To heck with that, can't this communication be intercepted? Anyone in the ocean should be able to hear it, unless it's an underwater sasar. To heck with that, can’t this communication be intercepted? Anyone in the ocean should be able to hear it, unless it’s an underwater sasar.

]]> By: Shaking head http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/08/to-send-a-message-to-a-submarine-fire-up-the-laser-beams/comment-page-1/#comment-47736 Shaking head Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:18:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/08/to-send-a-message-to-a-submarine-fire-up-the-laser-beams/#comment-47736 Will these large pulses of sound and bubbles have a negative effect on sea creatures? I know that a specific type of shrimp called a pistol shrimp uses similar techniques to stun and kill prey... They don't use lasers though lol... Instead they lock their claws back then release them causing a bubble to form which creates an underwater shockwave that kills the prey.. Look up pistol shrimp on YouTube Will these large pulses of sound and bubbles have a negative effect on sea creatures? I know that a specific type of shrimp called a pistol shrimp uses similar techniques to stun and kill prey… They don’t use lasers though lol… Instead they lock their claws back then release them causing a bubble to form which creates an underwater shockwave that kills the prey.. Look up pistol shrimp on YouTube

]]> By: Jacob http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/08/to-send-a-message-to-a-submarine-fire-up-the-laser-beams/comment-page-1/#comment-47724 Jacob Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:49:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/08/to-send-a-message-to-a-submarine-fire-up-the-laser-beams/#comment-47724 This sounds really awesome but I have to wonder if there is not a more cost effective way to communicate with submarines. Still the cool factor is enough that I don't really care how much it costs. This sounds really awesome but I have to wonder if there is not a more cost effective way to communicate with submarines. Still the cool factor is enough that I don’t really care how much it costs.

]]>