this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2025
22 points (100.0% liked)

Wikipedia

2626 readers
393 users here now

A place to share interesting articles from Wikipedia.

Rules:

Recommended:

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

The Active Denial System (ADS) is a directed-energy weapon developed by the U.S. military, designed for area denial, perimeter security and crowd control. Informally, the weapon is also called the heat ray since it works by heating the surface of targets, such as the skin of targeted human beings.

Sound like something out of a conspiracy nutjob's imagination, but it's actually real, and it's terrifying.

all 6 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] courageousstep@lemm.ee 10 points 2 weeks ago

Great. Let’s microwave human dissenters, especially the physically disabled.

And let’s test this previously-unknown weapon on helpless mice and monkeys; that’s how we KNOW we’re morally correct in building the weapon!

[–] kamenlady@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

In September 2020 it was revealed that federal officials had explored the use of the device and the Long Range Acoustic Device to disperse civilians protesting outside the White House in June of that year, but had been advised that the National Guard was not currently in possession of either device.

Edit: That must have been during the George Floyd protests in Washington, D.C.

[–] Successful_Try543@feddit.org 3 points 2 weeks ago

That said, it's still unknown what was used in Belgrade, Serbia a few days ago.

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 2 points 2 weeks ago

Sure, this kills the human (protestors), however the burrito in their pocket is perfectly heated.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Supposedly, it's just supposed to have enough juice to irritate you enough that you don't want to stay in the affected area. But I mean, it's also a microwave beam that is capable of cooking you. 🤷🏻‍♂️

There's others that use sound waves to make you feel queasy and nauseous by simply having super, super deep bass (low frequency vibrations). Though I don't think it's as effective as microwaving people.