Chapter 1: The Allure of Lightsabers

An elegant weapon for a more civilized era—yet one that could incinerate everything in its vicinity the moment it activates!

Image Credit: Cade Roberts, Unsplash.com

The chamber doors slid open with a hiss. The only noise came from the soft rustling of the Jedi's well-worn cloak as he stepped into the dimness, illuminated solely by the starlit observation window on the opposite wall. The window's circular frame, crafted from cold steel and supported by sturdy struts, resembled a colossal all-seeing eye. He understood that he was not alone.

“Why do you conceal yourself? Hiding in the shadows is not befitting a Sith,” the Jedi remarked, scanning the darkened corners of the room for any trace of his adversary.

A chilling laughter reverberated from the darkness, and two yellow eyes flickered with malice. A shadowy figure emerged slowly into the faint light, cloaked in a robe as black as midnight, merging seamlessly with the ominous shadow cast by its foreboding presence.

“Your long journey concludes with your swift demise, Jedi.” The Sith's voice was calm yet laced with venom. With a flick of her wrist, a metallic cylinder appeared in her hand.

“I wish you had taken a different path,” the Jedi replied, lifting his unlit lightsaber. “So be it!” He activated the ancient weapon.

“You Fool! — -” the Sith screeched.

The entire chamber erupted into flames, scorched by the searing heat of a sun.

Image Credit: Theo Eilertsen, Unsplash.com

This scenario encapsulates what would likely occur if Star Wars lightsabers produced the heat depicted in the films, as explained by Kyle Hill on the YouTube channel Because Science.

In a recent episode, Hill illustrates that the activation of a lightsaber would be instantly fatal to anyone nearby. The immense heat generated would ignite everything in its vicinity.

Even if one could somehow avoid the catastrophic consequences of merely turning on the lightsaber, it still wouldn't function as portrayed in the movies. In the films, lightsabers slice and stab like traditional swords, but the reality would be much graver.

Instead of simply severing a limb and sealing the wound, the result would be an explosive reaction. This is due to the rapid phase change of water in the body—from solid (like an arm) to vapor (a mist of blood). The tightly packed molecules in the solid form would turn into vapor upon contact with the lightsaber, expanding by a factor of around 1500 in mere microseconds. This swift increase in volume would obliterate the individual struck by the lightsaber, leaving behind a pink mist in the air.

It's a disturbing image to conjure.

Chapter 2: The Reality of Lightsaber Heat

In the video "I gave MrBeast a REAL LIGHTSABER and caused a DISASTER!", the creator explores the chaotic consequences of wielding a true lightsaber, showcasing just how dangerous it could be in a real-world context.

The video "Lightsabers: More Plausible Than You Think?" dives deeper into the science behind lightsabers, challenging common perceptions and revealing the true implications of their heat and functionality.