this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2025
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Mildly Interesting

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[–] kautau@lemmy.world 126 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

I’ve always thought a stupidly expensive but cool and helpful device would be a tabletop mosquito/fly/wasp killer that shot lasers at said insects. I’m very happy to see there is an underwater version that seems to be really effective

[–] Knossos@lemmy.world 101 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

They exist in trials. The human danger is too great though I think. If the laser thinks your eye is a fly for a split second, game over for vision.

[–] IAmNorRealTakeYourMeds@lemmy.world 47 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

screw that, we'll just wear sunglasses indoors and look supercool and mosquito free

[–] PunnyName@lemmy.world 19 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Don't mess around with the guy in shades, oh no.

[–] IndiBrony@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

🎶 I wear my sunglasses at night 🎶

[–] Bloomcole@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades

[–] GratefullyGodless@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Damnit! Now I've got the song stuck in my head.

[–] Jerb322@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

You've got it made with the guy in shades, oh no.

[–] ToffeeIsForClosers@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Spotted a Canadian!

[–] zqps@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

A laser that can kill a fly in the fraction of a second has to deliver enough energy to fry your retina even though a dozen sunglasses. Also consider that the laser is focused down by the lens in your eye which greatly amplifies its power.

[–] aramova@infosec.pub 12 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

That's not how specific wavelength safety goggles work. You can get both near UV blue light 440nm 5 watt goggles, and infrared depending on the laser.

Problem is they tend to shift the color of light for everything so much that they aren't pleasant to wear for a long time.

My worry would be getting hit on the skin, a 5 watt 440nm laser hurts, and it's a deep burning pain that doesn't go away.

[–] zqps@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Why even pretend my reply was about safety goggles? Obviously a huge difference vs regular sunglasses.

[–] IAmNorRealTakeYourMeds@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I thought it was obvious I meant laser safety glasses.

[–] zqps@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

With the line about looking cool wearing them indoors??

they ain't mutually incompatible

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

A angle laser is nowhere near as fun as an array of lasers anyway

[–] MouldyCat@feddit.uk 1 points 1 week ago

yeah well I'll just wear two dozen sunglasses. that'll make me twenty four times as cool as you, Mir Science Man.

[–] sartalon@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago

So many ways to engineer out that hazard.

Last I understood was it's been patented 10 different ways from Sunday, and prototypes are just sitting on shelves, collection dust.

[–] phx@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 weeks ago

So now the fish are lice free, but blind? D'oh!

[–] Zaphod@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 2 weeks ago

I think it wouldn't be a device to have on passively. Just something to turn on when you need it, like a vacuum. So you can just put safety glasses first.

[–] StopSpazzing@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)
[–] Wispy2891@lemmy.world 18 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

LOL, $600 for something that is unproven and has a high chance of being just a scam?

[–] StopSpazzing@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Shhhhhh. I'm sure it will be a legit as StarCitizen!

[–] finalarbiter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 weeks ago

Hey at least SC has a playable demo that's occasionally fun to play (I got a free code with a piece of computer hardware a while back and haven't spent a penny on the game otherwise)

[–] kautau@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Neat! Though I’ll probably wait until people say it works well and doesn’t accidentally burn out your retina