How Lightsaber Color Tells Us What They're Really Made of! (Because Science w/ Kyle Hill)

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Star Wars has one of the most legendary weapons in the lightsaber, but it’s not made of light or as George Lucas said “a laser sword.” But could their color tell us what it really is? Kyle uses Jedi science on this week's Because Science!
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Because Science every Thursday.
Artist: Andrew Bowser
Learn more:
• IONIZED AIR GLOW: nerdi.st/2gcbCvY
• TOKAMAK PLASMA COLOR: nerdi.st/2gbQpqQ
• ELECTRIC DISCHARGE IN GASES: nerdi.st/2gbWfZ7
• PLASMA COLORS: nerdi.st/2gW3u6T
• IONIZATION ENERGY OF NOBLE GASES: bit.ly/2glvm3I
• ELECTRON AVALANCHE: bit.ly/2gDycyw
• GAS DISCHARGE LAMP: bit.ly/2gc06ki
• LIGHTSABER CRYSTALS: bit.ly/2hhOGAs

[@ltshep713]

_when you're so much of a nerd that you thought lightsaber blades being plasma was common knowledge_

[@AcrimoniousMirth]

ltshep precisely.

[@hunterc8943]

ltshep right

[@OjaioFansub]

ltshep exactly

[@ethanquirk28]

ltshep tbf I'm pretty sure it is

[@dndbasement2370]

they are not plasma sword... you guys only trying to put real actual science into something that we have yet to achieve anything on because we're too dumb and not knowing to go beyond it. light sabers are really light sabers. they are lasers because they are light. but its claled hard light. imagine a bridge made out of light so hard you can actually walk on that light. this is what we are trying to achieve and has been for quite some times. this is also what brought us to laser pointers to begin with. now the concept of hard light is exactly what light sabers uses because everything they do can be explained by hard light. the only thing that would be explained, would be their cylindrical form which makes no sense when it comes to uctting stuff up. but then again in many videos and movies we see the saber becomes paper thin. mostly due to bad rotoscopping. but that would make sense if they wee thin to begin with.

[@kaimagnus5760]

He's seriously not gonna stop till he figures out how to make a functioning model is he? lol

[@radioactivet-rex286]

Well, thats all we want isn't it?

[@ravenwda007]

@Kevin Vestlund Not a plasma sword.

[@Testsubject276]

*Plasmatana* is the best word I've ever heard.

[@TheTruthIsGonnaHurt]

Welcome to 1999. 1. Plasma was established as the primary medium of Lightsaber blades roughly around the time of the Phantom Menace. 2. "Laser Sword" is considered a slang word by the ignorant masses in the SW universe who never saw a Lightsaber before. Similar to calling the Force "Magic". Though Obiwan explains the science behind the Force in a New Hope, people still viewed it as "Magic". 3. In respect to the cutting issue keep in mind the Star Wars universe has pretty much perfected anti gravity repulsion and use it in droids, speeder bikes, and utility tools. This repulsion could act as mass to give the saber the ability push the plasma against objects. So in essence an electromagnetic outer shell to give the blade its shape, plasma to give its color and heat, a repulsor core to provide the mass and resistance to stop another Lightsaber or cut through a thick material.

[@flyte707]

But George is the one who called it a laser sword 😅

[@user-zb8tq5pr4x]

k so tell me how in the world can you block a laser sword by putting another laser sword up to it?

[@user-zb8tq5pr4x]

@Josh That's not an answer, magnetic fields don't affect each other

[@johnthemangood8700]

Dope

[@bubbykins4864]

@Josh How would the magnetic fields affect light and only light?

[@mikehutchison3989]

So pretty much we are looking at portable plasma torches?

[@NITESCIENTIST]

kinda yea

[@mikehutchison3989]

***** it seems like the light created from touching... lets say a blast door... would require some form of eye protection though due to the intensity of the light created.

[@NITESCIENTIST]

very true, it would be like a welding arc.

[@spartanhawk7637]

essentially, yes

[@KhanGarth]

or since only force users have been seen cutting through something like that, it could be surmised that they use a simple sort of force ability to protect their eyesight.

[@waross8214]

plasmatana, this video was made so you could say that wasn't it

[@Nerdist]

Maybe -- KH

[@Chemson1989]

Plasma. Or plasma not. There is no laser.

[@Nerdist]

Nailed it -- KH

[@MegaMGstudios]

Nerdist #surpriselightsabah

[@Ganymede3310]

@@Nerdist laser light can be bounced off by particles in air this is reason for powerful lasers have beams

[@kaiko6450]

* plasma bludgeoning stick *

[@Nerdist]

No, what I said. -- KH

[@lunarshadow5584]

but don't katanas bend like a saber does? Even if it is less bending than the sabers?

[@skitsothemadman5903]

Gary Morrison I find light sabers or more like ningashi swords a straight blade which would be used by ninja (( I think I spelled the sword name wrong))

[@johannesvonkleist6647]

What if the kyber crystals are the solidified gases, and the crystals are dissolved slowly for the gas? Additionally, could an electromagnetic field really deflect the plasma bolts?

[@selenagamya1612]

If it's strong enough to confine the plasma in the blade, I can only assume it can work in the other direction

[@Prague3203]

but if its confined with a magnetic field, wont other magnetic things be attracted to it?

[@luxemburgist1635]

There's no indication that the focusing crystals ever degrade over time, but if you wanted to combine lore with actual science, then you would have to claim that the crystals are somehow a solid form of these gasses. That said, the lore also states that blue and green crystals are found naturally, specifically in the ice caves if Ilum and a few other places, while purple and red ones are artificial. I'm not sure how feasible this is, but I can imagine that under certain atmospheric conditions, Xenon and Mercury crystals might form; the question is why would it be impossible for Neon or Argon to do the same?

[@Th3D3vilishBoy]

Maybe its less of a "they can't form" and more of a "they haven't found it yet" or maybe "cheaper to create"?

[@seanpeery7780]

Could plasma swords defect plasma. Maybe! To hold the classic shape we see, the guns would likely be firing some kind of highly magnetized piece of material. extremely small but with enough charge to bind all the plasma around it. The magnetic fields of the bolt and the saber could either be similarly charged, causing them to repel and since there is so little mass in the plasma bolt it would have no push against the saber and the saber wouldn't even need to hit it head on, a glance would send it off course and just having the saber on could actually cause the bolt to miss from the radiating electrical fields.

[@emeraldis3553]

Why is Mace Windu's lightsaber purple? All of the other colours argon! I'll be leaving now

[@IronPhoenix98]

because he is a Jedi who uses power from both the dark and light sides of the force :)

[@sneakycreeper1482]

IronPhoenix98 the actual reason is that Samuel L Jackson wanted to see himself in the fight in AotC

[@TheImSolid]

Lol no. I mean, sure that could be the in universe explanation, but Sam Jackson just wanted a purple lightsaber..that's about it.

[@uzzielrbo5867]

Emeraldis the Codeine

[@ahappyjackolantern]

Ha!

[@ZekariusZetorian]

This is legitimately my favorite show on KZbin. I love your enthusiasm plus you teach me so much about actual science. I was always a bit of a science nerd in high school, but always thought the study of physics was beyond me. Thanks for showing all this cool stuff and how it relates to real science!

[@SimbaJoey12]

I recall a TV show call "Sci-fi Science" covering this topic a few years back, but I have to say that I enjoy this video and the details you give in this video much more than in that 30-minute episode of TV. Well done, sir!

[@Nerdist]

Thank you! -- KH

[@pangolothian]

The Hills Have Kyle's!!!!!! I wish you were able to do like 2-3 videos a week!!!! But I know you have your science vs fiction debate videos and such to take care of as well as bunches of other cool stuff. You are easily my number 1 favorite KZbinr, please keep up the hilariously informative awesomeness!! :) Binge watching your content is a great way to end the day, for sure!

[@Nerdist]

Thank you so much! I am planning on doing more videos (a mini-ep is on my IG right now), but that's a next year kinda thing. -- KH

[@pangolothian]

Of course, man, we all thank YOU for being you! :D That'll definitely be the right way to kick off the new year! We shall stay tuned, my good sir! I'm excited!!! Thanks for replying, Kyle! You rock! Now I gotta ask.. haha.. If you get enough inquiries, would you do a video on the science behind the carbonite that Han Solo is frozen into and how it works??

[@Nerdist]

I was actually thinking about this week! So maybe eventually. -- KH

[@pangolothian]

Nice!!! Happy Holidays, Kyle!!

[@Nerdist]

Hey everyone, the first mini-episode of Because Science is now on my Insta! (instagram.com/sci_Phile/) Testing this out, if you like it, let me know! They could become another series. Thanks for watching. -- KH

[@solobiker18]

*colour not color

[@junyutan2172]

woop sci fi science

[@RyomaE28]

Sebastian Soszynski There are two ways of spelling that word, colour happens to be British English while color is American English

[@jonathanjohansen4239]

a video about Lightsabers V. White Walkers please!!!! its all i want out of life. yes posted twice its very important

[@CmdrSloanne]

How about Thundarr's solar sword from the 80's cartoon; Thundarr the Barbarian & Voltron's Energy sword what are they reality made of? plus I would like to know about Buck Rogers in the 25th Century's Stargate, is it similar to Babylon 5's Jumpgate & Stargate S.G.-1's Stargate? traveling from one star sys. or galaxy to the other.

[@macacofrito]

I love this guy. Because science?

[@Nerdist]

I think so -- kH

[@Kindrick]

I forget where it said this, but I heard that the type of crystal used isn't essential in plasmatanas, any crystal could be used for it to function. Sure, some would work better than others, but so long as it's using any crystal at all, it will at least function. You could use quartz, sugar, or even the salt from the tears of your enemies.

[@jordanl2317]

I suggest that the gas is removed from the lightsaber, making it invisible. #realsurpriselightsaber

[@no3ironman11100]

Wouldn't that leave a lone magnetic field ? nothing as dangerous. I believe that the gas is here to absorb part of the energy, altough I do not know argon's and all the noble gase's energy capacity or anything.

[@jollygoodfellow3957]

A magnetic field powerful enough could rip the metallic elements out of your body like Magneto in X-Men 2. Interesting form of assassination: no fingerprints, no DNA on the weapon.

[@TiagoTiagoT]

What color would an air lightsaber be?

[@no3ironman11100]

***** Using earth air ? It could be making small sparkles then stop.

[@TiagoTiagoT]

+Sosuke Aizen Now that I'm giving it a little more thought, the answer is obvious: the color of lightning (which, btw, are pretty big)

[@soulowilliams4397]

you know what I like plasma tana better

[@vision4860]

I would beg to differ though, as whereas a katana has only one cutting edge and a tsuba handguard, lightsabers can cut any way and have no handguard. So a closer comparison to be made with a real type of sword would be the Gladius, a type of Roman sword that was double-edged, and had no handguard. So in reference to its attributes, I'd prefer the name "Plasmadius". Of course, Kylo Ren's lightsaber has a crossguard, so that name would be inaccurate. Unfortunately, I have no snappy name that combines the word plasma with what this light saber most closely resembles, which is a broadsword.

[@lavernec464]

i'm calling all lightsabers plasma-tanas from now on.

[@vision4860]

Oh wait, I got it! A type of Japanese double-edged sword similar to European ones is called the Tsurugi. So I'd call Kylo's a "Plasmurugi".

[@ricardoalves9605]

soulo Williams how acurate the name is?

[@109Siege]

This is stupid. He doesn't want to call it a "saber" because sabers are curved. But katanas are also curved.

[@LDee94]

Didnt Know I Was A Nerd Until I Found Myself Watching All Of You Guys Videos

[@Nerdist]

That's how it happens. -- KH

[@SubjektDelta]

That does not make you a Nerd.. just curious.

[@frailty1288]

Why does every word start with a cap

[@mattfleming2287]

I love this channel! I keep recommending it to all my friends. Keep up the amazing work.

[@jedsithor]

Actually, I would argue the possibility that the Star Wars galaxy exists in a different universe, hence lightsabers, hyperdrives, the Force (which is a real, tangible thing that can be tested) and sound in space. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away could refer to another, older universe where the laws of physics are slightly different to our own. This is also my answer for every comic book mystery ever. :P

[@MrUsoutlaw]

the force was not a tangible thing to be tested the jedi though midiclorians where the source of the force in a person but during Yoda's trip to learn how to become a force ghost. he was told by beings who had already become one with the force that the jedi understanding was wrong just watch this episode www.watchcartoononline.io/star-wars-the-clone-wars-season-6-episode-12-destiny

[@MrUsoutlaw]

also about lightsabers with the proper electromagnetic field lightsabers could exist in real life. as well as hyper drives which have already been theoretically proven possible. and in real life they would be able to go faster than light speed because you bend space instead of just trying to go faster. think of it like surfing on the water with no waves(space warps) you can only go so fast(light speed) but say a wave(space warp) comes along and your able to catch it your now able to move much faster that you could with paddling alone

[@jedsithor]

MrUsoutlaw The Force is a tangible thing. Midichlorians were never thought to be the source of the Force, they were always understood to be a conduit. You aren't strong in the Force because you have more midichlorians, you have more midichlorians because you're strong in the Force. In any case, the Force is a tangible thing. What I mean is that its effects can be seen, it's power can be used. The Force itself can't be measured but the effect it has can, as opposed to a religious deity, which has no measurable impact on the natural world. In other words, a person might belief in a supernatural being, a god, but there is no evidence for that god, no effect that god has on nature that can be shown. The Force on the other hand can be shown to exist by the actions of Jedi, Sith etc who use that power. Furthermore, the Force itself is created and sustained by life, which is a very important detail because it means that it's a natural phenomenon. The Force can be destroyed but to do so would mean destroying all life. It was actually something I'd hoped the sequel trilogy might explore, maybe a Force cult that views the Jedi and Sith as heretics and seeks to rob the galaxy of the Force and those who would abuse it by destroying all life in the galaxy, thus killing the Force within the galaxy.

[@TheWinerdar]

I dont see the Force as a tangible object. I see it as the energy flowing around us. Similar to East Asian philosophies of energy. Force users are rare and are simply able to manipulate the flowing energy slightly. I see it as we all give off certain emotional energy as well. The sith use anger and hate for example to muster up strength and dark force powers. I think back to a New Hope how Obi-Wan senses a disturbance in the force when alderaan is destroyed. He sensed millions of voices crying out at once. The explosion of the planet did not cause the disturbance, but the simultaneous suffering and death on such a large scale caused the disturbance.

[@kn5627]

I love these videos. Why....? Because science

[@paddywan]

because science! ;)

[@PlayThemes]

and beca...SURPRISE LIGHTSABER!!!! ...... or plasma-tana??

[@MichaelGaryScott90]

The Hacksmith should make a Plasma Sword

[@shianeruu4359]

I agree

[@keenanmeyer5511]

A Plasma Poniard, or Radiant Rapier? A Light Lance, or perhaps you prefer Shiny Shank?

[@HuslWusl]

Once Obi Wan asked Mace Window why he has the only purple Lightsaber. He told him that all good ones Argon.

[@Nerdist]

Nailed it. -- KH

[@grandthanatos]

Plasma-tana will never catch on.

[@Nerdist]

Oh well -- KH

[@Inherent_Deterrent]

Rami Ungar if there was a jedi with a big club (or mace) you could call it a plasmaul

[@biohazard724]

Rami Ungar I propose Plasma Rapier since that's the sword it most resembles. I've always been bothered that there aren't more thrust reliant lightsaber forms

[@cuongle7990]

Rami Ungar "Surprise light saber" ......um..... No?

[@Inherent_Deterrent]

plastick

[@cjs3780]

really love these videos, keep doing what yall do.

[@usarrr]

Could a combination of elements work for different colors? Is Mace Windu's lightsaber emitting Argon, or a Neon and Xenon mixture? Also, can a blaster that shoots concentrated plasma (like an Airzooka or a very durable water pistol), be unblockable by lightsabers?

[@SheosMan117]

Also, you explained red, blue, green, and purple, but you also need to explain yellow, white, black, orange, gold, brown, silver.

[@selenagamya1612]

Those would likely be combinations of the ones Kyle mentioned, just like in neon lights

[@kilie1824]

SheosMan117 Yellow and orange are created by mixing different gasses or using elements Kyle didn't mention. A white plasma could in theory (not experimentally proven yet) be a plasma heated and compressed to the point of overcoming the Pauli limit and thereby creating something similar to a neutron star, or otherwise, but nor as cool, be multiple gasses mixed to reach a broad emission over the full visible spectrum which humans would see as white. Black plasma is to our current understanding of physics not possible, as any kind of plasma irradiates some kind of light, and due to it's gaseous nature isn't able to absorb light, it would at best be transparent but not black. On a similar note brown plasma would, if even possible, only be achievable by creating a plasma at high pressure but low temperature to keep it's light emission low, but would likely also only be a translucent blade, not a solid brown. Gold and Silver would not be possible if you wanted them to have a mirror like effect, as they are, due to their nature as a gas and emitter of light unable to absorb or reflect any light. If you only want the plasma to have the color of gold or silver, gold could be achieved by mixing different bases to get a color that closely resembles gold. For silver it would be a little more difficult, as grey is a shade of white and shades are difficult to achieve with a lamp without a filter. Hope this helped, KiliE

[@wjhull]

Couldn't you just get white the same way they do with fluorescent lighting, with mercury and white phosphors?

[@kilie1824]

William Hull But that way you would need a filter around the plasma, which would negate cutting powers of the plasma

[@iexorcisedmypancreas6198]

Going with the lore as it is explained for centuries it is the color you Kyber Crystal has after interacting with it via force.

[@MCLegoboy]

I have one question for you then. Pre Vizsla's Darksaber. What is *it* made of?

[@MrUsoutlaw]

he can't because he doesn't know. in the world of star wars where crystals give sabers there color the Darksaber is most likely a sith artifact and one of the first "modern" lighsabers. see in legends we learn that the sith where the first ones to develop the lightsabers that we know today. the Darksaber was probably made from a combination of sith magic and technology. the dark magic used to make it would have corrupted any crystal used if any as well as given it it's unique sound and shape. it is also why it was stored in the jedi temple. a jedi who used it would probably be corrupted by is dark power but people who where not force sensitive would be able to use it with little to no ill effects.

[@syndicateleet2624]

Sublimated carbon?

[@carlosmedina1281]

We don't know. All we know is that it was made by the first Mandolorian Jedi, Tar Vizla and that clan vizla later stole it back.

[@andy8907]

MrUsoutlaw No it was a weapon made by the Jedi. An ancient Mandolorian stole it from the temple

[@KennieFitz]

6:56 What was that hand motion again? . . . . . . . I'm an adult. I'm a librarian. I should act my age, but that's simply no fun sometimes.

[@novikovPrinciple]

3:58 Writing in reverse on a transparent board, with different markers, using only one hand. Color me impressed (pun not originally intended).

[@Danjoker.]

I find your lack of plasma disturbing

[@ALegitimateYoutuber]

Kyle, can you use science to figure out why kids love the taste of cinnamon toast crunch?

[@Nerdist]

Sugar. -- KH

[@ALegitimateYoutuber]

god damn it, i don't know why but that made me laugh. The answer was to strait forward, i didn't expect it.

[@_JusDavid_]

I love this explanation so much

[@MrBlackdragon1230]

Thank you for tackling the light saber issue, i agree with what you have deduced about them so far and look forward to what else you can "science" about them. Somehow i do believe it just might be possible to make one someday with enough technical advancement.

[@varun9115]

Going into the video I'm hoping that this one better freakin' have a SURPRISE LIGHTSABER.

[@varun9115]

Holy Sith we got a Plasmatana and I'm still psyched.

[@glichjthebicycle384]

I got an idea for the next episode: Could the planet, where 1 hour equals 7 years on earth, of interstellar be SOMEHOW real?

[@Orion_Fritz]

If it was huge and was approaching the speed of light, sure

[@glichjthebicycle384]

+Orion Fritz i calculated it, and since matter cant move at the speed of light, i took 99% of 300000km/s the planet still had to move 5000 times faster than 99% the speed of light, to make 1 hour equal to 7 years

[@TiagoTiagoT]

It would be possible if the planet was close enough to the blackhole; the thing is whether a planet would stay intact that close to a blackhole.

[@prismaticbeetle3194]

it is

[@terminalpsychosis8022]

One of the quintessential, most awesome episodes ever. Lightsabers are absolutely plasma trapped in a tuned magnetic field. The magnetic field is strong in itself. Gyroscopic even. The heat of the trapped plasma is a nice by-product, but that tuned magnetic field... Not quite a sushi knife, but it'll deflect a plasma blaster or burn though almost anything in the wavelength range.

[@arron9782]

To be fair, the crystals have been mentioned in Light Saber construction well before Disney got hold of it. Just look at some of the older novels. Though plasma does make more sense. And TSR agreed with you. In the StarDrive setting for their old Alternity RPG, one of the higher tech weapons was an energy sword (basically a light saber, only different enough to avoid copyright issues), which is described as being plasma based, contained within magnetic fields.

[@Nemoticon]

I can explain it easy. Space Magic. Done.

[@Nerdist]

Longer explanation above. -- KH

[@mademansandro]

#surpriseplasmatana

[@NTTofMistery]

i was wondering if anyone else thought this too :D

[@seanfisk2252]

Dude! I'm so using your vids in my chem class. Keep 'em coming!

[@Scarx2gt]

Although I've heard this plasma explanation for lightsabres multiple times, I like how different each individual explains it to be.

[@killer13324]

no blade curve so the "tana" part would have to be replaced with sword.

[@webb09291]

There's no curve in a saber, either, so that's wrong too.

[@killer13324]

Blaze Solaris yes there is. In most sabers anyway.

[@TheTca211]

i think he meant there is no curve with a ight saber because sabers have curves. not that sabers arnt curved.

[@Nerdist]

Hey, if saber doesn't work I'm still as correct as "lightsaber." -- KH

[@TheTca211]

***** ah! but if the desire for change was too make it more accurate.. well then you just managed to give it a cooler name instead =P

[@Dylan-lb8kd]

I think Kyle just wants an excuse to play with his SURPRISE LIGHTSABER

[@inozapanta9502]

true

[@campitaliausa]

This video FINALLY discovered every secret of how the light saber works. After 30 years fans finally know how their favorite weapon works. Very impressed, and thank you

[@jonathanharbin5810]

Making this video even better for me than it already was, Kyle's explanation fits perfectly with the canonical description of how the blade of the lightsaber works! Except for the fact that the canon tries to say that they bent the LIGHT to return back to the handle in an infinite loop. So, yeah. Science!

[@scribejackhammar]

the kyber crystals could act as an amplifier for the magnetic field and as a source for the cutting material.

[@Nerdist]

Actually, that's not a bad point. The crystals would need to be magnetic or semi-magnetic though. -- KH

[@jasonlindekens2436]

Scribe Hammar jeah some times the sabers would have multiple cristals in it witch the magnetic Fielder would be stronger and soms but Theun a kind of stones would be a kind of fuel because the kristallen had the dame colour as the sabers

[@scribejackhammar]

Nerdist I personally don't know much about kyber crystals, but I do know that if they shatter, an immense amount of energy is released, so the amplification aspect is there, not so sure about the cutting part, as Legends doesn't cover how lightsabers function all that much.

[@DavidNguyen-hy9bg]

Neon stick would be a better and accurate name

[@blackflagsnroses6013]

This is one of my more favorite video from you.

[@giboranak]

awesome vid. keep up the good work.

[@tenzindhondup8880]

I came here to learn something new, but for some reason I didn't this time. I already came to the same conclusion. What a shame. I guess we think a like.

[@AcrimoniousMirth]

tenzin dhondup congrats, you're catching up with established lore.

[@obex6105]

Except the notion of the colours being from emission spectra isn't canon, the blade being plasma certainly is though, so tenzin dhondup and myself coming to that conclusion isn't catching up, it's sharing the same train of thought as Kyle.

[@aliozanerbektas]

I would like to set your music after the "because science" part as a ringtone. Where can I download it? Thanks a lot! :)

[@otteroftoast2616]

I always figured it was some kind of plasma. Your whole thing about it not being a laser, I've always figured :3 Neat video! I love all these neat science lessons.

[@basicmobile6270]

I have the same green laser that I use to show constellations to the public when I volunteer at the local observatory. BTW I subscribed after I saw your first video on Thor's Hammer. I really love how you talk about physics behind everything. You really make me Nerd Out! :D

[@Cadaverous0711]

What about Black, Yellow and White?

[@theamazingspiderman5817]

Yellow = heliumWhite = Carbon dioxideBlack = ?

[@jankoutny3808]

The Amazing Spiderman black = dark matter

[@1nkw3ll]

Jan Koutný But dark matter of what?

[@Redfrog1011]

+Jan Koutný Dark matter doesn't even respond to electromagnetic

[@PhoenixBlazer39]

More importantly, something can't "glow" black. Black is defined as the absence of light. The only way I can think that there could be a "black" plasmatana is by making the "blade" have a similar property to black holes, wherein all incoming light is absorbed with no reflection. The end result would be a weird, perfectly dark shape without shine that looks more solid than anything else. However, a. using gravity on par with a black hole opens up a far bigger can of worms ( namely the erasure of everything within a solar system's radius) and b. *anything* that's thousands of Kelvin _will_ produce a glow from the heat. And +Jan Koutny, dark matter is not exactly dark, per se; it's more accurate to call it undetectable and, consequently, invisible.

[@calvinpeterson372]

what would a "plasmatana" of krypton look like?

[@samtaylor4654]

Calvin Peterson white-ish

[@gioelevisani9396]

This episode was illuminating

[@JohnSmith-qq7fm]

My 8 year old and I love your show and we've watched quite a few of them. I do have one question about this explanation of light sabers, though. How are they able to clash together? When they fight, one light saber can block another one. Do the magnetic fields stop each other? How can they be used to deflect blaster bolts? Keep up with the awesome shows, and thank you for the ones you've already made!

[@chonkyloreraccoon3686]

hard light next :D

[@HandofFate-im7ur]

That would probably be closer to a LightBaseballBat.

[@chonkyloreraccoon3686]

Lucile 2.0?

[@zeonthefox]

actually no if you forced a photon to stay still its momentum turns to vibration allowing to bars of photonic matter to slide of of each other but if done on a larger scale the vibration could create heat on contact it be less hot than a light saber but could still function as a sword of heat also hard light could be possible as science has stomped light www.tor.com/2013/09/26/real-lightsaber-photonic-molecules/ www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-27/scientists-stop-light-like-star-wars-in-cloud-of-atoms/7867344 www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2380028/Scientists-stop-light-completely-record-breaking-MINUTE-trapping-inside-crystal.html www.extremetech.com/extreme/162289-light-stopped-completely-for-a-minute-inside-a-crystal-the-basis-of-quantum-memory

[@_Harvestman_]

Michael Hinds would he really need to do a theory? Hard light exists

[@chonkyloreraccoon3686]

I was talking about DC's dr. Light and how her tech works. Guess I should had been a little more specific :b

[@finian2]

What would happen is a lead bullet hit a light sabre? Would it reflect or just turn into lead steam and melt the jedi's face off?

[@1nkw3ll]

mineofminecraft The math has been done (not sure if you've seen it, but for other nerds to see this on the future) and the most common answer would be that the bullets melts in the beam and the molten lead mush would fly out the other side, landing/splashing on the face of whatever poor soul thought it was a good idea to block supersonic metal chunks with a plasmatana.

[@mxviii]

I dont know what science that is, but real science says that lead can be manipulated by powerful magnetic fields. A magnetic field powerful enough to contain a lightsaber blade would easily deflect a lead bullet before it even made it to the actual plasma part.

[@1nkw3ll]

mxviii Since I'm not the one who said it all, and we're already on a video if the person who did, here's the science: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmnIm5x7etqhb9U

[@h2oj]

LOL at "Plasmatana" :D

[@avramnovorra]

i love how lightsaber science is broken down here, nice video man! and plasma-tana sounds sweet! ;)

[@WILD4X4D]

we already all knew that lightsabers were made of plasma

[@Nerdist]

I would argue that information is restricted to nerds. -- KH

[@bigmiki2620]

Do you have to move faster than the speed of light to create an Afterimage like in Dragon Ball Z or One-Punch Man?

[@utoresa5193]

Victor Kuhn From what I heard off,no you don't.But you have to be pretty damn fast,the speed of light is the equivalent of mach 880,000.Also in dbz the speed of light is nothing since Whis traveled at 271,600,000,000,000x the speed of light,I don't know much about One Punch Man.

[@NereidAlbel]

That's more of a chi technique than raw speed. So, it falls under the category of "magic by another name."

[@bigmiki2620]

NereidAlbel What about in One-Punch Man?

[@TiagoTiagoT]

If I wave my hand in the right lighting conditions I see a blur...

[@NereidAlbel]

Victor Kuhn Saitama is basically bald Silver Age Superman. Instead of a character sheet, he's just "whatever the writers want him to be!"

[@danikohler6064]

MIND BLOWN

[@AifDaimon]

I love how you said PLASMA-TANA!! 😂😂😂

[@MrSomekindofjoke]

It essentially says this shit on the star wars wiki: "The weapon consisted of a blade of pure plasma emitted from the hilt and suspended in a force containment field. The field contained the immense heat of the plasma, protecting the wielder, and allowed the blade to keep its shape." starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Lightsaber/Legends

[@kingdul1436]

What would have really happened if Piccolo destroyed the moon like he did in DBZ

[@kenjiharimaCU]

This is why the Beam Katana from Travis Touchdown in No More Heroes game is the most accurate representation of sword using electrical light that can slash almost anything

[@TheHellsreject]

Oh fun, a thing I already knew. I love your content.

[@jean-lucchessher7065]

Plasmatana would not be right it would be a plasma staff

[@vision4860]

Jean-luc Chessher Not really, because a staff is variable in the place which you can hold it. Lightsabers are in fact used in a manner much much more similar to swords than any other weapon. The main difference being that it can cut in any direction rather than being restricted to one or two cutting edges. As it isn't used to cut in only one direction though, and has no handguard, I'd compare it more closely to the Roman Gladius, which had no handguard, and two sharp edges. I'm liking the name "Plasmadius". Kylo Ren's however, does have a form of crossguard, so it'd be more akin to a broadsword, but I can't think of a snappy name for that.

[@vision4860]

Wait hold up, I got it. A type of Japanese double-edged sword similar to European ones is called the Tsurugi. So I'd call Kylo's a "Plasmurugi".

[@MikePhantom]

stick to light saber. its just a cool name and easy to remember

[@jean-lucchessher7065]

true

[@DailyDotaTV]

since a saber is also curved like the katana both words are kinda wrong. so if lightsaber is ok so plasmatana should also work fine

[@silentminority2342]

I THINK YOU UNDER ESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE FORCE

[@cappadocius9379]

Love your videos and not sure if you have answered this or not. Is there any type of prism/crystal that would act similar to a supposed light saber crystal? I know you coincided them plasma swords but just curious.

[@XxnostalgiaxXdrive]

For that episode 7. I think you'd finally have to go into more detail about the Kyber crystals. What if they were solidified noble gases. That would account for them being in crystal form because of freezing. They would emit gas when a strong electric current goes through them because that would start a sublimation process. Maybe the element that the crystals could be made up of are undiscovered elements that are in the same column as the noble gases but much further down with an amazing amount of electrons orbiting their protons. That way they would share the same properties that make noble gases glow and since they're SUPER dense, that would theoretically provide enough mass to transfer heat and cut stuff.

[@A_T-]

Can magneto pick up mjulnier or could someone with the force?

[@hunterc8943]

Alex Tolson I don't think magneto can since it's pretty magic based and he can't lift something that heavy. As for the force I'm not sure since unless you look at the non cannon comics we haven't really seen it's limits

[@TiagoTiagoT]

I think he made a video where the conclusion was he could because Mjolnir would not recognize magnetism as actions of a person, and so wouldn't fight against it. Or maybe it was someone else that made the video.

[@invicta1313]

I feel like this should be trolling...but somehow isn't.

[@jhowe67]

According to Marvel, He can't pick it up, but he can stop or deflect it.

[@joshuaperry4112]

Could Audie Murphy pick up Mjolnir?

[@marvelstarwars__]

What about Yellow, White, Black, and Orange?

[@ttg001]

i think yellow would be sodium, orange calcium, white (blueish) a halogen like the lightbulbs and black i think it's impossible.

[@marvelstarwars__]

Dimas Terol Interesting

[@DennisXiloj]

What if the colors we see aren't the actual visible colors, but the ones the camera captures? Like infrared light. Maybe they are actually invisible or almost invisible? That could explain why only jedi/sith can master lightsabers, and no one else uses them, specially when you can have an actual laser weapon.

[@ttg001]

Dennis Xiloj everything radiates in the IR spectrum in its standard form (at 1 bar pressure and 25 °C) and you need a minimum of ~700°C to glow. And plasma is milions of Kelvins so, they glow in visible

[@TiagoTiagoT]

+Dennis Xiloj I remember reading a while ago that lightsabers were hard to master due to an abnormally strong gyroscopic force generated by the mechanism, which required both the additional strength provided by the force, and some force-assisted intuition to figure out how to push it to have it swing in the right direction. Which was why the swings were so flowy and full of flourishes in the original movies. I'm not sure if that is still considered canon, though.

[@_Harvestman_]

What if it's the field containing the plasma that does the cutting? Maybe early Jedi knew how to cut with heat generated by the force but needed a way to see where the blade was so they used crystals made of xenon, argon, etc. to help color the tubes of energy so they could concentrate on fighting instead of knowing where the blade was?

[@callmesleeper]

The cutting problem was one of my thoughts. But even this makes me wonder. Is it heat or is it energy from the Light Saber that's heating up the object it touches to melt/cut?

[@ThrottleKitty]

So according to this, wouldn't Light Sabers not work at all in space because there's no air?

[@ThrottleKitty]

***** But you would need the gas elements in huge amounts, that's not really realistic. You'd need to carry around a gas compressor on your back with a hose hooked up to the bottom of the lightsaber....

[@ThrottleKitty]

***** That is to some degree possible with the elements used for the plasma, like argon and neon, but the other gases you would need in much, much, much larger amounts, and even super compressed as much as physically possibly within the realms of real science, you'd need a tank the size of a back pack to have it work for even a few minutes in space... I'm pretty sure his theory is just based on using the air around you, and it would work just fine for that, but then in space the lightsaber would just be a big magnet stick.

[@Nemoticon]

#facepalm

[@krispiasek6731]

It would work, magnetic Field have nothing to do with air. Next thing i see is lack of basic knowledge, you wouldn't need huge amount of gas. You can compress it as in lighter, free it when turning on and compress again when turning off.

[@Nemoticon]

Kris Piasek I'd imagine a lighter's consumption of fuel would be infinitely less than that of a lightsaber! lol. Also, we never see them having to top up... what if you go to parry a strike and the thing just runs out of juice? This is why somethings shouldn't be over analysed. Space Magic is a good enough explanation for me!!!

[@Uwujarvis]

if you had a lightsaber what color would it be? and if you are nerdy enough what kind of lightsaber l?

[@Uwujarvis]

I'm a double bladed green lightsaber.

[@redhandsbluefaces]

I'd go for a green or gold lightpike.

[@Wustenfuchs109]

I second it - less chance of cutting your hands or head off, plus more reach and can be used to parry ordinary weapons - a thing lightsaber could not do. Maybe make the pole telescopic in case there is a need to switch from long range to close range combat. But that is just a bonus. And color? Silver - me like neutral XD

[@redhandsbluefaces]

Aleksandar Matić this guy gets it.

[@RessG]

Black and blue double-bladed lightsaber and can switch the color to White and gold. Also, it has more features than my iphone.

[@zacimusprime4865]

That’s so epic good video and this indeed means the energy sword and light saber can hit each other

[@jamcalx]

but the dark saber's blade is shaped like a saber. but then again it is called the *Dark* saber not lightsaber, so...

[@zeonthefox]

its probably made of dark matter not plasma as light bends around it

[@MrUsoutlaw]

in the world of star wars the Darksaber is most likely a sith artifact and one of the first "modern" lighsabers. see in legends we learn that the sith where the first ones to develop the lightsabers that we know today. the Darksaber was probably made from a combination of sith magic and technology. the dark magic used to make it would have corrupted any crystal used if any as well as given it it's unique sound and shape.

[@zeonthefox]

MrUsoutlaw it actually makes more sense as a counter to a lightsaber (lightsabers originally being sith weaponry) if the blade is made of dark matter/pure gravity it would heat light and plasma meaning plasma and hard light weaponry are ineffective against it but would stop making the saber becuse it an unstable blackhole generator in a jedi's pocket if it destabilizes it would probably eat all matter around it and grow or explode x20-x80 stronger than a modern nuke

[@MrUsoutlaw]

zeonthefox yea i didn't fallow that at all. if your saying a dark saber doesn't work like a normal lighsaber your wrong. we several times see it clash with other sabers with not ill effect other that that really cool sound. and it is plasma based because when Maul kills Satine it burns her. if it was mad of "pure gravity" it would not have those properties and in fact be deadly to even its wielder. no the Darksaber is a sith artifact and the look sound and shape are all because of the sith magic used to make up for the im guessing lack of proper power source. keep in mind before modern light sabers they had to be connected to a power pack with a cord and the sith wanting to get around that probably pored a huge amount of sith magic into a crystal to serve as the energy source of the Darksaber. its called the Darksaber because it is the dark side of the force that powers it.

[@MrUsoutlaw]

zeonthefox also who do you think created the dark saber? it wasn't the jedi. "it actually makes more sense as a counter to a lightsaber (lightsabers originally being sith weaponry)" the sith wanted to be more agile because by this time the jedi had adopted the use of lighsabers with power packs like this vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/a/a9/Pushing_Slash_JATM.JPG/revision/latest?cb=20091028231601

[@copperbrass7962]

So does that mean we can create lightsabers in real life at one point?

[@Behemoth9030]

담영진 The science is possible but we should into consideration the materials (plus limitations of supply etc), cost etc. If we were to ignore that information and just follow the science covered in the video, then it is highly plausible that we really could create lightsabers (I prefer plasmatanas) today.

[@DanteYewToob]

Hey Kyle, love this series and this is my first request.. here goes. Could you do a video on Combustion Man from Avatar:TLA? His powers are really cool and they say its compressed super heated air but would/could that create explosions like we see in the show? I think this could make for a very interesting episode with some super cool science. Anyway, thanks for making these amazing videos, my Niece loves them and are a big reason she loves science! This was actually in part her idea!

[@AssidiousBlue]

Cutting, heating metal and having apparent mass need not be explained by matter alone. Remember you presume a (increadibly) strong magnetic "envelope " which as it is swept through an object would not only cause induction heating, but Lorentz forces would rip things to shreds. Maybe the magnetic field isn't holding the plasma, the plasma is holding the magnetic field. Kachaw! MagTana!

[@vladtheimpaler9577]

Kyle how did you grow your hair back so fast??

[@Nerdist]

It was in a ponytail. -- KH

[@lanesmith8438]

I'm glad you aren't naming anything in Star Wars.

[@dmereel]

plasma-tana!! love it!

[@771davidg]

nice ultra saber flamberge at the end, i want it.

[@ZintomV1]

I was un-subbed by KZbins algorithm :(

[@teonyi]

There is no KZbin Algorithym.

[@khastexe1692]

so the kyber crystal could feel you & your values when meditating with it (as it does) then give off a certain chemical or combination of chemicals to color the lightsaber to that specific force users personality & values when the lightsaber is built *AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA* I think I just solved another mystery as to how a kyber crystal works

[@eduardoandrademendonca8842]

I wish you'd take a look on Film Theorist video about how Kamehameha Wave is a plasma-based power, also your argument about the amount of plasma made me think of a question: Does any ki-based blade on Dragon Ball have enough mass to cut through stuff?

[@crapmaster5975]

Your videos are funny and logical and amazing.

[@bradleyfortier9682]

Kyle What must I do for you to resond to this comment!!! (Your videos are spectacular)

[@Nerdist]

I try to respond to all respondable comments in the first 24 hours, so nothing really. Hey! -- KH

[@bradleyfortier9682]

Okay, awesome, I know you replied to my comment already but who was your inspiration when learning about all things science?

[@Nerdist]

The common peeps for my age-range: MythBusters, Bill Nye, Carl Sagan, etc. -- KH

[@bradleyfortier9682]

Thats awesome, anyway keep making great content Kyle, they're so intriguing!

[@xxxdroidmonkeyxxx]

It would help if you used his actual name when saying that. His name is Kyle, in case you didn't know. I like your idea though. I'd totally buy that book.

[@keilerbie7469]

The blade is made out of plasma is the lore too, but with some force field bullshit that keeps the plasma in place and blah, blah, blah...

[@elk3407]

Its a magnetic field that keeps it in, according to the lore.

[@T.BG822]

According to the lore, it's both and/or either of those, and there's a couple held together entirely by the force, and a couple that work on different properties altogether. There is no singular canon once you get to the extended universe; part of why the EU got nixed.

[@_draxin_0514]

Its not a magnetic force its THE Force while the equivalent in reality on Earth would of course be Magnetism in the lore its the Force.

[@T.BG822]

In the lore, you're right- for some blades. Some are magnetic fields, some are force fields, some use different properties altogether. There is no *_The Answer_* because there are a multitude of canons, with a myriad concepts of spirituality and science often written by people with only a basic understanding of either.

[@ladyyoruichichan9006]

I love the sound of plasmatana.

[@thomassumrall7625]

Mr Kyle, live your show and it's mostly sound logic, but sometimes your logic is simply, well INCONCEIVABLE. The first rule is never to get involved in a land war in Asia, but slightly lesser known, is to never challenge a time lord when science is on the line. A lightsaber is an always on miniature plasma beam held in place by a force field. Some jedi could even change the size of their blade by adjusting the field size. The field is more designed to keep the energy in and when it encounters a solid object the field gives way and the blade cuts.