this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2024
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[–] shadowedcross@sh.itjust.works 30 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I don't think this idea will see the light of day.

[–] TranquilTurbulence@lemmy.zip 10 points 1 month ago

They can stick that mirror where the sun don’t shine.

[–] Mango@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago

Guess I'll die another day.

[–] don@lemm.ee 23 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Imagine a malicious person constantly aiming the light at at the house of someone they don’t like. Good thing it doesn’t seem to be feasible any time soon.

[–] tal@lemmy.today 10 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

"I want a spot, but I want all of my sunlight focused onto a spot about a centimeter across. I'll give you the coordinates."

[–] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Because the sun is not a point source but a disk half a degree across, you can’t focus the sun tighter than about a 1km spot from a mirror in low earth orbit.

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Okay but can we make that 1 km hot enough to burn everything inside of it?

For science of course.

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Welp I hate to break it to you, but the Ruskies actually already tried this one back in the 90s, and I’m fairly certain the business idea is based directly on that concept.

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

In a tent would be even worse.

[–] Plopp@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Seems like a lot of planning to get the person you don't like to live in a tent first.

[–] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

There are ways.

None so far as I’m aware that are actually legal, mind. But why let that get in the way of one’s dastardly plans?

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Possibly some type of incendiary device?

[–] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

I was kind of thinking chemical. Unleash a pack of grumpy skunks and get them to spray everything.

Freakish, sure, but plausibly deniable.

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago

I was thinking more they were on a trip somewhere.

[–] DaCrazyJamez@sh.itjust.works 19 points 1 month ago (4 children)

So if they over concentrate does this turn into an 'ant in a magnifying glass' situation?

[–] LesserAbe@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago

Was thinking the exact same thing. Also if this took off doesn't seem like it would help the global warming situation. "Let's add more energy to our planetary greenhouse!"

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 9 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Could it be used to break up protests?

[–] DaCrazyJamez@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 month ago

If by "break up" you mean on a molecular level, then yes.

[–] potentiallynotfelix@lemdro.id -1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Theoretically, but I don't see protests or riots stopping because of light.. riots happen in the day, too, and the violent ones are going to be masked up so more light won't do anything to reveal their identity

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 month ago

It will be stopped if the protests are vaporized

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 0 points 1 month ago

Surely not. Mirrors are incapable of destruction. Why that would be dangerous! You could burn crops or boil away water reserves. Surely no corporation would so irresponsible!

[–] A7thStone@lemmy.world 14 points 1 month ago (1 children)

commoditize sunlight

Absolute ghouls

[–] lauha@lemmy.one 4 points 1 month ago

It's not like they are taking it away from you. Just selling you extra you don't need

[–] Ghoelian@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Isn't light pollution like that just illegal?

Edit: In the US, it is in some states, though not all. Haven't found a source for Europe yet.

https://www.ncsl.org/environment-and-natural-resources/states-shut-out-light-pollution

[–] recklessengagement@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago

I don't like it when companies mess with the sky. Don't fuck with my stars.

[–] Tyfud@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

FFS, we don't need more sun hitting our planet right now, we need less. Much less. Have the mirror reflect sunlight away from the planet. Then it'd be useful

[–] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 1 points 1 month ago

if someone stares directly at it will it hurt their eye?