We often talk with experts about how energy works on Earth. But what if they could use their knowledge to discuss how energy works in a galaxy far far away? Star Wars fans, this one’s for you.
How much energy would it take to run a Death Star? What type of energy source could power a lightsaber? Experts from the Department of Energy’s National Laboratories answered these questions and more about energy in the Star Wars films during a live Google+ Hangout on June 12, 2015.
Experts included:
- Cathy Plesko, an applied physicist from Los Alamos National Laboratory. Cathy uses supercomputers to model what happens when an asteroid hits a planet.
- Peter Thelin, a master optician from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Peter's expertise is cutting and shaping materials by hand so they can be used by Lawrence Livermore researchers to explore the universe.
- Chris Ebbers, a physicist from Lawrence Livermore. Chris uses lasers to study crystals.
- Vishal Patel, a researcher from Idaho National Laboratory’s Center for Space Nuclear Research. Vishal studies how new forms of nuclear power could fuel tomorrow’s spacecraft.
Go to energy.gov/starwars for more.