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A new London skyscraper dubbed the "Walkie Talkie" has been blamed for reflecting light which melted parts of a car parked on a nearby street.

Date: 2013-09-03 03:38 pm (UTC)
ext_108: Jules from Psych saying "You guys are thinking about cupcakes, aren't you?" (Default)
From: [identity profile] liviapenn.livejournal.com

What that article doesn't mention is that this isn't the first building by this architect to be a death ray... see also the Vrada Hotel in Las Vegas.

Date: 2013-09-03 03:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] xiphias.livejournal.com
Best comment I've seen about that is, "Don't fix the building -- just replace the target parking spaces with solar panels."

I actually wonder if that would work. If people are going to build parabolic reflector death ray buildings anyway, can they be used for good instead of evil?

Date: 2013-09-03 05:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ffutures.livejournal.com
How the hell could they be that stupid?

Date: 2013-09-03 05:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scentofviolets.livejournal.com
I've heard claims that what happened in the story could never happen in real life, but I'm unfamiliar with the explanation. The only thing I can think of is some sort of defocusing effect as the air heats up around the target.

Date: 2013-09-03 07:37 pm (UTC)
ellarien: Image of the Sun at multiple wavelengths, with prominence (astronomy2)
From: [personal profile] ellarien
The latest word is that the company responsible is saying it won't be a problem in a couple more weeks (because of axial tilt, presumably) and they hope to have come up with a permanent fix by the time the Sun comes back.

Date: 2013-09-03 10:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bruce munro (from livejournal.com)
Maybe they can coat the windows with something to make them less reflective while not making them opaque?

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