October 1, 2006
1 min read
Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmFar-Out Physics
Big budgets keep "fringe" projects alive
By Daniel G. Dupont
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Antimatter weapons. Psychic teleportation. "Voice of God" microwaves that beam speech into the heads of unsuspecting enemies. Hand grenades that pack a nuclear punch.
To most scientists, these ideas are too far-out to warrant near-term focus. Despite their objections, these and other kinds of "fringe" science projects have taken root over the years in U.S. government agencies, delivering false hopes of coming superweapons to policymakers unschooled in the laws of physics.
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