Directed Energy Weapons: Who Turned Off the Lights?

In the 55th episode of Rabbit Hole of Research, Joe, Nick, Georgia, and new co-host Mary are joined by guest Bruce Landay, former US Air Force officer and author of the upcoming near-future military techno-thriller Electromagnetic Assault (out April 7th), for a deep dive into directed energy weapons, the science, the fiction, and everything in between.And this isn’t just science fiction Handwavium anymore. Days after recording the episode it was reported that, a military anti-drone laser system deployed by Customs and Border Protection in El Paso, Texas forced the FAA to temporarily shut down airspace over the city, a real-world reminder that directed energy weapons have quietly moved from fiction to reality.The crew explores the real science behind directed energy weapons across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from sound and microwave to shipboard lasers and how susceptible the infrastructure we all depend on are to these weapons.They dig into the real weapons that exist today, the ones that are almost real, and the ones that are pure handwavium. How close is the Active Denial System to a Star Trek phaser on stun? What would an EMP actually do to modern society, and is it as catastrophic as One Second After suggests? And what happens when the clean electromagnetic war fantasy meets ethics and the very messy reality of physics?Plus they go down the rabbit hole of plasma bugs, the brown note myth, Havana Syndrome theories, wetware vulnerabilities, the ethics of laser blinding conventions, and why the Death Star’s power requirements are thermodynamically absurd (and you know they couldn’t resist talking about the Handwavium of green lasers and cinematic noises in space).Where to find Bruce Landay:Author WebsiteSubstack column – Future Trends and Science Fiction:Electromagnetic Assault goes on sale April 7th. Pre-Order Electromagnetic Assault on AmazonElectromagnetic Assault DescriptionCheck out what the RHR crew is creatingJoe:Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories Anthology featuring a new story by Joe!Joe’s Sci-fi physiological thriller Novel: Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?Essay by Joe: From Beyond Press: Specific Knowledge: Jotham Austin, II, PhD on Transformations in FictionIt’s Science for WeirdosWant to support the show? Tell your friends. Follow us on social media, Discord, share the podcast, and let us know what topics you are excited about. Leave a Comment. And for email alerts sign-up for the Substack newsletter and never miss an episode, exciting updates or the bonus images we talk about on the episodes.We want to Hear From You (leave a comment):1) A military laser just shut down airspace over a US city. Does that surprise you, or did you see this coming?2) If you could design a real-world version of a Star Trek phaser, what extra Handwavium thing would it actually do?3) What’s your favorite fictional energy weapon and how badly does it violate the laws of physics? Let us know your ideas and we'll try to make it work on the mini-recap episode!Drop your thoughts in the comments. We read them all, and your ideas often shape future episodes. Events to Hang with the Crew:Podcast Cross-AppearancesJoe on GoIndieNow: 21grams with Joe ComptonEvents & Conventions:Author Palooza sponsored by New Book Joy Booktique: Imperial Oak Brewing in Brookfield, IL on March 21st, 2026Creative Arts Summit: DIY Podcast Workshop at Lake County Public Library on May 23rd, 2026ConCarolinas - Charlotte, NC (May 29 – May 31, 2026 ) - Joe attending as GuestDragon Con - Atlanta, GA (September 3-7, 2026) - Joe attending as ProfessionalFor more stuff (Images, Episode Highlights, Notes and Fun Facts, events, etc), subscribe to our Substack newsletter!Join Rabbit Hole of Research on Discord: https://discord.gg/2nnmKgguFVDon’t forget to give us 5 stars or a like! Get full access to The Rabbit Hole of Research at jothamaustin.substack.com/subscribe