Since its premiere in 1977, Star Wars has captivated generations with its mix of adventure, philosophy, and futuristic technology. But how much of what we see on screen could be real? Dr. Alex Baker, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Warwick, is bringing science fiction into the lab, showing that some iconic elements of the saga may have a scientific basis.
One of the most recognizable symbols of Star Wars is the lightsaber, the elegant and lethal weapon of Jedi and Sith. Although in the films they’re called laser swords, Dr. Baker explains that, in reality, they would have to be made of plasma, the fourth state of matter.
To create a lightsaber, you would need to ionize the air in the hilt to generate plasma, Baker explains. Then, a magnetic field would keep the plasma in a straight blade shape. The problem is that, on Earth, a linear magnetic field is nearly impossible to achieve; instead, you’d get a ‘jet’ of plasma that would recombine at the end and turn back into gas.
Although it’s still not possible to build a functional lightsaber, Baker has managed to recreate a miniature version inside a glass sphere. Using ionized xenon and a magnetic field induced by an electric coil, he has produced a plasma ring with an eerie resemblance to the Jedi weapon.
On Earth, a real lightsaber wouldn’t use xenon, but nitrogen from the air, which would give the blades a blue hue. The vibrant colors of the sabers in the saga could be replicated using flame tests, a basic chemistry technique: lithium (or “sithium,” Baker jokes) produces a deep red, while boron yields a green similar to the Jedi’s.
Gallium: The Real-Life Carbonite
In The Empire Strikes Back, Han Solo is frozen in carbonite, a fictional material that solidifies around his body. In our world, gallium could be the closest equivalent.
This metal is liquid at room temperature, and while mercury is toxic, gallium has proven useful for storing small organisms like nematode worms. Baker has created a Gallium Solo, a miniature figure encapsulated in solid gallium that can be released with slight heating (at just 30°C).
Gallium acts as a metallic storage medium, he explains. It’s not as dramatic as in the movies, but it shows the idea isn’t entirely impossible.
Diamond Armor: The Bounty Hunters’ Secret?
Stormtrooper armor is made of plastoid, a bullet-resistant plastic material, while Mandalorians like Boba Fett use beskar, a metal capable of withstanding lightsabers. Does anything like that exist on Earth?
High-density polyethylene (used in cutting boards) could be the basis for a functional plastoid. But to withstand the extreme heat of a lightsaber, Baker suggests something more exotic: synthetic diamonds.
Diamond dissipates heat incredibly efficiently, he states. When one carbon atom vibrates, it transfers that energy to the next almost instantly. This property makes it ideal not just for jewelry, but also for technological applications, such as heat dissipation in electronics.
Star Fuel: Clean Energy in the Galaxy?
In Star Wars, Tibanna gas is the main fuel, a hydrocarbon similar to methane. But Baker notes that even in a galaxy far, far away, rockets would need liquid oxygen to burn fuel and generate thrust.
Storing oxygen as a gas would require enormous, heavy tanks, he explains. Liquid oxygen is much more efficient instead.
But there are greener alternatives. Sodium, for example, reacts violently with water to produce hydrogen, which when burned leaves only water as waste. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) could be key to storing hydrogen and using it as fuel for ships or land vehicles.
Dr. Baker will present his findings in “The Chemistry of Star Wars” at the Royal Institution this May 4th, International Star Wars Day. His work not only entertains, but also inspires us to wonder: what other secrets of science fiction might be closer than we think?
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