Is It Possible to Destroy a Planet with the Death Star Laser?

Discover the science behind destroying a planet like the iconic Death Star. Learn about the challenges of generating enough energy, avoiding fatal recoil, and more. Explore potential solutions, from tethering the Death Star to a star, using antimatter bombs, to the most realistic option: crashing a large object into a planet at high speeds. Get ready for a mind-blowing journey into the physics of planet destruction.

[Berengier]

Saying a Death Star isn't possible is exactly what someone who was building a Death Star would say

[pauledge]

The heat issue was solved. A single thermal exhaust port a few meters wide at the end of the equatorial trench

[tknispel]

Fun fact: The Death Star is fueled by the same magic crystals as Lightsabers. Which is how it's able to do what's literally, as you so eloquently put it Simon, the impossible ;)

[kentuckysmoose]

The editor had a blast making this one

[bradlevantis]

Simon is absolutely thrilled he can rip on Star Wars for 15 minutes 😂

[mortophobegaming]

With all the tech we can imagine to be realistic, the most advanced we come up with is still 'throw a rock' :')

[davidhasbrouck]

This is why I like The Expanse so much. It tries to portray space warfare with an awareness of physics.

[rikschaaf]

10:20 You can also counteract the momentum by also shooting an equally powerful laser in the exactly opposite direction. That would only double the required amount of energy.

[THExPOPEXIX]

I love the idea of the death star breaking into a swarm and becoming a dyson sphere in whatever system it wants to attack. even just harvesting the sun for a week would mess up any civilization in the system with all the light and warmth being stolen, then unleashed in a final strike or maybe not storing at all but just one long laser burn by focusing the star on one planet.

[shinkicker]

I actually really liked how the Death Star worked in Rogue One. Bit more realistic, visually impressive and arguably more terrifying.

[jokerjoker]

Man, you’re one prolific creator. Thank you for your service 🫡

[alexanderhilary]

How have I not come across this channel yet? I watch Whistler stuff all the time! Great video y’all

[Raygo.]

Great stuff Simon! I look forward to your explanations of why the Wizard of Oz couldn't be real and how it would be impossible for a genie to actually fit inside Aladdin's lamp. Love the new thumbnail style where your smug mug beams and gurns however serious the topic. You don't win the internet, so much as mock it all the way to the bank. What a style!

[jimjam]

Probably my favorite Whistle channel at the moment.
No offense to all his other channels, they're great. But this one's writing, editing, presentation and overall theme is 11/10

[ChattahoocheeRiverRat]

I'd love to see the same analysis of The Doomsday Machine in the Star Trek original series episode of the same name. It blew planets to rubble using a beam of "pure anti-protons, absolutely pure".

Spock noted that it appeared to be powered by a "total conversion drive", which in ST lingo meant total conversion of matter into energy. It did digest the rubble of a destroyed planet for fuel.

Also, the hull was solid neutronium, which would be interesting in and of itself, but I digress.

What say ye, Simon?

[fsj]

This episode was especially silly but I still enjoyed it and it made me laugh. Thanks for sharing.

[ughettapbacon]

"The Planet is fine. The people are fucked." - G. Carlin

[ignitionfrn]

1:40 - Chapter 1 - Global anhiliation & you
5:50 - Chapter 2 - 99 Problems
10:40 - Chapter 3 - Alternate solutions
12:15 - Chapter 4 - Analog solutions to high tech problems

[werdsmyth]

The planetary (life) destruction sequence from Ender's Game is more how I imagined the Death Star would actually work. Which is also more like how the Death Star does work in Rogue One.

[jamespace]

There were two death stars….maybe a third with Starkiller base, but that’s is. What’re did your research team find a four? I love your videos, keep it up.