Fogbow

Sprinting over the sands, this grey seal reminds us of Luke Skywalker's zippy landspeeder vehicle from the first 'Star Wars' flick. But unlike Luke, it's not bound for Tosche Station to pick up power converters—just to the sea for a fishy snack.

It looks like we're on Luke's homeworld of Tatooine for Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with you!). But this is really a beach on England's east coast, far, far away from the Tunisian desert where the 1977 film was shot. As for our seal friend, it was mid-flop just an inch off the ground at the moment this photo was taken. The photo's focus and perspective fool your eye, making the seal seem to hover like Luke's souped-up speeder. Quite the Jedi mind trick!

How Disney’s ‘real’ lightsaber patent actually works
Think tape measures — or slap bracelets, in reverse

A real lightsaber. How is that possible?

It’s probably not, of course. But when Disney Parks chairman Josh D’Amaro ended his April 8th presentation by whipping out a never-before-seen retractable lightsaber — no video evidence, mind — Disney and Star Wars fans went wild online. Speculation ran rampant, much of it pointing to a 2018 patent for a “Sword device with retractable, internally illuminated blade.” I pored through that patent late that evening, and I’ve been trying to figure out a way to show Verge readers how it works ever since. Heck, I even ordered a pair of LED slap bracelets that have yet to arrive.

But it looks like I won’t need them, because VR developer Ben Ridout has already done better, brilliantly illuminating Disney’s patented concept with a set of simple animations:

According to the patent, the lightsaber’s “blade” consists of two spools of translucent material that lie flat when fully wound, like a tape measure inside its reel. When each ribbon is shot out the end, it curves into a semicircle that forms one half of the blade. They’re permanently mounted to a rounded lightsaber “tip” that also pulls along a string of flexible LEDs that’s mounted on a third motorized spool inside the lightsaber’s frame. The two halves of the blade get zipped together by a “blade form” as they exit the lightsaber, creating a single lightsaber beam.
Videos in article.

Foggy wrote: ↑Wed May 05, 2021 8:00 am Yabbut today is Cinco de Drinko.

noblepa wrote: ↑Wed May 05, 2021 10:35 am
From that day forward, May 5 has been known as "Sinko de mayo".

I'll get my hat.

neonzx wrote: ↑Wed May 05, 2021 10:44 am

noblepa wrote: ↑Wed May 05, 2021 10:35 am
From that day forward, May 5 has been known as "Sinko de mayo".

I'll get my hat.

Here's a bag for you, too also.