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Written by Tim James
First, we need to consider what we’re looking for: a beam that will cut through absolutely anything except another one of its kind (making sword fights possible). Ideally it should be contained in a handle that you could put around your waist with colours available in blue, green and red (or if you’re the ultimate badass: purple). Well it just so happens that such a beam exists.
Stretch your mind back to Chemistry GCSE and being taught that everything is made of two basic components: protons and electrons. These two particles have opposite charges (like North and South poles on a magnet) -- protons will attract electrons but repel other protons (North end will attract the South end of another magnet but repel a North end). It’s the balance between them repelling and attracting each other that holds atoms together and stops them falling apart.
Using magnetic fields and a hell of a lot of electricity, it is possible to make a column of gas called a ‘plasma’ which is made of just protons. If you take this column near anything made of atoms (everything in the universe apart from Andie MacDowell), it will pull the electrons toward it, kind of like an electron vacuum cleaner. As all the electrons get pulled away from the object they were in, the atoms get ripped to pieces. This means it will cut through anything, apart from another column as two columns of protons will repel each other.
The best thing is, plasma columns do exist and are completely buildable with the technology we have at the moment. The disadvantage, sadly, is that it takes a machine the size of a Volkswagen to generate a two-inch beam. But remembering that the first calculator was the size of a block of flats…it’s at least plausible that over time the machines will shrink.
Oh and for the colour? Well if you’ve ever put your hands on one of those glass balls with miniature lightning beams inside that stick to your fingers, you’ve seen a weak plasma gas in action…and yes you can create different colours!
Verdict: Yes, lightsabers are theoretically plausible but it’s going to be a long time before we see them in such a compact and easily controlled form.
Or make it yourself in the microwave with grapes 
fantastic outlet for the geeky but interesting. I approve
@2, I'm glad you think so! Look out for more Science Blogs in the weeks to come, and of course if you want to contribute-- blogs@theyorker.co.uk
Marie, Blog Editor
I really hate to be a nerd here, but you state in the article that "everything is made of two basic components: protons and electrons" are you forgetting neutrons? Most stable elements contain a large number of them so you really shouldnt leave them out? You also left out neutrenos, anti neutrenos, positrons , photons etc etc
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