Electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) occur when a rapidly accelerating electric current generates a magnetic field and causes a burst of electromagnetic energy. Commonly caused by lightning strikes, EMPs can cause power outages and can even damage electronics by short-circuiting them. While we have ways of protecting ourselves against EMPs caused by lightning, can we use EMPs for our own purposes? 1. To Stop Cars   In the future, the police could use an electromagnetic pulse device to stop fleeing cars. While car chases won’t be nearly as exciting, EMPs could stop a vehicle safely, from a distance and without harming the driver or passengers. Because cars increasingly rely on electronics to operate such as microprocessors and electronic components for the engine, stopping them with an EMP is possible. In 2010, a Canadian company developed an electromagnetic pulse cannon potentially capable of stopping cars and boats. 2. To Cut Through Steel   The steel sheets used to form the body of a vehicle are difficult to cut and often wear down the mechanical tools used to pierce them. Some manufacturers use lasers to cut steel but laser-cutting is expensive and requires a lot of energy. A significantly more efficient steel-cutting process uses powerful electromagnetic pulses to cut through steel. The EMP device uses a modified coil to convert stored energy to magnetic energy. The coil was modified to ensure the electromagnetic field was powerful enough to pierce the metal. While a laser could cut the steel in 1.4 seconds, the EMP device only needs 200 milliseconds. 3. As Weapons   An electromagnetic pulse weapon was first conceived after researchers detonated a nuclear bomb 240 miles above Earth to study the effects of a nuclear explosion in space. This test was called Operation Starfish and the detonation caused a massive EMP that affected the electric grid in Hawaii. Since then, non-nuclear electromagnetic pulse weapons have been developed. EMPs are used in a variety of ways. As electromagnetic pulse technology advances so do the possibilities for current applications. How do you think we will benefit from EMP technology in the future?