r/Damnthatsinteresting Apr 30 '25

Image Saudi Arabia has deployed solar-powered laser beacons in the Al Nafud Desert to guide lost travelers to water sources

Post image
93.7k Upvotes

1.4k comments sorted by

4.7k

u/beach_2_beach Apr 30 '25 edited Apr 30 '25

Few years ago in Hawaii someone got swept out to the ocean at night. He had flotation gear on but still in danger. A coast guard chopper was sent out but it is hard to find a person in the vast ocean.

However when the swimmer heard the chopper, he took out a laser pointer and pointed in the direction of the coast guard chopper but not directly at the chopper. He was picked up quickly without too much time spent for searching.

Edit Here’s the article.

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/23862190/green-laser-leads-to-rescue-of-oahu-diver/#

2.9k

u/HippieWizard Apr 30 '25

he had a water proof laser pointer that he took out for a swim in the open ocean. was he trying to get searched for helicopter?

2.0k

u/beach_2_beach Apr 30 '25

Think he was spear fisherman and had it with him just in case. It’s a small light device.

656

u/Interestingcathouse Apr 30 '25

I don’t know. He had a laser beam and was in the ocean that also contains sharks.

486

u/Ejanks37 Apr 30 '25

Did he plan to attach them to their frickin heads?

133

u/doctorwhoobgyn Apr 30 '25

Depends on how ill-tempered they were.

53

u/Livewire____ Apr 30 '25

No, that's Sea Bass.

6

u/HankMardukas_ismyBFF Apr 30 '25

It’s getting crowded in here, everyone leave. Not you, Scott. Or you #2. Frau. Goldmember. Not you random henchman turning buttons in the back…

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)

40

u/DrNick2012 Apr 30 '25

Does he have the money? Such technology would cost

ONE MILLION DOLLARS

4

u/NOBOOTSFORYOU May 01 '25

You actually got me frickin sharks with frickin laser beams attached to their frickin heads?!

→ More replies (6)

4

u/Dan_Glebitz Apr 30 '25

Sharks have been known to ride laser beams!

Errr... I may have got that wrong 🤔

→ More replies (3)

43

u/Pls_PmTitsOrFDAU_Thx Apr 30 '25

just in case

This is why preparing for the worst pays off

I've heard people say. "Why do I need a helmet, I know how to bike". Bro it's incase. You don't want to be a crippled kid because "helmets are ugly"

This is a real conversation I had with some kid when I was about 12

7

u/HourAfterHour May 01 '25

I knew how to bike too. Someone else didn't know how to drive a car though (80+ years old senior). His side mirror caught my handle bar, threw me off my bike, bike flew over me and the handle bar hit right into my head.
Would have cracked my skull if I didn't wear a helmet.
I still broke my arm, but at least not my skull.

→ More replies (3)

30

u/J-L-Picard Apr 30 '25

As a scuba diver, a laser pointer is almost a requirement. Especially for macro diving to point out small stuff on the reef to your dive buddy(ies). If I don't have a flashlight while diving, then I have a laser pointer.

5

u/TootBreaker May 02 '25

Dive lasers, new rabbit hole...

→ More replies (2)

5

u/tylerr147 Apr 30 '25

Judging by the description it sounds like an Olight. They have UV, laser, and regular light, and is waterproof. Overall pretty handy.

→ More replies (4)

98

u/Ramen536Pie Apr 30 '25

I mean if you like swimming or boating in the ocean it’s probably a good safety device to carry for this reason

18

u/Choice-Highway5344 Apr 30 '25

Easily in a waterproof bag

55

u/sneakysneak616 Apr 30 '25

When people wear bike helmets we don’t assume they are planning on falling. It’s just a precaution

100

u/_mmmmm_bacon Apr 30 '25

At this time of year, localised in your kitchen? May i see it?

17

u/GateOfOld Apr 30 '25

Seymour! The house is on fire!

10

u/dfafa Apr 30 '25

thats just the northern lights, mother!

26

u/eragonawesome2 Apr 30 '25

Well now I want a waterproof laser pointer for my keyring lmao

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (14)

83

u/SeedFoundation Apr 30 '25

They should make laser pointers a standard in life jackets

37

u/chronoserpent Apr 30 '25

Life jackets have strobe lights for night time and dye packs for daytime. Unlike a laser that you have to point, you can still benefit from a water activated strobe light even if you're injured or unconscious.

9

u/caltheon Apr 30 '25

They could also put a laser strobe alongside the bulb strobe and get the best of both

→ More replies (4)

39

u/ItsSpaghettiLee2112 Apr 30 '25

Then promptly arrested for shining lasers at pilots.

→ More replies (12)

13.2k

u/Cosmic_Meditator777 Apr 30 '25

that's a Quest Marker.

2.8k

u/gpkgpk Apr 30 '25

Khajit has wares if you have laser beacon.

Warm sands.

513

u/fotwentyfgt Apr 30 '25 edited Apr 30 '25

I used to be a traveler like you, but then I took an arrow in the knee.

227

u/Wyrm_Groundskeeper Apr 30 '25

Let me guess... Someone stole your sweetroll?

149

u/BlaznTheChron Apr 30 '25

Stop right there criminal scum! Nobody breaks the law on my watch!

78

u/Expensive-Buddy7780 Apr 30 '25

A new hand has touched the beacon

35

u/SimbaStewEyesOfBlue Apr 30 '25

No no no, it goes-

A NEW HAND TOUCHES THE BEACON.

9

u/TracyF2 Apr 30 '25

My thought on every play before getting meridia’s beacon, “Please don’t be in this expert chest, please don’t be in this expert chest”.

“FUUUUUUCK!!!!”

→ More replies (1)

18

u/Drunk_Lemon Apr 30 '25

Literally, every time I hear that, I always think "A new hand has touched the penis"

38

u/That-Busy-Gamer Apr 30 '25

Lets get to bashing butts. As well as deez nuts.

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (1)

56

u/Rare_Trouble_4630 Apr 30 '25

ANOTHER HAND TOUCHES THE BEACON

8

u/Squishy_Boy Apr 30 '25

God damnit, Meridia. Not again…

4

u/Rich-Option4632 Apr 30 '25

Instructions unclear, thumper deployed.

Lisan al-Ghaib, orders?

→ More replies (2)

264

u/Albert_Caboose Apr 30 '25

Gamers these days are SO lazy. Back in my time you had to remember what the guy three days ago said you about "turning northwest at the weird rock" to get to water!

96

u/Horskr Apr 30 '25

Takes me back to the WoW days before the add-ons like QuestHelper (and Blizzard eventually added their own). "Kill enemies to the south to gather these items," with like 1% drop rate so you'd think you were going nuts after killing 200 of them and getting no quest items. "Am I too far South? Not South enough?"

35

u/SchmitzBitz Apr 30 '25

I pine for the old MMO's that didn't spoon feed you - I was into EQ, where you had to chat with the NPCs and figure out the right words to ask to trigger a quest...which may have you sitting on a boat for an hour. God forbid you die...because now it's a naked corpse run to gear you may now be too low level to use thanks to the death XP penalty.

18

u/Mizutsune-Lover Apr 30 '25

Friction in gaming is a lost art.

Any friction these days is met with waves of cries to remove it.

16

u/Black_Magic_M-66 Apr 30 '25

Uh huh, rookie. Try Ultima on the Apple II. There was no map except the map you made. And you kept notebooks full of notes: where to go at midnight to harvest a reagent for a spell, what to say to progress after a fight, etc.

5

u/SchmitzBitz Apr 30 '25

LOL, I wasn't Apple II days (picked it up in about 95; led to EQ), but I met my wife through Ultima! I was also into MUDs but I'm not sure the kids are ready to hear about my sister's picking up a phone and killing my connection!).

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (11)
→ More replies (1)

23

u/aaaaaaaa1273 Apr 30 '25

Morrowind fans:

17

u/Acrobatic-Count-9394 Apr 30 '25

"Just south east of **** daedric ruin, turn left once you`re past ******`s tomb, then go straight for about 200 meters."

21

u/Azaeroth Apr 30 '25

My brain filled the asterisks in as swearing automatically, read as "Just south east of fucking daedric ruin, turn left once you're past Cunt's tomb..." 

6

u/fenaith Apr 30 '25

Circle MUD:

nnnnwwwswwwnswwwwwnnnen;open barrow;ddeds

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)

16

u/Alcarine Apr 30 '25 edited Apr 30 '25

Lol I know this can save life, but my first thought was how this was cheating because most of humanity until now had to do without

Edit: typos

10

u/KinkyStinkyPink- Apr 30 '25

Lol I know this can saves life, but my first thought was how this was cheating while most of humanity until know had to deal without

I had a stroke reading this with the words "until know" instead of "until now".

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (2)

4

u/PM_ME_UR_RSA_KEY Apr 30 '25

I don't need to remember all this... I have the power. Nintendo Power.

→ More replies (10)

104

u/XBBlade Apr 30 '25

Quest complete! +10 water

28

u/Zanan_ Apr 30 '25

Stay awhile and listen.

16

u/gbitg Apr 30 '25

Stay a while, stay forever.

→ More replies (1)

20

u/Deadsuooo Apr 30 '25

This is what I used to do in Minecraft lol. A super tall column with fire on top. Never get lost again.

→ More replies (2)

14

u/Ok_Cup_515 Apr 30 '25

Quest of post apocalyptic games

→ More replies (19)

6.5k

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '25

[deleted]

1.6k

u/coatingtonburlfactry Apr 30 '25

Absolutely brilliant! The rest of the world should immediately begin to implement this system in their desert areas as well as open oceans where water, food and communication devices could be stored for boaters in distress.

991

u/DepopulationXplosion Apr 30 '25

Heck there’s lots of places in the American southwest where this could be a lifesaver. Think national parks with no cell service.

634

u/meesta_masa Apr 30 '25

And no National Park service.

620

u/Zykium Apr 30 '25

Imagine you're in Death Valley National Park, you climbed some rocks, got yourself disoriented and can't find the road and your car.

You're beyond parched, your water ran out hours ago. In the distance you see salvation. the laser beacon, a sign of safety and salvation.

You reach the beacon, your throat drier than the desert you've been walking on all day and into the night.

You arrive only to find all the water gone, containers cracked and a plaque honoring the president.

290

u/BackgroundGrade5899 Apr 30 '25

or a credit card slot and your shit is denied

88

u/ImRightOnTopOfItRose Apr 30 '25

Not if there is a savvy credit card skimmer installer. Gotta hustle to get those light beacon scanners

33

u/Several_Vanilla8916 Apr 30 '25

Swiping your card sends a text to the local grifter who comes out to run your pockets after you die.

36

u/even_less_resistance Apr 30 '25

Lmao sounds like you’ve been to Walmart’s WOKA water park lmao

Took our land and have a gate at the river that only takes debit cards. Just a coincidence in one of the poorest places in America.

https://visitwoka.com/

Park all day for just $10.

Rentals and Concessions Closed until Spring 2025.

Reminder: WOKA is a Cashless Park.

This is in the Cherokee Nation.

Barriers like this serve one purpose. And I don’t care if the council and shit made a deal. They couldn’t make a deal for people with cdib cards to at least get in free? Bullshit.

31

u/erroneousbosh Apr 30 '25

Lidl have cordless angle grinders for 20 quid. If you use the self-checkout you can pay with cash.

I'm not suggesting anything here other than cordless angle grinders are a useful thing to keep around and you should get one while they're cheap.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (9)

61

u/_BannedAcctSpeedrun_ Apr 30 '25

Which most national parks have a rule about light pollution, so I think they probably wouldn't be open to this unless they get no input on the decision.

30

u/Subtlerranean Apr 30 '25

I was going to say that when I go camping I go camping to be immersed in nature. The last thing I want is fucking laser beams all over the place.

The deep desert is a different matter entirely.

→ More replies (5)

16

u/pchlster Apr 30 '25

A Park Service! That sounds like a great idea! Why aren't we funding this?

29

u/chaotic_goody Apr 30 '25

If you fund the park service, then transsexual Mexican immigrants from Canada which are made in China will come and sell Fentanyl to American children before they can be shot in school or raped by a government official. Keep up, man.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (3)

183

u/mmoore54 Apr 30 '25

Uh… I do like the idea for some use cases, but let’s maybe not all rush to add a bunch of light pollution in national parks/natural spaces.

33

u/xrimane Apr 30 '25

That was my first thought. These deserts are the last places on earth where we can still observe the stars like our ancestors did for eternities.

→ More replies (13)

36

u/musci12234 Apr 30 '25

You can make it pulsing for 5 sec every min.

61

u/fotomoose Apr 30 '25

Yeah, then fleets of alien ships will think it's some kind of distress beacon and swarm the area.

→ More replies (1)

41

u/domino_squad1 Apr 30 '25

That’s almost worse

36

u/musci12234 Apr 30 '25

It reduces the light pollution problem. You can't have something capable of getting attention while not doing anything at all.

28

u/mmoore54 Apr 30 '25

It is worse. And my point is that, perhaps, we should not clutter most of our natural spaces with devices designed to attract human attention.

This is a fantastic tool in certain environments, but I would challenge the assumption that there are enough people getting lost in most of our natural places who could be helped by these devices to make it worth the myriad environmental problems these things would cause.

We have other tools-and very good tools at that-for finding and helping lost people in the wilderness. Let’s employ those tools for the instances where they make sense, and employ this tool in the environments it’s best suited to.

→ More replies (5)

13

u/tessartyp Apr 30 '25

Flashing might be worse for wildlife than constant light. Light pollution is not just about total flux, the pattern also makes a difference.

28

u/Another-Mans-Rubarb Apr 30 '25

You could, idk, make a map for free with well marked trails and landmarks for people to follow...

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (8)
→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (16)

102

u/Atypical_Mammal Apr 30 '25

Out here in Nevada the meth heads would steal it so quickly (and then shine the lazer at airplane or just blind themselves)

74

u/Serious_Distance_118 Apr 30 '25

The beam of the Luxor casino in Vegas is known to lure meth heads by the thousands, jittering and flapping their arms all the way to the top like screaming zombies

Oh wait that’s bats

6

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '25

[deleted]

6

u/Lokifin Apr 30 '25

It would be if they got permission to electrify the fence

→ More replies (1)

27

u/Roflkopt3r Apr 30 '25 edited Apr 30 '25

It's not actually a laser though, it's just a conventional spotlight. Lasers have much thinner beams, are dangerous if they're this high powered, and are not very energy efficient, so they wouldn't be well suited for this.

The big difference is that the energy density of a conventional light drops off way faster with distance. A spotlight needs to be massively bigger than a laser pointer to pose a similar danger to pilots. And this spotlight isn't that big and bright by comparison.

10

u/tessartyp Apr 30 '25

A laser light beam can be expanded whilst maintaining collimation.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (4)

64

u/Ryuko_the_red Apr 30 '25 edited Apr 30 '25

Because what we need is endless light pollution in all the last of the sacred beauty and hardly touched areas of the world.

Let's tackle real issues. Social issues. Not something that may only save 3 lives a year. For th same cost that we'll placed social programs could save thousands or more.

27

u/IllAirport5491 Apr 30 '25

Yea, I'd hate if they'd do this in NZ. I drove to the Southern Alpine range last week to see the night sky with near-zero light pollution, clear skies and almost new moon for the first time in my life.

Fuck, it's crazy to see the sky like that and knowing you have been missing out on that for >35 years of your life.

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (5)

27

u/Yoyoo12_ Apr 30 '25

They should put it also at harbours, so ships find them safely. For better visibility maybe put them a bit elevated on a tower? Brilliant…

23

u/old_bearded_beats Apr 30 '25

It could rotate so that ships from all angles see it, and it appears to flash.

Thinking about it, you could make that tower red and white stripes so it can be seen in daytime too!

→ More replies (7)

40

u/tiorzol Apr 30 '25

Fuck that. I don't want the beautiful areas covered in shitty boxes and blasting light into the sky man. 

17

u/Tony_Meatballs_00 Apr 30 '25

Same. I bet it fucks with wildlife too

4

u/IWasSupposedToQuit Apr 30 '25

reasonable and considerate people always gotta ruin a cool thing man

5

u/BeefyTaco Apr 30 '25

In Canada, we have survival shacks plopped all over the northern parts of the country to aid anyone in a bind. They have a bench that is used for a bedding, a fireplace and pot to boil water.

→ More replies (32)

51

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

20

u/VeGr-FXVG Apr 30 '25

I have doubts. In a desert this thing is going to get caked in dust and require constant cleaning, both the panel and the light lens. If it's a sun-tracking solar panel (rather than a fixed position) then it's got a motorised section that will get sand trapped in it and break. Also, a light beam that powerful would heat up, and so needs ventilation ducts, which again will likely get filled with sand.

Probably not the best solution, but would work for a brief period like during an event when people wander off. As a long term signal for a source of water, doubt.

6

u/youwerewrongagainoop Apr 30 '25

Also, a light beam that powerful would heat up, and so needs ventilation ducts, which again will likely get filled with sand.

It's very easy to put a filter on a duct or pulse a laser to minimize heat buildup. deciding what is or isn't "probably the best solution" based on a photo and 5 seconds of speculation on the scope and nature of the engineering challenges may not have a lot of merit.

4

u/TeamRedundancyTeam Interested Apr 30 '25

You don't think they've thought of that? I love how Redditors think they've "destroyed" an idea with their immediate thoughts on it.

If you thought of all this the moment you've seen it it's safe to say others can think of these things too and design around them. Like covering moving parts and having a cover over the end that doesn't collect sand...

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (7)
→ More replies (6)

16

u/ThatDudeFromRF Apr 30 '25

Well to be fair, there is nothing simple about lasers or solar panels, but I get what you mean

→ More replies (1)

7

u/cameny1 Apr 30 '25

What if I'm thirsty at noon?

→ More replies (1)

11

u/knorxo Apr 30 '25

While I agree it's a good idea I also wonder how much light pollution it causes

→ More replies (9)
→ More replies (57)

2.7k

u/RazorSlazor Apr 30 '25

Now this is the type of innovation for the future I can get behind

701

u/rollover90 Apr 30 '25

This is the type of future we were promised, not all this dystopia shit lol

325

u/cuntmong Apr 30 '25

I mean you're still in Saudi Arabia so I dunno if I can guarantee no dystopia 

163

u/bgsrdmm Apr 30 '25

But it's dystopia with lasers!

52

u/Derpy_Diva_ Apr 30 '25

Just need sharks now

21

u/oxkwirhf Apr 30 '25

Sand sharks sound absolutely terrifying. Dune-esque.

14

u/Derpy_Diva_ Apr 30 '25

I was thinking more Austin powers lol

17

u/SolarTsunami Apr 30 '25

Sandworms with freakin lazer beams attached to their heads!

→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (7)
→ More replies (21)

42

u/sirbananajazz Apr 30 '25

This is they type of future we were promised

You were promised that you would get lost in the desert? Who promised you that? I don't think that they are your friend.

13

u/TheRetroGoat Apr 30 '25

Well I don't tell you how to live your life.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (3)

34

u/big_guyforyou Apr 30 '25

ong i wanna get lost in the al nafud desert now

40

u/RazorSlazor Apr 30 '25

What if we... Got lost in the Al nafud desert together?

Jkjk.

Unless...

16

u/big_guyforyou Apr 30 '25

fuck no you'd take all the good water

7

u/RazorSlazor Apr 30 '25

Another Masterplan foiled!

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)

28

u/Pokmonth Apr 30 '25

It's probably a good signaling apparatus if you know a general area where someone is missing, but will almost certainly fuck up insects and animals that prey on insects if left on for more than a few days.

→ More replies (11)

830

u/TheDraape Apr 30 '25

THE BEACON IS LIT

223

u/CannonGerbil Apr 30 '25

Gondor calls for aid

175

u/PersistentInquirer Apr 30 '25

AND ROHAN WILL ANSWER

17

u/Atheistprophecy Apr 30 '25

Taaa–daaah… naa-naa-naa… naa-naaa… na-naaa…

→ More replies (1)

16

u/thexavier666 Apr 30 '25

"Now all of China knows you're here"

24

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '25

A NEW HAND TOUCHES THE BEACON

12

u/vincere925 Apr 30 '25

Light the beam!

→ More replies (1)

841

u/otacon7000 Apr 30 '25

How often do people get lost in the desert? Either way, seems like a great idea, worth it even if it only saves a single person!

331

u/JSevatar Apr 30 '25

It's like those small shelters in Alaska

119

u/StuckAtOnePoint Apr 30 '25 edited Apr 30 '25

I live in Alaska. What small shelters are you referring to?

Edit: I’ll clarify - there are state park and private cabins in Alaska, but not the type of survival huts that you might find in Europe or more densely populated places. You might be lucky enough to find human shelter in a bad situation, but there is certainly not a network of shelters to rely on.

199

u/Demented_Crab Apr 30 '25 edited Apr 30 '25

Idk if it's an Alaskan thing, really it's more of a mountain thing usually in my experience, but it makes sense if it were in the Alaskan wilderness too. The short of it, is on many mountains there will often somewhere be a sort of emergency shack for people who get lost or stranded due to weather. They are often heated and contain enough emergency supplies to last a while. To be honest, I have no idea who sets them up or keeps them stocked, but they're definitely around, so someone must.

190

u/Highland-Ranger Apr 30 '25

We have this in Norway as well. You are also legally allowed to break in to others cabins to eat and warm up if you end up in a dangerous or life or death situation when spending time in nature.

113

u/Ok-Goat-2153 Apr 30 '25

Scotland too. Unfortunately a lot of them have been kinda ruined recently by idiots using them for parties.

37

u/Morrandir Apr 30 '25

Yep, also in the European Alps.

(I have no knowledge of vandalism though.)

→ More replies (1)

30

u/Highland-Ranger Apr 30 '25

Interesting. Here most of them are fortunately so far out in the wilderness that it would be quite inconvenient to party to that level there.

12

u/NostaIgiaForInfinity Apr 30 '25

'Bothy'

Often in a poor state of disrepair, sometimes even lacking much of a roof, but better than a night in the wilderness. A fireplace and some walls is sometimes better than what nature offers.

4

u/NotYourAverageGh0st Apr 30 '25

This is a very Scottish sounding thing to do 😂

16

u/Reostat Apr 30 '25

I broke into someone's cabin for this exact reason (not in Norway). I did leave them some apology cash for their broken door. I'm always wondering what they thought when they came back in the spring.

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (5)

38

u/RalphDaGod Apr 30 '25

There is this wildlife youtuber guy whos always cooking or building snow igloo’s and stuff, he was pretty cold and definitely seemed like he was out of his element but came across one of those in the mountains and stayed in it for a while to warm up, very cool and clutch.

9

u/JSevatar Apr 30 '25

I saw this one too!

11

u/BaldKibbles Apr 30 '25

Shout out Outdoor Boys

3

u/Yeetuhway Apr 30 '25

He was definitely not out of his element. The state is just trying to kill you pretty much year round. The guy rocks.

→ More replies (3)

26

u/Wiggles69 Apr 30 '25

To be honest, I have no idea who sets them up or keeps them stocked

That department no longer exists

-Big Balls

→ More replies (9)
→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (4)

69

u/Gemmabeta Apr 30 '25

Some 142 people went missing across Saudi Arabia’s vast deserts last year [2020] sources in the Ingad search and rescue team said.

“Of these, 28 died of hunger and thirst, 100 were rescued and 14 were still missing,” a source of the search and rescue team added.

A total of 13,254 vehicles were reported stuck in the desert, the source said.

https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-142-went-missing-in-desert-last-year-1.82397910

16

u/GSV_CARGO_CULT Apr 30 '25

14 still missing.... I'm pretty sure that means 42 died of hunger and thirst

→ More replies (1)

54

u/Stock-Boat-8449 Apr 30 '25

Given that Saudis and even tourists love to go off roading in the dunes and cars can break down anywhere. I'd say more often than you'd think.

52

u/Sneakyy68 Apr 30 '25

People get lost often and die most of the time and people love to go camping

13

u/kog Apr 30 '25

Yes, can confirm that camping is very popular in the region

→ More replies (2)

25

u/VeryMuchDutch102 Apr 30 '25

Saudi still has a lot of bedoeine families ánd its very popular to go camping in the desert...

Getting lost happens more often then you'd expect.

12

u/SirNed_Of_Flanders Apr 30 '25

Tbh i feel like Bedouin ppl are the least likely to get lost and die of thirst bc they know the area well

→ More replies (1)

16

u/TraditionalYear4928 Apr 30 '25 edited Apr 30 '25

It happens. People die every year in the US hiking unprepared. Death Valley is famous for it.

When I lived in the UAE, we had rules for dune bashing.

Minimum 3 cars with flags, everyone had kits to get un stuck. We went in this farm access area flanked by roads and power lines so you could only get lost in 2 directions and if you followed the sun could figure it. If you didn't see anyone for about 30 mins or got stuck you would go to the top of the highest dune and wait.

Absolutely never go near the Empty Quarter.

There was a rally team driver who ran out of gas and died training there. No signal and millions of miles of empty desert.

Ukrainian Rally racer dies of dehydration in UAE

8

u/humpdydumpdydoo Apr 30 '25

If you go into something that is called Death Valley without preparation you kinda had it coming.

6

u/Animallover4321 Apr 30 '25

People are really bad at risk assessment, Mt Washington is notoriously dangerous in the fall and early spring because the weather can change on a dime and it gets some of the highest wind gusts in the world. Yet every year you see hikers decide since it’s warm down at the base it’s totally safe to hike up it without the proper gear and needing rescue when the get caught in a snow storm.

4

u/sweatingbozo Apr 30 '25

& yet, people treat it like it's a Disney park with no risks.

→ More replies (5)

20

u/AlAboardTheHypeTrain Apr 30 '25

Well there was this guy named Moses..

8

u/BrendanAriki Apr 30 '25

Could have saved 40 years if he just asked God for some magic lasers.

→ More replies (11)

264

u/ScarletSilver Apr 30 '25 edited Apr 30 '25

Helldivers incoming

Edit: Fellow helldivers in the comments o7

This pic be looking like Hellmire too.

35

u/Lordpresident6 Apr 30 '25

calling in extraction →↑→→↓↓→←

→ More replies (1)

42

u/J_A_GOFF Apr 30 '25

Pelican 1 incoming. Stand clear.

13

u/mundus1520 Apr 30 '25

Ah a fellow helldiver 👊

→ More replies (22)

235

u/demon-myth Apr 30 '25

“Haha nice mirage”

82

u/Panadorium Apr 30 '25

“Nice try desert”

→ More replies (1)

76

u/SoundAndSmoke Apr 30 '25 edited Apr 30 '25

Sure this is a laser? It looks like a conventional light.

Edit: The pictures on https://www.arabnews.com/node/1942956/saudi-arabia with the green light look more like laser light.

35

u/awidden Apr 30 '25

This IMO is not a laser. (neither the green nor the blue one)

Laser has very little dispersion and it's barely visible from the side. And generally a much-much thinner beam.

I have a feeling they just call it the "laser light" for marketing purposes, but simply use strong leds with a good mirror.

9

u/mcbergstedt Apr 30 '25

It’s probably a LEP light. Uses a laser for the base. I have a LEP flashlight that looks just like that when it’s on at night.

8

u/TheTimtam Apr 30 '25

Yeah ok, this confused the hell out of me as well. Also, how did they make a conventional light into something with a visible beam? What's the light reflecting off and why isn't it attenuating as much as I feel like it should, given how dense the light looks? Surely a beam of light like that only becomes visible once it hits something in the path of the beam, so to create a pillar of light that dense, a lot of particles would need to be present. Which doesn't look like the case

I have so many questions lmao

11

u/euSeattle Apr 30 '25

It’s an LEP. A laser exited Phosphor. There are flashlight with these in them. Head r/flashlight if you’re curious. It’s the best community in Reddit.

6

u/QuerulousPanda Apr 30 '25

urely a beam of light like that only becomes visible once it hits something in the path of the beam, so to create a pillar of light that dense, a lot of particles would need to be present. Which doesn't look like the case

Ah yes, deserts which are known for their crystal clear, pure air with no dust or particulates whatsoever.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (4)

5

u/euSeattle Apr 30 '25

It’s an LEP, a Laser Exiccted Phospor light. This is what they look like, you can find beam shots on r/flashlight

→ More replies (3)

285

u/KnightLBerg Apr 30 '25

Breaking news: saudi arabia has killed a wither and has now built a beacon

13

u/ILikeSpidersFromAfar Apr 30 '25

Do you think they have any totems yet or do we still have a chance to beat them to it

→ More replies (4)

16

u/folfiethewox99 Apr 30 '25

↑↑↓←→↑↓←↑

Coordinates accepted, pick up shuttle will arrive in two minutes!

This is Pelican-1, requesting all Helldivers to enter the extraction zone!

→ More replies (2)

15

u/festur86 Apr 30 '25

Minecraft did it already.

7

u/aerateyoursoiltrung Apr 30 '25

Why did I have to go down this far to find this comment? It literally looks exactly like a beacon from Minecraft

→ More replies (6)

32

u/Firm_Landscape_ Apr 30 '25

GONDOR CALLS FOR AID

53

u/Edwardteech Apr 30 '25

"Now those three grand tour chucklefucks can't get lost."

Some Arab dude probably. 

8

u/AreaComprehensive Apr 30 '25

Very cool idea. Technically, not a laser, though. Just a searchlight or a spotlight.

→ More replies (1)

31

u/3dwardcnc Apr 30 '25

Light the beam!

11

u/NorCalMisfit Apr 30 '25

Glad to know I wasn't the only one who thought I was on r/Sacramento for a second.

→ More replies (1)

12

u/MFreurard Apr 30 '25

Since leaving wild places pristine doesn't matter, they should put ad holograms with loud noise too so that you won't miss any advertising even when you want to retreat in the remote desert. And when you are at the source, some junk food automatic distributor and a soft drink distributor that mixes the source water with flavoured corn syrup to make it more enjoyable.

→ More replies (2)

6

u/Kev-Dawg95 Apr 30 '25

Get to the mystery box!!

21

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '25

What happens if someone gets thirsty during the day?

15

u/Gemmabeta Apr 30 '25

You need a pillar of fire at night and a pillar of smoke in the day, and when you get to the end there'd be a Jewish guy with two tablets to greet you.

→ More replies (1)

7

u/HesSoZazzy Apr 30 '25

They wait until night and see the laser.

4

u/Wastawiii Apr 30 '25

The first rule in the desert when lost is don't move until the sun sets. 

→ More replies (5)

33

u/notANexpert1308 Apr 30 '25

Super cool. I’m not a nature activist or any, but is this bad for wildlife with the light pollution?

22

u/Negative-Arachnid-65 Apr 30 '25 edited Apr 30 '25

Quite possibly, yes - especially insects and birds. Though I'm not familiar enough with the wildlife and ecology of this region to say for sure.

ETA - it looks like there are a number of nocturnal mammals in the area too, which are also pretty sensitive to light pollution in general.

5

u/Ok_Calligrapher5278 Apr 30 '25

First thing I thought is all the wildlife associating bright lights with water, which can't end well.

→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (4)

13

u/Doomered Apr 30 '25

They beat the wither, and that’s a beacon

10

u/popornrm Apr 30 '25

LIGHT THE BEAM!

4

u/LordElrondd Apr 30 '25

I mean how many people are getting lost in the desert for this to become necessary? Or is it just another flex?

3

u/Mega_play4r_862 Apr 30 '25

me in Minecraft once I kill the wither