Marilyn has Little to Say about Lasers

Marilyn is Wrong Copyright © 1996-1998 Herb Weiner. All rights reserved.

Ask Marilyn ® by Marilyn vos Savant is a column in Parade Magazine, published by PARADE, 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA. According to Parade, Marilyn vos Savant is listed in the "Guinness Book of World Records Hall of Fame" for "Highest IQ."

In her Parade Magazine column of August 4, 1996, Marilyn is asked to explain the "source and nature of a laser beam."

Sorry, Marilyn

You've spent more time explaining acronyms than lasers. It took you 75 words to divulge nothing more than the acronym. Look how much more information you could have provided in 75 words:

Laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A laser beam is a narrow, intense beam of coherent light; that is, light of a single wavelength (pure color) in a synchronized (like a marching band) beam. A laser beam is produced by adding energy (such as light or electricity) to a substance (such as a helium-neon gas mixture) to stimulate and amplify the production of light (a form of radiation).


http://www.wiskit.com/marilyn/laser.html last updated June 30, 1998 by herbw@wiskit.com