How stuff works

The Concept of Money in Star Wars Universe Explained

When it comes to money, our routine life and soft science fiction are kinds of antipodes. The first one is based on objective reality, the second is totally built on imagination. Being a crucial aspect of reality, money is often simplified in sci-fi movies, especially in those which tread a fine line between fantasy and adventure fiction. Their plot may revolve around social inequality, power, money-related crimes, or relationships between rich and poor, but never revolves around money itself. Thus, it may be hard to grasp the role of money in a fantasy movie. Star Wars belongs more to a space opera genre rather than to sci-fi, being focused on moral, political and spiritual issues instead of revealing an economical side of the universe. But today we are going to uncover the concepts of currency, trading system, and making money in the Galaxy.   Currencies in the Galaxy First of…

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Star Destroyers Compared – Star Wars Explained

Have you always wanted to learn more about the ships in Star Wars? Growing up a girl who wanted to be a pilot, this was one of my favorite parts of Star Wars. I won’t lie, I watched a young Anakin and daydreamed about pod-racing and I was also fascinated with all the ships in the Star Wars Universe. In this great video, you can learn more about all of the Star Wars destroyers found in the game. The video is only a little over 3 minutes long but it’s packed full of great info. Learn more about each destroyer, their class and size, the weapons they are loaded with, how many crew members they can carry, and much more. You’ll feel like a Star Wars destroyer pro in no time. If you’re just one of those fans who loves Star Wars stats, this is also a video that will…

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All TIE Fighter Types and Variants (Legends) – Star Wars Explained

Here we have a great Star Wars Explained video that goes into the different types of TIE starfighters that are used by the Galactic Empire. It’s 10 minutes of awesomeness, especially if  you love these fighters. Most people are familiar with the Tie fighters shown in the Star Wars movies, but how much more do you know about them? This video will give you more info than you probably ever had before about Star Wars TIE Fighter types. Do you have a favorite? Check out this Star Wars The Black Series First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter (6″ Scale) and this Star Wars Return of the Jedi The Vintage Collection Tie Interceptor Vehicle [Amazon Exclusive] Learn about every type of TIE starfighter used by the Galactic Empire in the Legends Star Wars universe! The TIE Fighter playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list… Learn more about the TIE Fighter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFddC… Learn more about the TIE Phantom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x14yt… Learn…

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Why Are Lightsabers Blue? And Other Questions Answered

Lightsabers are one of the most iconic items in all of the Star Wars universe, and lightsaber duels are some of the most memorable moments in movie history. But how much do you really know about lightsabers? I spent some time researching to see what interesting facts I could find, and to answer some questions that you might have. If you have more, leave them in the comments! Why Are Lightsabers Blue? Lightsabers can be many colors, but blue, green, and red are the most common in the movie franchise. A lightsaber’s color is determined by the type of crystal that’s used to power it. Kyber crystals, which grow in crystal caves on the Outer Rim, were traditionally used to build lightsabers, but because of their scarcity, other types of gems have come into use. For example, the Sith use synthetic crystals that become superpowered when infused with the Dark side…

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Could the Planets in Star Wars Actually Support Life?

We know the Star Wars franchise is big on imagination. This wonder and mystery is one thing that made it so appealing to fans. Amazing creatures, large vast planets and creative characters are some of the key elements that made Star Wars so great. That said, there have always been those who would question the logic behind the Star Wars story. One thing that makes the planets of Star Wars stand out is the unique environment that each one had. Whether it was vast barren stretches of sand or a planet covered in ice, there was always some unique feature that stood out in each planet. This begs the question: Could any living thing actually survive there? Wired.com has a very interesting piece where they cover some of the popular planets of Star Wars and consider whether or not they would actually be able to support life. Here is an…

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How Stuff Works: Comlink

A comlink is a small, hand-held personal communications transceiver. It consists of a receiver, a transmitter, and a small power source. Comlinks vary in size and configuration from hand-held cylindrical models to flat wrist-mounted units, to units incorporated into armored helmets. The comlink used by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn has a port built into its base for transmitting data gathered by other devices, such as a sampler used to examine midi-chlorian levels. A typical comlink has a range of 50 kilometers, though this range can be extended by tapping into expanded satellite communication networks. Some comlinks come equipped with encryption routines to prevent the interception of sensitive transmissions. In urban areas dense with electromagnetic activity, comlink range is greatly affected and usually supplemented by networks that help distribute the transmission to the intended recipient. Military and vehicle-mounted comlinks have greater range due to greater power sources. Starships come equipped with…

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