“World's strongest handheld laser” – powerful enough to melt titanium

YouTuber and chemist StyroPyro – real name Drake Anthony – set himself an ambitious goal: to build a handheld laser 50,000 times more powerful than the 5 mW pointers permitted in the US. The result is Laser 2025 – a high-tech creation that blends DIY components with cutting-edge electronics, unveiled in a video released on May 31. The clip quickly went viral, amassing over 2.8 million views and a wave of comments mixing “mad scientist” humor with genuine technical awe.

From Radar Gun to Ray Gun

The housing comes from a repurposed radar gun, while the core features an array of powerful blue laser diodes – some reportedly sourced from the Chinese black market. A modified CPU water-cooling system keeps the heat in check. The device runs on custom-built circuits with overclocked components and delivers a staggering 250 watts of output – enough to melt nearly anything in its path.

Ruby synthesis, diamond destruction and metal melting

StyroPyro demonstrates the raw power of his 250-watt handheld laser through a series of dramatic tests. Wood, paper and plastic ignite instantly, while metals like copper, aluminum and even titanium melt with ease. Highlights include the successful synthesis of rubies from aluminum oxide and chromium oxide and the melting of pennies – a feat that previous lasers couldn’t achieve.

Even synthetic diamonds shatter under the laser’s beam, while razor blades can be welded with remarkable precision. Surprisingly, some materials – including mirrors, CD covers and snow – resist the intense light by reflecting it or dispersing it through smoke and surface effects.