Welcome to the Heat Ray of Death Building

One of the newest additions to the London skyline is the skyscraper at 20 Fenchurch Street. Popularly known as the “Walkie Talkie” because of its shape, the building is rapidly becoming better known as the “Walkie Scorchie.” Because of the concave, reflective shape of the structure, light is reflected and focused in an intense beam…

Commonplace Fun Facts

March 2, 2015

1–2 minutes

architecture, lasers, London, United Kingdom

The "Walkie Talkie" Building at 20 Fenchurch Street, London, England — The “Walkie Talkie” Building at 20 Fenchurch Street, London, England

Because of the concave, reflective shape of the structure, light is reflected and focused in an intense beam of light that can rapidly reach temperatures approaching 200 F (93 C).

Crowds gather as a television crew try to fry an egg as the sun glares down from the "Walkie Scorchie". — Crowds gather as a television crew try to fry an egg as the sun glares down from the “Walkie Scorchie”.

The heat has been demonstrated to be sufficient to fry an egg, melt plastic bottles, and fuel a hog roast. A less-amusing demonstration of the building’s heat ray occurred when plastic chairs in a nearby cafe melted, and a portion of a Jaguar car melted after being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

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2 responses to “Welcome to the Heat Ray of Death Building”

sopantooth

March 21, 2026 at 12:03 pm

A less-amusing demonstration of the building’s heat ray occurred when plastic chairs in a nearby cafe melted, and a portion of a Jaguar car melted after being in the wrong place at the wrong time. – I mean, that depends on who you are

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1. Commonplace Fun Facts
  
  March 21, 2026 at 1:02 pm
  
  Very true. I confess I would have snickered.
  
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