In December, the Office of Naval Research successfully conducted a world-record 33-megajoule shot of the Electromagnetic Railgun aboard Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division.

FORBES: U.S. Navy Pioneers Next-Gen Electric Weaponry

Three years ago our sea-borne force managed an 8 megajoule blast, now its researchers have more than quadrupled that: 33 megajoules accelerating a projectile using magnets.

ENGADGET: Navy's prototype rail gun projectile hits mach 7 at 33 megajoules, our hearts skip a beat (video)