Railgun development has been characterized by a gradual buildup of awareness and interest. It has evolved from the solitary mind of a nineteenth century theorist; to the subject of silent research in the twentieth century, discussed mostly behind closed doors in scientific circles; to a word, which thanks to its widespread knowledge has ceased to have any purpose in a dictionary; much as the word apple has.
    At the close of the twentieth century, the railgun was an untested technology that had not come close to its full potential. Now, railguns are as familiar to us as gunpowder was to those who had lived a century ago. A few of its myriad of applications have caused harm to many millions, others uses have made available cheap and plentiful energy. Ultimately, for better or for worse, railguns have brought us far from where we used to be.