How Hot Is A Lightsaber?

As Brandon Weigel notes, such extreme temperatures would mean that any biological matter within 350 feet would immediately burst into flames whenever a lightsaber is powered up, so there must be some fantasy science behind Jedi and Sith's ability to keep their flesh privileges while dueling. Weigel proposes that lightsabers use energy gates to contain the superheated plasma and most of the radiation until such time as the blade makes direct contact with physical matter. In layman's terms, his theory explains why lightsabers are only dangerous when the blade is touched and then only to whatever it's touching.

Of course, it's hard to apply real-world science about fire prevention to a franchise in which Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) duke it out while basking in the usually unsurvivable glow of lava ... so it's all relative. However, Weigel points out that the energy gates would also allow for color customization, with the wielder potentially able to change their lightsaber's color simply by restricting or loosening the amount of radiation allowed through. What's a little extra radiation if it means getting to wield a pretty blue plasma sword, right?