Proton torpedoes are a fictional weapon from Star Wars, most famously used in the attack on the Death Star, where a precisely aimed torpedo triggers a huge chain reaction. The name has since become shorthand in science fiction for a fast, powerful space weapon, and short sound effects based on that idea circulate widely on soundboards and in fan edits. Because the term is instantly recognisable to sci-fi audiences, creators keep using it to signal a launch, a hit or a decisive moment without needing any explanation.