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welcome to the future
2011-Jul-15, Friday 09:01 amA few interesting toys of science have made the news recently.
The Lincoln Laboratory of MIT has spawned off a company called TeraDiode. This company has announced a breakthrough in laser physics. They created an optical system capable of combining several direct diode laser beams into a single beam capable of cutting through half an inch of steel. The resulting technology is so powerful and so compact that they're actually talking about "laser guns" of science fiction fame! They're pursuing both manufacturing and military applications for the technology.
Meanwhile, somebody at Japan's defense ministry has announced a flying reconnaissance device. You have to see it to believe it. (Note: The original CBS embed is failing. You can also view the video at YouTube.)
I wish all the neat stuff wasn't so obviously tied to military uses, but still it's very cool to see fiction become fact!
The Lincoln Laboratory of MIT has spawned off a company called TeraDiode. This company has announced a breakthrough in laser physics. They created an optical system capable of combining several direct diode laser beams into a single beam capable of cutting through half an inch of steel. The resulting technology is so powerful and so compact that they're actually talking about "laser guns" of science fiction fame! They're pursuing both manufacturing and military applications for the technology.Meanwhile, somebody at Japan's defense ministry has announced a flying reconnaissance device. You have to see it to believe it. (Note: The original CBS embed is failing. You can also view the video at YouTube.)
I wish all the neat stuff wasn't so obviously tied to military uses, but still it's very cool to see fiction become fact!