Official News page 6

REAL LIFE NEWS: TRACTOR BEAMS A REALITY

by Hazed

Real life catches up with science fiction again, as scientists announce that tractor beams are possible, using lasers to grab small objects and draw them back towards the source.

Light has been used to push solar sails, but now it can be used to pull as well, at least in theory. Researchers from Hong Kong and China have published a paper describing the conditions required to create this laser pull.

Of course, it's not going to be nearly so impressive as it is in fiction because it would only work over small distances. So no grabbing hold of enemy spaceships and pulling them into your hold to take the ship captive - this technique would be used in optical micromanipulation.

You can read more details about this theoretical breakthrough here.

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