An Age of Magic

Be your own Capt Kirk with your own phaser!

November 20, 2009 on 3:37 pm | In Science Fiction Technology, Star Trek, Technology | No Comments

Scientists have created a Star Trek style phaser that can be used to both stun and revive creatures. However so far the weapon, which uses a special form of light, has only been used on tiny worms, not menacing Klingons. Canadian researchers fed pinhead-sized worms with a solution containing the molecule dithienylethene. This changed the molecular structure and colour of the worms when they were exposed to different light wavelengths. When the scientists shone an ultraviolet light on the transparent creatures they turned blue and couldn’t move. A beam of normal light then revived most of the worms although a few did not survive the process.

It is reminiscent of the fictional phaser used in the TV series Star Trek that could stun or kill adversaries using a beam of light. At present doctors use light-sensitive materials and photo-reactions in medicine to treat certain forms of cancer and the study authors hope their research can contribute.

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