OK, all Trekker Dudes; Nasa to examine 'tractor beams'

[DigitalBuddha]

Nasa to examine 'tractor beams'

Nasa funds a study into the use of laser-based "tractor beams" to draw in samples for analysis on future missions.

US space agency Nasa has funded a study of "tractor beams" to gather samples for analysis in future missions.



The $100,000 (?63,000) award will be used to examine three laser-based approaches to do what has until now been the stuff of science fiction.

Several tractor-beam ideas have been published in the scientific literature but none has yet been put to use.

Check out - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15535115