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Next Big Thing – tractor beams

Star Trek coined the name tractor beam, but lasers that draw things in are already a reality

Isn’t tractor a bit of an old fashioned name?

True, it was used by Star Trek of old and pertains to a big, diesel spitting mud rover from years ago. But, that’s not the point – the point is Nasa is offering a US$100,000 prize to any boffin that can work out how to make a laser that pulls in objects.

But is that realistically going to happen?

Yes, there are already three possible options. The first is optical tweezers where an object is trapped between two lasers before being drawn in. The second uses solenoid beams whose intensity spirals around the beam itself to trap objects inside. The third is similar but with an intensity that rises and falls in peaks and troughs to trap objects that way – these are called Bessel beams.

Sounds conceptual – are they close to cracking it?

Yup, solenoid beams have already proved they work as tractor beams – but we’re talking about moving molecules here. So it’ll be great for collecting samples on different planets – making missions safer, faster and easier. But using a handheld version to move your mate’s car onto his roof for a laugh won’t be around anytime soon.

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Profile image of Dan Grabham Dan Grabham Editor-in-Chief

About

Dan is Editor-in-chief of Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website.  Our Editor-in-Chief is a regular at tech shows such as CES in Las Vegas, IFA in Berlin and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as well as at other launches and events. He has been a CES Innovation Awards judge. Dan is completely platform agnostic and very at home using and writing about Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS plus lots and lots of gadgets including audio and smart home gear, laptops and smartphones. He's also been interviewed and quoted in a wide variety of places including The Sun, BBC World Service, BBC News Online, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio 4, Sky News Radio and BBC Local Radio.

Areas of expertise

Computing, mobile, audio, smart home