57
submitted 1 month ago by BrikoX@lemmy.zip to c/technology@lemmy.zip

MIT has created a chip-based optical tractor beam that can focus a penetrating beam of light over 5 millimeters away from the surface of the chip itself. That might not sound like much, but it's a game-changer compared to previous integrated "optical tweezers" that could only work within a few microns of the chip. Those older approaches essentially had to remove cells from their sterile glass containers (used commonly for biological experiments) and place them directly on the chip's surface, raising contamination risks.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] Doom4535 4 points 1 month ago

I have no idea how it works, but I always found tractor beams to be fascinating. I wonder just how far it can be scaled up to?

[-] dimath@ttrpg.network 7 points 1 month ago

Up to 5 millimeters

this post was submitted on 07 Oct 2024
57 points (98.3% liked)

Technology

1458 readers
221 users here now

Which posts fit here?

Anything that is at least tangentially connected to the technology, social media platforms, informational technologies and tech policy.


Rules

1. English onlyTitle and associated content has to be in English.
2. Use original linkPost URL should be the original link to the article (even if paywalled) and archived copies left in the body. It allows avoiding duplicate posts when cross-posting.
3. Respectful communicationAll communication has to be respectful of differing opinions, viewpoints, and experiences.
4. InclusivityEveryone is welcome here regardless of age, body size, visible or invisible disability, ethnicity, sex characteristics, gender identity and expression, education, socio-economic status, nationality, personal appearance, race, caste, color, religion, or sexual identity and orientation.
5. Ad hominem attacksAny kind of personal attacks are expressly forbidden. If you can't argue your position without attacking a person's character, you already lost the argument.
6. Off-topic tangentsStay on topic. Keep it relevant.
7. Instance rules may applyIf something is not covered by community rules, but are against lemmy.zip instance rules, they will be enforced.


Companion communities

!globalnews@lemmy.zip
!interestingshare@lemmy.zip


Icon attribution | Banner attribution

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS