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Light Stopped, Held And Re-emitted By A Crystal

nherc writes: "An article in Nature talks about an incredible new crystal that can actual stop and hold light to be later emitted. It's mentioned light has previously been "slowed" by super cooled gases, but this certainly blows that away. They mention this could be a major step towards quantum computing."

8 of 366 comments (clear)

  1. constant speed of light by totallygeek · · Score: 5, Funny
    E=0?


    No, really, I know light speed changes. c is just for light in a vacuum... This is really neat stuff, and I hope this becomes a leap forward in understanding quantum mechanics.

  2. The Crystal of Earendil? by Colin+Winters · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is this basically what the crystal Galadriel gives to Frodo does? Stores light, until it's needed in his "darkest hour?" If it is, it means that those damn elves are still decades ahead of us in technology! We must find them, take their tech, and destroy them!

    Colin Winters
    ...who thinks Galadriel is hot...

  3. The reason it's old news by ch-chuck · · Score: 5, Funny

    is that they've not only stopped light, but made it go backwards, reversing time, so this 'discovery' got projected into the future, where we're reading about it now as if it were new, altho it's been done some time ago.

    --
    try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
  4. Is it just me... by TheFrood · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...or does the picture at the start of the article make everyone else think of "Missile Command"?

    TheFrood

    --
    If you say "I'll probably get modded down for this..." then I will mod you down.
  5. War with the Elves? Suicide! by ColGraff · · Score: 5, Funny

    Vietnam aside, I really don't like the chances of any army against one with significantly superior technology - and the US army is heavily trained to rely on the superiority of its tech.

    Futhermore, the peaceniks would have a field day with this - I doubt the Elf War would be very popular on the home front. It would take a really strong president to overcome this...

    Vote Sauron in 2004!
    (This post was a paid message from the Committe to Elect Sauron, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to America's future as the stronghold of the Dark Lord.)

    --
    I'm the stranger...posting to /.
  6. Re:Which version of the Pentium by pogofish · · Score: 5, Funny

    AMD has a quantum CPU almost ready for production. Unfortunately, their trials show that when your cooling fan fails the probability wave collapses and your cat dies.

    --

    A man without a God is like a fish without a bicycle.
  7. Amazing New Material by istartedi · · Score: 5, Funny

    Amazing New Material! Stores Light!!!

    Buy our amazing new Oak Light Trees (TM) today. So attractive, so easy to use. Just follow these simple instructions:

    1. Put Oak Light Trees (TM) in ground.

    2. In most climates, do nothing for 5-100 years or more depending on how much light you need and when. In some climates, you may need to water the ground in the viscinity of the Oak Light Tree (TM).

    3. Cut the base of the Oak Light Tree (TM) with a chain saw or axe, or simply have someone knock it over with a bulldozer, then cut into smaller pieces.

    4. Allow to dry for 1 year.

    5. Light the smaller units of the Oak Light Tree (TM) with a match or lighter until they begin to emit light on their own. Add larger and larger pieces until the light is satisfying.

    Amazing!!! And not only do they provide light, but heat as well. Buy today. Only $20/piece.

    --
    For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
  8. Re:Is this anything like "Slow glass"? by michael_cain · · Score: 5, Funny

    When I first read a story with "slow glass" in it, I thought "That might be cool." Then I thought about how much energy was somehow stored internally if I left a sheet lying in the desert in direct sunlight for ten years. Then I thought about what would happen if all that energy were discharged at once when the crystal structure (or whatever) was damaged by, say, the neighborhood brat throwing a brick through it. And decided that I wouldn't want any of that stuff in my house!