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Scientists Freeze Pulse Of Light

Posted by simoniker on from the mr-bigglesworth-looks-on dept.

Smitty825 writes "After slowing down light to slow speeds, scientists at Harvard University have been able to stop light for a very brief period of time without destroying its energy. The article explains how it is different from this previous light-stopping science story - this will hopefully help the development of quantum computers and ways to communicate over long distances without being eavesdropped on."

27 of 343 comments (clear)

  1. Who wants to stop light? by trentblase · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now if they could only figure out how to stop SPAM

    1. Re:Who wants to stop light? by umofomia · · Score: 3, Funny
      Is there a such thing as light spam? Because if there is, you know, maybe it would easier to start with that...
      Yep.
    2. Re:Who wants to stop light? by Jugalator · · Score: 2, Funny

      It should now just be a matter of stopping the light travelling through the optic fiber connections. Sure, it stops all other data travelling through the fiber as well, but who said stopping spam never came without certain sacrifices? :-)

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
    3. Re:Who wants to stop light? by DrEldarion · · Score: 3, Funny

      >> Is there a such thing as light spam?

      Yes, we call it daytime.

      The yellow face, it burns us...

  2. I can't wait for the future development... by Ratface · · Score: 5, Funny

    Imagine going out to a club and getting a frozen "light cube" in your drink which releases a stream of photons as it melts.

    Could bring a whole new dimesnion to the humble Tequila Sunrise huh?

    --

    A little planning goes a long way...
    1. Re:I can't wait for the future development... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny


      thrust me, you dont want a block of sodium in your drink :)

    2. Re:I can't wait for the future development... by trentblase · · Score: 4, Funny

      "thrust me"

      Is that going to be your pickup line at said bar?

    3. Re:I can't wait for the future development... by DrEldarion · · Score: 2, Funny

      Unless it's a margarita!

    4. Re:I can't wait for the future development... by pipingguy · · Score: 2, Funny

      ...Imagine going out to a club and getting a frozen "light cube" in your drink

      Ice cube lights. Not quite the same thing, though.

  3. Stopped light... by surstrmming · · Score: 5, Funny

    Makes me think of a physics joke.

    Q: What is the difference between stopped light and darkness?

    A: You know where darkness is.

    1. Re:Stopped light... by ripleymj · · Score: 5, Funny

      "If this sticker appears blue, you're driving too fast." --A red bumpersticker

  4. Serious! by glenebob · · Score: 2, Funny

    This may prove to be a ray of inspiration for dim wits everywhere, beamed from the heavens to shed a new light on these dark times! Don't take it lightly. How we use this enlightenment will be a reflection on us all.

    Altogether now: *grrooaaan*

  5. Speaking of light and darkness... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Here's a quote from Terry Pratchett you might like:

    "Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it."

  6. Darn darn darn by pikkumyy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why were there no pictures of this stopped light? .. oh wait

  7. Reminds me of another physics joke... by raehl · · Score: 5, Funny

    Officer: "Do you know how fast you were going?"

    Heisenberg: "No, but I know exactly where I am!"

    --
    paintball
  8. Phillip Morris? by raehl · · Score: 2, Funny

    Messeges in Phillip Morris code are automatically subpoenaed by Congress anyway.

    God damn, subpoenaed is an ugly word.

    --
    paintball
  9. Re:Man...Imagine the vaccuum by trentblase · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's the color of one hand clapping. Seriously, this is the same type of question as "if a tree falls in the woods..."

  10. Finally by UezeU · · Score: 5, Funny

    We have the technology to create a lightsaber. I know what I'm asking Santa for Christmas now.

  11. Re:SF story with slow-light windowpanes? by markxsd · · Score: 3, Funny
    This research suggests more feasibly ways of doing this, though

    A camera, tape and VCR might have offered him a more flexible long-term solution...

  12. The light particle was never frozen by CrystalFalcon · · Score: 4, Funny

    It was just slashdotted, and completely unable to move under the load.

  13. Let there be light, baby. by Channard · · Score: 5, Funny
    Is that going to be your pickup line at said bar?

    What's wrong with 'Does this smell like chloroform to you?'

    As for the frozen light, I'm thinking this will herald a new line in novelty items of the type sold at Spencer Gifts, only to be shoved in a cupboard two days later and never seen again.

  14. Free energy! by Channard · · Score: 4, Funny
    According to the Slashdot summary, it is apparently possible to destroy energy!!! Issac Newton may turn in his grave...

    And if we can hook him up to a dynamo and a generator, we've got free energy sorted. Truly, this is an age of wonders.

  15. No, no by vjzuylen · · Score: 4, Funny

    They've got it all backwards. They're supposed to be working on a way to increase the speed of light. How else are we going to accomplish a practical form of interstellar travel?

    --

    Hee-hee. Dying tickles!
  16. Re:Man...Imagine the vaccuum by Conspiracy_Of_Doves · · Score: 3, Funny

    Octarine, of course

    --

    Technoli
  17. Re:Very interesting... by GTRacer · · Score: 2, Funny
    Imagine two naval vessels using Morris code...

    Ship 1: meow meow meow meeeoww meeeoww meeeoww meow meow meow

    Ship 2: meeeoww meow meeeoww meeeoww meow meow meow meow meeeoww meow meow meow meeeoww...

    GTRacer
    - woof

    --
    Defending IP by destroying access to it? That makes sense, RIAA/MPAA. Go to the corner until you can play nice!
  18. Re:Very interesting... by kin_korn_karn · · Score: 2, Funny

    Translated:

    Ship 1: "I want chicken, I want liver"
    Ship 2: "Meow Mix Meow Mix please deliver"

  19. Or as Douglas Adams put it... by CrystalFalcon · · Score: 2, Funny

    Nothing travels faster than light, with the possible exception of bad news.

    The Foo people of Bar actually tried to use this fact, and built a spaceship entirely powered by bad news, but found that wherever they went they were so extremely unwelcome that there wasn't really any point in being there.