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Scientists Solve Century-Old Optics Mystery

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the all-out-of-joementum dept.

evan_arrrr! writes "From the article: Since the early 20th century physicists have known that light carries momentum, but the way this momentum changes as light passes through different media is much less clear. Two rival theories of the time predicted precisely the opposite effect for light incident on a dielectric: one suggesting it pushes the surface in the direction light is traveling; the other suggesting it drags the surface backwards towards the source of light. After 100 years of conflicting experimental results, a team of experimentalists from China believe they have finally found a resolution."

6 of 265 comments (clear)

  1. hah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Letting AC's see posts 'in the future' really helps with trolling.

    Thanks.

  2. Scientists have yet to solve... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    the mysterious attractiveness of the first post!

  3. No Complaints by zwekiel · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    The link is down! Now no one can complain, I haven't RTFA and have no idea what the hell I'm talking about.

    Thank you server!

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    Web Hosting: Unlimited storage and bandwidth: $5/month
  4. I'm livin' on Chinese lights by Gizzmonic · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    The lamp will glow once to bring death, once to bring life, and a third time to bring...power!

    The Chinese scientists may have discovered the secret of Green Lantern's ring!

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    (-1, Raw and Uncut is the only way to read)
  5. What is the mystery resolution? by aardwolf64 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    My bet is 1280 x 1024. :-)

  6. This is great! by nurb432 · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Now i can sleep at night knowing this has been solved.

    Ok, pure science is cool, but is it really front page news?

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    ---- Booth was a patriot ----