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Lasers To Replace Sparkplugs In Engines?

Posted by samzenpus on from the lift-the-hood-and-avert-your-eyes dept.

An anonymous reader writes "For more than 150 years, spark plugs have powered internal combustion engines. Automakers are now getting close to being able to replace this long-standing technology with laser igniters, which should enable cleaner, more efficient, and more economical vehicles. Price and size have been issues holding up such an advance, but a Japanese team is set to announce they've overcome those hurdles."

5 of 351 comments (clear)

  1. But how... by blair1q · · Score: 2, Funny

    Okay. This is really cool. But, how are they going to get the fricken' shark in there?

    1. Re:But how... by GaryOlson · · Score: 5, Funny

      Shark injectors, obviously.

      --
      Every mans' island needs an ocean; choose your ocean carefully.
  2. Re:I can't wait for the hacks by dlingman · · Score: 4, Funny

    I just realized that we're planning on arming our self parking, navigation aware vehicles with burning lasers. I thought Skynet day was yesterday...

  3. Re:Tough working conditions. by blair1q · · Score: 3, Funny

    At least in part at "Japan’s National Institutes of Natural Sciences," according to a string of letters and spaces in TFA.

  4. Re:I can't wait for the hacks by X0563511 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Thank god! I thought they'd send one of the matte ones!

    --
    For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...