Home > Terms > English, UK (UE) > reversible tractor beam
reversible tractor beam
A tractor beam is a technique that uses a light beam to attract one object to another from a distance. The term was originally coined by E. E. Smith as an update to his earlier description of the attractor beam in his novel Spacehounds of IPC (1931). A reversible tractor beam is a beam that can both attract and repel objects across distances. Scientists have developed versatile reversible tractor beams using a single laser beam to move objects across distances 100 times farther than previously possible. Practical applications could include controlling atmospheric pollution, or retrieving tiny, delicate or dangerous particles for sampling. It could also be scaled up for larger uses.
Other Languages:
Member comments
Terms in the News
Featured Terms
Michael Jackson
Dubbed the Kind of Pop, Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was a celebrated American music artist, dancer, and ...
Contributor
Featured blossaries
Sanket0510
0
Terms
22
Blossaries
25
Followers
10 Best-Selling Beer Brands in The World
Browers Terms By Category
- Railroad(457)
- Train parts(12)
- Trains(2)
Railways(471) Terms
- SSL certificates(48)
- Wireless telecommunications(3)
Wireless technologies(51) Terms
- Air conditioners(327)
- Water heaters(114)
- Washing machines & dryers(69)
- Vacuum cleaners(64)
- Coffee makers(41)
- Cooking appliances(5)
Household appliances(624) Terms
- Yachting(31)
- Ship parts(4)
- Boat rentals(2)
- General sailing(1)
Sailing(38) Terms
- Cosmetics(80)