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Magic: Light into Matter

Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2016 3:20 am
by Roger
We can turn matter into energy (or, a lot of light) via the nuclear fission process, but turning light into matter is an entirely different matter! Or, is it?

A theory developed by American theoretical physicist John Wheeler and American physicist Gregory Breit stated that by smashing together only two particles of light (photons), to create an electron and a positron – light could be turned into matter. Only Breit and Wheeler didn't believe it could be tested, or otherwise, proven.

Well, now some theoretical scientists at Imperial College London are claiming they can turn light into matter by using a refined version of the Breit/Wheeler theory.

To read more on this click on the link below:
Scientists discover how to turn light into matter after 80-year quest

Shades of Star Trek! Imagine, eventually, we could have REAL photon torpedoes! (Just kidding. A Star Trek photon torpedo actually uses a anti-matter warhead. They're termed photon torpedoes because the energy pods of matter and anti-matter contained in the warhead are held temporarily separated in a magno-photon force field. Plus, they give off a pretty light when they explode. By the way, one photon torpedo would have the equivalent detonation of about 64 megatons of TNT!)