Laser Can Detect Roadside Bombs From a Distance [Science]

Scientists have a new laser sensor they say can detect roadside bombs, the cause of more than half the soldier deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq.

A team at Michigan State University published their research in the scientific journal Applied Physical Letters - but only in so much detail. Because of the laser's sensitive nature, they won't explain exactly how it works.

What they will say is that the laser and the method were originally developed for microscopes. And they told the BBC the laser detects the vibration of molecules inside an improvised explosive device from a distance.

The technique is called "coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy," and it's sensitive enough to detect low concentrations of explosives from a distance of one meter. It can also tell the difference between explosives and things that might seem like explosives but are harmless - which is good for preventing needless evacuations.

Currently, the approach for protecting soldiers from IEDs is defensive. Radio frequency jamming devices disrupt the cell phone signals used to trigger the bombs. NIRFs, or neutralizing improvised explosive devices, emit a high-frequency radio pulse to deactivates IED electronics - microwave-pulsing devices do the same by frying the wires. The current research falls under the category of LIBS, or laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

Of course all of the non-laser techniques require knowing a roadside bomb is out there. So let's hope this latest work provides an preventive, life-saving detection system.

[BBC; Image: Shutterstock/JustASC

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In This Battle Between Lasers and Lightning, Laser Won [Image Cache]

Maybe this is the use the Wicked Laser was built for: LIGHTNING JOUSTING! Cold hard technology versus the awesome might of nature. And yet the red beam of man's raw lust for power pierced through lightning's heart unabated. Victory!

Well, ok. What you see is the European Southern Observatory testing its Wendelstein laser guide star unit in southwestern Bavaria. The lighting storm was actually far off when this photo was taken, but that doesn't take away from its power. I demand an answer, though. What would win: lighting or super-powerful laser? [ESO via Universe Today]

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Wicked Laser S3 Krypton Lightning Review: Holy Christ Now It's Green and Goes Into Space [Lasers]

The Wicked Laser odyssey of horror continues. First, they offered an underwhelming laser you couldn't even buy. Then, they stuck two together. And now? A green one that's twenty times brighter, twenty times more pointless, and twenty times as awesome.

The S3 Krypton is twenty times as bright as its blue predecessor, which was already shockingly, dangerously bright. It's not more powerful—both emit a full watt of power—but the green light's wavelength is vastly more visible. Wicked Laser claims an 85 mile range, which means it could penetrate the Earth's atmosphere—the thermosphere, no less!—and go into fucking space. Hypothetically, at least. You'll forgive me for not being able to verify that claim myself. Essentially, the Krypton is just 20x the reckless fun of the Arctic. And yes, it is extremely, extremely bright. The dot is blinding. The beam is visible in full daylight. It hurts your skin. It hurts your friend's skin. Zap.

Like the other Wicked Lasers, this thing is completely, paradoxically useless. According to its own safety manual, you can't do anything with it. You can't use it for presentations, lest you blind everyone in the room with you. You're not supposed to look at the beam, or the dot, or any reflected light from either. You're not supposed to shoot it at stars, or planets, or use it as a gun sight. You definitely aren't supposed to shoot it at your friends or cat. What are you supposed to use it for? I don't know. Wicked Lasers doesn't say. I can only fathom uses that result in blindness, pain, arrest, or at the very least, high risk of one. It's also—god christ—one thousand dollars.

I'm not even sure if I can in good conscience tell you to buy this. I'm terrified of it. My roommate made me put it away. I slept anxiously knowing it was in my apartment. It's a giant, metal, $1,000 liability. But the mere idea of it is so stupendous, so insane, bizarre, and incredible—wield photons, mortal!—that I can't help but love it. That said, do not do anything risky with it. Don't shine it at yourself, others, or anything flying in the sky. Don't be stupid.

[Wicked Lasers]

Note: Wicked Lasers, after last year's shit-up with the Arctic, wants to say sorry. And that you can trust them again!

We have the real-time inventory system as you can see on the site, so users know how many are in stock (or not). Once we run out of stock, we will not accept pre-orders until we get firm dates from our manufacturing center (which will take several weeks).

Let's hope they learned their lesson.

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Celluon virtual laser keyboard also has sound

by Mark R - on August 17th, 2011

I never thought that I could get used to those laser-powered virtual projection keyboards. While I think it would be handy to pair a device with something that would create a keyboard on any flat surface, I need the haptic feedback of the clickity-click of the keyboard.

I know that I should just evolve out of this, because touchscreen keyboards are quiet, and I think we are moving away from traditional button keyboards. Fortunately, I can wait a little while to get over my fascination with keyboard sounds as the Cube Laser Virtual Keyboard comes with gesture recognition software so that the user can hear the click to indicate control gestures as well as keystrokes.

In addition to this feature, the Cube Laser Virtual Keyboard has a very liquid interface for its laser projection, so the image of the keys is much better than before. It pairs with devices via Bluetooth, which means that it is compatible with most smartphones, tablets, and even laptops.

I suppose that I wouldn’t mind having one of these for myself, but I just tried tapping my fingers on my desk for a few seconds, and it wasn’t the same as typing on a keyboard. However, if this is for you, then head over to ThinkGeek and lay down about $170 for it.

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