‘Living Laser’ Engineered From Human Cells

[SurlySeraph]

Medical researchers from Harvard University have created the first “living laser”; a biological cell that’s been genetically engineered to produce a visible laser beam. (http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/living-laser-genetics/) Using a human cell, green fluorescent protein, and a couple mirrors.

This is a huge step towards being able to shoot laser beams from our eyes.

[Darklady2831]

That is just too cool. :smallcool:

[Admiral Squish]

Personally, I'd prefer fingers to eyes as my mounting point of choice for lasers. Even if it's a non-damaging laser, I'd like to be able to use it like a built-in laser pointer.
With eyes, it could just be awkward. "What? No, I wasn't checking out your chest, I swear! What? Oh... Right, lasers. Crap."

[Draconi Redfir]

this is why i love genetic engineering :smallcool:

[pendell]

AMMA FIRIN MAH LASER!

Oh ... does this mean we are getting closer to sharks with laser beams in their heads? Awesome!

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[Eldan]

Right. Next step? There's bacteria with lenses inside their cells. Include that in the array, ditch the mirrors outside the cells.

[Wayril]

The first step toward laser bears and laser cats. :smallsmile:

[Comet]

The laser is alive. What has science done.

Seriously, though, this is pretty cool. Took me a while to think of a single reason for them to do something like this before I actually read the article, though. Shows how much I know.

[Draconi Redfir]

Honestly who needs a reason besides "to see if we can" ?

[Lord Raziere]

:smalleek:

just when you think the universe is sane....you find a scientist who made an organic cell emit a laser.

now combine that with the cells genetically engineered to act like batteries....

[Whiffet]

"The cell also left the experiment unharmed." I think they flipped two words around, but instead I'm going to imagine the scientists fleeing in terror as the cell blasts away everything involved with the experiment. That should keep me entertained for, oh, a few minutes?

[Timeless Error]

:smalleek: :eek:

Whoah...that is WEIRD. :eek:

[rayne_dragon]

This is awesome... one day I might be able to have a cat that shoots green lasers out of its eyes. I'm also intrigued by the medical possibilities of this discovery.

[Tyndmyr]

The laser is alive. What has science done.

Seriously, though, this is pretty cool. Took me a while to think of a single reason for them to do something like this before I actually read the article, though. Shows how much I know.

Really? I can think of endless reasons to do something like this. Many of them involve the following phrases "sharks with frikkin lasers", "death ray", "mutant superpowers".

These people are my heroes.

[Borgh]

This is awesome... one day I might be able to have a cat that shoots green lasers out of its eyes. I'm also intrigued by the medical possibilities of this discovery.

That will be one tired cat, as soon as it opens it eyes there is a laserpointer game going on.

[Eldan]

That will be one tired cat, as soon as it opens it eyes there is a laserpointer game going on.

Phh. Constantly running. Of course not. As with the intracellular lenses, bacteria lalready have a solution for that. Pigment grains moving around in the cell. If we include some moveable Melanin, we can switch the laser on and off.

[absolmorph]

Medical researchers from Harvard University have created the first “living laser”; a biological cell that’s been genetically engineered to produce a visible laser beam. (http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/living-laser-genetics/) Using a human cell, green fluorescent protein, and a couple mirrors.

This is a huge step towards being able to shoot laser beams from our eyes.
Pew pew!


The laser is alive. What has science done.

Seriously, though, this is pretty cool. Took me a while to think of a single reason for them to do something like this before I actually read the article, though. Shows how much I know.
Their reason?
I'll bet their instinctive reason was "because it's awesome!" Then they came up with some excuse about academics and research and advancing technology.
But, really, this is about creating an organism that can shoot lasers.

[Ravens_cry]

Well, they 'just' used the cell as a lasing medium, calling this a living laser is like calling a ruby a crystal laser, an artificial ruby been the very first lasing medium. Also, it lasted nanoseconds, light travels less then a third of a metre, 0.299792458 of a metre to be pretty exact, in a nanosecond. This is weird, this is cool, and who knows what applications this will have, but lets not get our hopes up.

[Eldan]

Well, they 'just' used the cell as a lasing medium, calling this a living laser is like calling a ruby a crystal laser, an artificial ruby been the very first lasing medium. Also, it lasted nanoseconds, light travels less then a third of a metre, 0.299792458 of a metre to be pretty exact, in a nanosecond. This is weird, this is cool, and who knows what applications this will have, but lets not get our hopes up.

Breaking news! Scientists claim living cell identical to ruby!

[Ravens_cry]

Breaking news! Scientists claim living cell identical to ruby!
Heck, it's not even the cell itself so much as the dye. Misleading science new headlines strike again!

[Eldan]

Heck, it's not even the cell itself so much as the dye. Misleading science new headlines strike again!

Heh.

"Breaking News! Scientists invent dye that creates lasers! Are painters a threat to international security? More at eleven!"

[Amiel]

This is a huge step towards being able to shoot laser beams from our eyes.

Which will undoubtedly place us on the course to being able to shoot lasers from our mouths.

[Eldan]

Personally, I'd like ear lasers.

No one would expect it!

[Ravens_cry]

Heh.

"Breaking News! Scientists invent dye that creates lasers! Are painters a threat to international security? More at eleven!"
Hardly breaking (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dye_laser) news.:smallamused:

[Amiel]

Personally, I'd like ear lasers.

No one would expect it!

Which could mean you may need to train your ears to swivel.

With mouth lasers, no one would expect the Spanish Inquisition laser; every time you open your mouth, the aftermath would be a surprise!

[Eldan]

Which could mean you may need to train your ears to swivel.

With mouth lasers, no one would expect the Spanish Inquisition laser; every time you open your mouth, the aftermath would be a surprise!

I think we'd have to ship you to the Throat of the World with the Greybeards. You'd fit right in.

[Amiel]

Imagine the possibilities

Of teaching cats to fire lasers from their mouths.

The perfect candidate;
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/5391/1b807851cb1f412483d20c5.jpg

[kpenguin]

Is it terrible that my first thought upon seeing "Living laser" was of the Iron Man villain?

[Phishfood]

AMMA FIRIN MAH LASER!

Oh ... does this mean we are getting closer to sharks with laser beams in their heads? Awesome!

Respectfully,

Brian P.

Ninjad. Kinda.

Seriously guys, use shark cells. Sharks with lasers is way cooler than humans with lasers.

Guessing the power output on these things was pretty low though.

[Amiel]

Seriously guys, use shark cells. Sharks with lasers is way cooler than humans with lasers.

Guessing the power output on these things was pretty low though.

Scientists should definitely adopt some form of protocol that allows them to harvest Mako shark brain cells to cure Alzheimer's disease. First, the Mako sharks' brain capacity must be exponentially increased for the appropriate synaptic corrective response to take place.

[Worira]

Actually, were this to be adapted to produce a functional laser in a living macroorganism, sharks might end up being the best candidate, due to their extreme sensitivity to electric fields.

[Phishfood]

Scientists should definitely adopt some form of protocol that allows them to harvest Mako shark brain cells to cure Alzheimer's disease. First, the Mako sharks' brain capacity must be exponentially increased for the appropriate synaptic corrective response to take place.

And then we could use the lasers to give them high visibility reverse lights for when they all start swimming backwards.

[DemonicAngel]

Am I really the only one thinking about infra-red application? think about it, a computer/cellphone connection straight from your eyes/brain.

[Yora]

Their reason?
The reason? "Because we can!"

And for the one reason that anything in the history of everything has ever been done:

"It seemed like a good idea at the time."


But at least, we have the robots (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KxjVlaLBmk) to protect us from laser firing mutants.

Actually, were this to be adapted to produce a functional laser in a living macroorganism, sharks might end up being the best candidate, due to their extreme sensitivity to electric fields.
Sharks with freakin laser beams in their heads?

[Eldan]

But at least, we have the robots (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KxjVlaLBmk) to protect us from laser firing mutants.

Okay. We now have a robot who can try a noose and throw grenades.

Who thought that was a good idea, again?

[Yora]

That thing is so fast, I think it could evade a rocket propelled grenade, catch it, and throw it back at the attacker before it explodes.

[Eldan]

Well, gee. That's reassuring. :smalltongue:

As a biologist, I'll be over there with the laser-sharks, bee detectors and homing moths.

[John Cribati]

"The cell also left the experiment unharmed." I think they flipped two words around, but instead I'm going to imagine the scientists fleeing in terror as the cell blasts away everything involved with the experiment. That should keep me entertained for, oh, a few minutes?

No, actually. It means that "When the cell left the experiment, it was unharmed."


Okay. We now have a robot who can try a noose and throw grenades.
Who thought that was a good idea, again?

People who make prosthetic limbs?

[Eldan]

No, actually. It means that "When the cell left the experiment, it was unharmed."


Yes, but it's delightfully ambiguous.

Edit: Actually, so is your version, just slightly less so. Praise the English language.

[Phishfood]

Yes, but it's delightfully ambiguous.

Edit: Actually, so is your version, just slightly less so. Praise the English language.

I'm now getting visions of a cell putting on a top hat and saying "ENOUGH with your experiment, I will not be treated like this. Good DAY sir!"

[Teddy]

That thing is so fast, I think it could evade a rocket propelled grenade, catch it, and throw it back at the attacker before it explodes.

Technically, the more advanced RPGs of today don't explode on impact but rather based on their position relative to the target, so grappling it would be of no avail.

Also, rockets are much faster than depicted in most games of today (movies tend to do it better). Catching one requires a speed which is many times greater than the one required for a juggled mobile phone.

[Worira]

Fun fact: an RPG is still an extremely lethal projectile, even without the exploding thing. It will just kind of impale you.

[Teddy]

Fun fact: an RPG is still an extremely lethal projectile, even without the exploding thing. It will just kind of impale you.

Although you'd have to leave out the G for some other letter. J, perhaps, as in Rocket Propelled Javelin. :smallwink:

[LaZodiac]

Well, most RPGs that I see (atleast, those translated into game medium) have pointed fronts. If it doesn't explode, that point end will hit you. Going at the speeds RPGs tend to go, that will atleast shove some of itself through your flesh, if not fully impaling you.

[Teddy]

Actually, most have flattened tips (I don't know, but it could be for the detonator), but at those speeds, the shape doesn't really matter especially much.

[SurlySeraph]

There was a case a couple years ago (http://militarytimes.com/news/2007/09/army_rpg_moss_070922w/) where a soldier was hit with an RPG, which lodged in him and didn't detonate. His squad put him on a medevac helicopter (in blatant defiance of regulations), and the surgeons managed to take it out of him with no explosions. He survived. Here's an interview with him. (http://www.militarytimes.com/multimedia/video/?bcrefid=808163493#/Live+RPG+removed+from+soldier/51745112001)

[Tyndmyr]

Okay. We now have a robot who can try a noose and throw grenades.

Who thought that was a good idea, again?

I'm confused as to how it could be anything else. I, for one, welcome our grenade throwing robotic overlords.



If it makes you feel better, they've already made robots that fuel themselves by eating organic matter. How do they get this organic matter, you ask? Dual wielding chainsaws, good sir. The way god intended.

[Amiel]

And then we could use the lasers to give them high visibility reverse lights for when they all start swimming backwards.

They had better also make that beeping noise, like all good reversible objects should; else, I'd be inclined to ask for my money back.

[Eldan]

If it makes you feel better, they've already made robots that fuel themselves by eating organic matter. How do they get this organic matter, you ask? Dual wielding chainsaws, good sir. The way god intended.

Yeah, I know those. But that just makes them the robot equivalent of animals. But grenades and nooses? Damn you, science, that's Man's domain! Also, that of apes, monkeys, squirrels, dolphins, a lot of birds and maybe some cephalopods and cats. But not robots!

[drakir_nosslin]

Well, gee. That's reassuring. :smalltongue:

As a biologist, I'll be over there with the laser-sharks, bee detectors and homing moths.

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/cuttlefish.png

[Gullintanni]

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/cuttlefish.png

I'm sad that the alt text didn't carry over :smallfrown:

[Eldan]

The problem with cuttlefish intelligence is that they don't live long enough, usually (Around 2 years, I think?). By the time they have learned a few tricks, they are already close to death again.

[Asta Kask]

Eldan, what kind of a super-weapon could be made bees with lasers?

[Eldan]

Bees with lasers?

Heh. First of all? Solitary bees. They can dig a meter deep into the ground (while being slightly over a centimeter big themselves) or into a wall. Perfect infiltrators. Some bees are only a few millimeters long. Or you could do the classic and outfit a honeybee swarm with a few thousand lasers.

[Draconi Redfir]

"The cell also left the experiment unharmed." I think they flipped two words around, but instead I'm going to imagine the scientists fleeing in terror as the cell blasts away everything involved with the experiment. That should keep me entertained for, oh, a few minutes?

this made me lol. +1 internets.


Well, gee. That's reassuring. :smalltongue:

As a biologist, I'll be over there with the laser-sharks, bee detectors and homing moths.

as a genetic engineer ill come with you and make them stronger to fight the comeing robot menice.

[Dvandemon]

Well, gee. That's reassuring. :smalltongue:

As a biologist, I'll be over there with the laser-sharks, bee detectors and homing moths.

You forgot the Cuttlefish. Camouflaged, super-intelligent, laser cephalopods FTW.

[Amiel]

You forgot the Cuttlefish. Camouflaged, super-intelligent, laser cephalopods FTW.

Don't forget the hyper-intelligent, prescient octopus.
I for one, welcome our cephalopod overlords.