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Nature 415, 110-111 (10 January 2002) | doi:10.1038/415110a
Shorter, brighter, better
Navroz Patel1
Abstract
A laser technology with military roots looks set to make a big impact on biology. By creating short pulses of intense radiation, free-electron lasers will advance our understanding of biological molecules. Navroz Patel reports.
It is a scene straight out of the movies — satellites, armed with high-powered lasers, blast incoming enemy missiles from the sky. But when President Ronald Reagan's controversial 'Star Wars' defence programme was phased out around a decade ago, this scene was relegated to the cutting-room floor.
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