This is super cool. I realise that it is only for very small things (eg the size of a red blood cell) but it is cool nonetheless. Remember that device from school that was used to demonstrate that sunlight (and light in general) excert a force? Well some dudes from Glasgow have found a way to:
use a pair of laser beams to rotate an object in three dimensions, turning it like a ball rather than a wheel. The method is a step forward in manipulating microscopic objects because it provides a way to turn an object on any axis -- it is not restricted to the axis of the laser beam
Mmm 3D is much better than simply pushing it around, it means you can do funky stuff with it. Yeah, I'm pretty bored.
Not as good, but worth reading just because the author when discussing the use of iris identification finished with the sentence "When it comes to biometric security, one might say, the eyes have it." If he can get away with that, I think there is hope for us all.
Also, if you scan the retina and have retinal scanning do you scan the iris and have iral scanning? Mmm Latin geeks?
Posted by luther at March 10, 2003 10:01 PM