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Photonic Molecules? Photonic Molecules.

Sep 25, 2013#1

GasBandit

So, yeah. Photonic Molecules, y'all. Scientists have found a way to get photons to bond and form molecules that behave as if they have mass, creating a form of matter never before observed. The discovery possibly has implications for quantum computing and light sabers and I didn't make any of that up.

Sep 25, 2013#2

Gusto

GasBandit said:
So, yeah. Photonic Molecules, y'all. Scientists have found a way to get photons to bond and form molecules that behave as if they have mass, creating a form of matter never before observed. The discovery possibly has implications for quantum computing and light sabers and I didn't make any of that up.

That is incredible.

I love scientists, and I love that they state that they were basically doing it for shits and giggles, to see what would happen.

Sep 25, 2013#3

PatrThom

I'd be happy with a variable sword, really.

--Patrick

Sep 25, 2013#4

GasBandit

Gusto said:
That is incredible.

I love scientists, and I love that they state that they were basically doing it for shits and giggles, to see what would happen.

Wouldn't it have been funny if they accidentally created photonic-microscopic life (or perhaps just self-replicating substance) that fed off of photons, so any light source would cause the amorphous, glowing mass to replicate and grow, causing a kind of glowing-gray-goo event.

Sep 25, 2013#5

Tress

GasBandit said:
Wouldn't it have been funny if they accidentally created photonic-microscopic life (or perhaps just self-replicating substance) that fed off of photons, so any light source would cause the amorphous, glowing mass to replicate and grow, causing a kind of glowing-gray-goo event.

Yes, that would just be the funniest.

:rolleyes:

Sep 25, 2013#6

Gusto

GasBandit said:
Wouldn't it have been funny if they accidentally created photonic-microscopic life (or perhaps just self-replicating substance) that fed off of photons, so any light source would cause the amorphous, glowing mass to replicate and grow, causing a kind of glowing-gray-goo event.

Funny or terrifying? Hmmm...

Sep 25, 2013#7

GasBandit

Funny because it'd probably be the most annoying apocalypse ever, what with the substance not actually being actively harmful other than perhaps causing plants to die from bogarting all the sunlight, or perhaps becoming deep enough to drown in after a few days.

I wonder if Photonic Matter floats? Hell, I wonder if it's heavier than air at all? Maybe the matter would build up in the atmosphere until it was never night, anywhere.

Sep 25, 2013#8

PatrThom

I would worry more if it could exist at temperatures higher than just above absolute zero. Otherwise, it's not going to get much farther than the lab.

--Patrick

Sep 25, 2013#9

bhamv3

Cave Johnson said:
I'll be honest, we're throwing science at the walls here to see what sticks. No idea what it'll do.

Sep 25, 2013#10

Shakey

PatrThom said:
I would worry more if it could exist at temperatures higher than just above absolute zero. Otherwise, it's not going to get much farther than the lab.

--Patrick

They said it had to be absolute zero to get them to bond but I don't know if they said they reverted back if it wasn't.

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