Atomic particles 'teleported'

[Champ]

Teleportation--"sending" atoms, or at least their properties, through space without any physical movement--is possible, according to scientists at the National Institute for Standards and Technologies.

In a paper published in the journal Nature, NIST scientists say they were able to transfer the quantum state, or list of active properties, of one beryllium atom to another. The quantum state describes such physical characteristics as energy, motion and magnetic field.

Since the quantum properties of an atom can represent data, teleportation could be thought of as a way of creating an atomic network. Data could move rapidly through teleportation from one zone in a hypothetical quantum computer to another.

In NIST's teleportation experiment, there is no physical movement. Instead, data is transmitted. Such a transfer could speed up calculations in a futuristic computer. "It is quicker than moving the atoms" in such a computer, NIST spokeswoman Laura Ost said.

http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-5238136.html

[MikeG]

1. Hey, you gonna finish that pizza. If not, fax it to me.

[Beaker]

2. Star Trek type "beaming" (Beam me up, scotty...) will NEVER happen.

I've always found it interesting that in the Star Wars movies they don't go in for teleportation in any way- it's one of the things I like about them.

[Deja Q]

3. Like cloning, they're mincing words.

Real cloning is a complete and identical copy of the original life form. (all clones made to date have utterly different personalities - most of them die of horrific ailments too.)

These people are sending the proprties of atoms. Not whole atoms. Once they can teleport whole atoms, then I'll accept it as being more than G-rated tabloid trash.

Also, apply this to people. It'll save on gas and oil. Who bloody cares about data when, in 50 years, it'll be utterly useless anyway?