Northrop Grumman just made a laser that measures 105 kilowatts, just north of the 100 kilowatt bar that defence researchers have called the weapons grade cutoff. Pew pew indeed.

Wired’s Danger Room says that this won’t be like Star Wars’ blasters or Star Trek’s phasers, but it can shoot “mortars and rockets” in war zones now. Two problems left to solve before we can start using lasers full time: how to dissipate heat and how to get them small enough to be practical. [Wired - Photo courtesy Northrop Grumman]