Let's see. Successful force field protection tests. Anti-gravity. And don't even get me started on Warp Drive. Now, like some eerie clip from Star Trek IV, comes "transparent alumninum". For real (article | picture).

This is starting to scare me.

Germany's Fraunhofer Institut has found a way to create an alumina ceramic sheet that, in usable thicknesses, transmits more than 50% of light with minimal distortion. But unlike glass, this material is apparently "three times tougher than hardened steel of the same thickness." So it's no surprise that the military is interested in using this for helmet visors, armored windows, and more.

Jeffrey Harrow, whose excellent blog/newsletter pointed me at this story, had this to say:

"The bottom line is that yet another science fiction idea seemingly falls to reality, and it's hardly going to be the last. I think that these "speculative fiction" writers deserve much more credit than they're normally given, as they inspire other creative minds to actually create the innovations that they envision in their stories.

I wonder which "improbability" will be next..."

Truly. I suppose "light sabers" would be too much to hope for. Given the tenor of the times, however, might I suggest some of the gadgets from "Predator" instead?

That would certainly up some poll numbers.

UPDATES:

* Suman Palit, posting on the team blog Gene Expression, adds Trek-like Medical Tricorders to the lists of stuff under development.

* More data on the material in question. It may not be as amazing as it seems.