Laser Turns All Metals Black

Roland Piquepaille writes "Researchers at the University of Rochester have found a way to change the properties of almost any metal by using a femtosecond laser pulse. This ultra-intense laser blast creates true 'black metal' from copper, gold or zinc by forming nanostructures at the surface of the metal. As these nanostructures capture radiation, the metals turn black. And as the process needs surprisingly low power, it could soon be used for a variety of applications, such as stealth planes, black jewels or car paintings. But read more for additional references and a picture of this femtosecond laser system."

Mr. H. Desoto

[TJ_Phazerhacki]

Your spaceship is ready....

"true 'black metal'"?!

[grub]

This ultra-intense laser blast creates true 'black metal'

Rubbish, true [youtube.com] 'black [youtube.com] metal' [youtube.com]
(sniff... brings back memories of seeing them in '83.)

Picture

[duguk]

Picture can be found here [googlepages.com]

I really should just go to bed...

DugUK

Obligatory Spinal Tap ref

[germansausage]

"None more black"

"wall outlet" ease of the use

[Kanasta]

"wall outlet" ease of the use + "it would drill a hole through your skin" = ultimate home security system

Re:How black is it?

[ross.w]

It's so black, even the white bits are black!

I know - boring

black

[Feyr]

a black engagement ring? perfect for your goth bride! Buy One Now!

Re:anything special?

[chill]

The treated metal absorbs all incoming radiation, such as microwaves and lasers.

Hint: Think "perfect stealth", not only for planes, but for your car as well. Make that cop toting the radar gun go insane.

Re:How black is it?

[Nefarious Wheel]

The black has to be as close as possible to absolute. Otherwise you'll be picked up on scanners from a long way away. You have to make your speedster totally non-ferrous, too, right down to the windings in the Bergenholm.

Meh

[LoRdTAW]

We all know that true black metal is Mayhem.

Space-age technology!

[shadow demon]

"It's the wild colour scheme that freaks me," said Zaphod whose love affair with this ship had lasted almost three minutes into the flight, "every time you try to operate one of these weird black controls that are labelled in black on a black background, a little black light lights up black to let you know you've done it. What is this? Some kind of galactic hyperhearse?"

The walls of the swaying cabin were also black, the ceiling was black, the seats-which were rudimentary since the only important trip this ship was designed for was supposed to be unmanned-were black, the control panel was black, the instruments were black, the little screws that held them in place were black, the thin tufted nylon floor covering was black, and when they had lifted up a corner of it they had discovered that the foam underlay also was black."

*bows to Mr Adams*

black...

[yakumo.unr]

black is the new gold.

(and silver, and bronze..)

Re:How black is it?

[Frogbert]

Blacker! I'm talking black knobs with black legends on a black control panel black. It's so black it's frictionless.

Re:anything special?

[diersing]

Awesome! What colors are available?

Re:anything special?

[notthe9]

Any color you want, so long as it's black.

Re:anything special?

[Headcase88]

Good for stuntships that only go on one un-manned mission to explode into a sun. As long as you don't mind everything being completely black.

Make everything metal

[netwiz]

blacker than the blackest black times infinity...

That's not all

[Centurix]

They found on the way that by using a nanosecond laser they produced Emo metal, which can cut itself.

Special Properties

[camperdave]

Does this black metal have any special properties aside from being black?

Well, that one property alone makes it excellent for building Ford Model-Ts.

Re:anything special?

[Tdawgless]

I think we need another reply telling you the difference between black and invisible. The above 3 replies were not effective. :| No body is going to read this anyways...

You realise what this means, right?

[schnitzi]

Samuel L. Jackson can star in the next Terminator movie.

Congradulations on a milestone

[CrazyJim1]

Man has finally learned how to turn gold into something resembling lead.

Re:Blackness

[jaseparlo]

I see a red door and I want it femtoblasted black....nope, you're right, doesn't scan.

Re:How black is it?

[SeaFox]

It's so black if they had it 60 years ago you'd have to buy it in a separate store from the regular metals.

Old news

[Handlarn]

Another way to create true black metal is to play music really fast onto a noisy old tape recorder.

Re:How black is it?

[aug24]

Let me describe it for you in terms slasherdotters'll understand: #GGGGGG

Cheers,
J.

Re: Laser turns all metals black

[carlsefni]

"This ultra-intense laser blast creates true 'black metal' from copper, gold or zinc ...."

Death to false black metal!

:)

I also noticed that the summary was written

[einhverfr]

by someone really really old....

A laser that turns all metals black. All metals being copper, zinc, and gold. As if these are the only metals around.

Time to wake up. It isn't the bronze age anymore.

Ah a breakthrough!

[Qoroite]

So the Alchemists have at last achieved the long sought goal of transmuting Gold into Lead. Oh wait.......