She is working on focusing the transmitted beam into a much smaller area, so that less energy is lost along its way.

ECONOMIST: Archaeology

While the patient is still on the operating table, a lead disc is slipped behind the breast tissue to protect the chest cavity, and an eight inch wide electron beam focused directly on the area surrounding the tumour.

BBC: 'One stop shop' for cancer

That means the beam produced is of higher quality than other lasers, is extremely straight (even by the exacting standards of a normal laser beam) and can thus be focused onto a small area.

ECONOMIST: Solar power from space

The beam reflects off any objects, including people, within the area.

BBC: fire fighting

She knocked down several walls to create a 2, 000-square-foot "great room, " turning the kitchen area, living room and dining room into one space, with wood-beam ceilings.

WSJ: Looking Out for No. 1 - WSJ Mansion

The beam was reported as coming from a sports ground in the Whipton area, on the other side of the M5 motorway from the airport, police said.

BBC: Green laser

In the incident which led to the teenager's conviction, a green beam was shone at the aircraft which was about 2, 000ft (610m) over a populated area of Torquay while it was searching for a missing person.

BBC: Laser warning after teenager guilty of 'dazzling' pilot