Recently folks from the University of California, Riverside announced that they had made progress in creating an ultraviolet solid state laser.

FORBES: What is the Future of Optical Disc Technology and who will Use It?

At the EADS labs in Filton, U.K., researchers demonstrated that they can print out several different metal parts for airplanes with a technology that uses a laser to heat metal powders until they form solid metal shapes.

FORBES: GE and EADS Are Developing Processes to Print Airplane Parts

Dana Marshall, a mechanical engineer, was working at McDonnell Douglas on solid-state lasers for the military--mainly for targeting laser-guided weapons.

FORBES: Yes, there is a pulse