WASHINGTON – Tractor beams, energy rays that can move objects, are a science fiction mainstay. But now they are becoming a reality -- at least for moving very tiny objects. Researchers from the ...

SCIENCE fiction is turning into science fact as researchers reveal they’ve developed Star Trek-style tractor beams that could move humans. The beams have only been tested on a small 2cm strip of ...

Tractor beams have hit the big time. A newly constructed device generates a beam of concentrated sound that, for the first time, exerts a continuous, perceptible tug on objects large enough to see.

Eric Mack has been a CNET contributor since 2011. Eric and his family live 100% energy and water independent on his off-grid compound in the New Mexico desert. Eric uses his passion for writing about ...

There's no escaping it: Though the tractor beam is a staple of sci-fi space-faring scenarios, it's also extremely counter-intuitive. How does one pull something in via an outward-shooting beam? A few ...

The 3.5-ton, full-electric tractor has onboard cameras and sensors useful for sowing fields and detecting mines. By Mack DeGeurin Published Jun 6, 2025 12:37 PM EDT Add Popular Science (opens in a new ...

First researchers created a tractor beam that levitates, pulls and pushes objects, just like in Star Trek. Then they modified the design so you can make one at home. Eric Mack has been a CNET ...

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us? Microscope “tractor beams,” known to scientists as optical tweezers, come in either ...