'Tractor beams' - invisible beams that can push and pull objects - are a staple of science fiction.
In Star Trek, the beams are used to haul spaceships across space, capture floating capsules and even snare fleeing enemies.
It's not just science fiction writers who are interested in the idea, though.
Nasa has put aside $100,000 to research the idea of using lasers to 'drag' particles from vehicles such as Mars Rover to orbiting space craft.
Particles is the operative word - the real 'tractor' beams will be able to move particles the size of a living cell, but nothing bigger.
At that scale, though, Nasa says the technology is 'not beyond current technological know-how.'
Nasa Principal Investigator Paul Stysley and team members Demetrios Poulios and Barry Coyle at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center will study three experimental methods for corralling particles and transporting them via laser light to an instrument -- akin to a vacuum using suction to collect and transport dirt to a canister or bag.
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