Edging closer and closer to blasters, laser rifles, and phasers. Danger Room covers the story …

What happens when a high-power laser weapon strikes human flesh? This is the topic addressed in a paper for the Air Force office of Scientific Research with the title, “Laser Induced Shock Waves and Vaporization in Biological Systems.” It’s all about computer modeling the effects of laser pulses …

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/05/when-laser-me-1.html