Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with lasers

Lasers are cool. Literally.

pzarquon — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:16:52 -0800

Where can I find level-headed, researched, sound information on "cold lasers" or "low-level lasers" as medical treatments? I've been tasked with researching something called "cold lasers" or "low-level lasers" as medical tools, which is apparently used both for post-procedure pain reduction, as well as a "non-invasive" way to achieve liposuction-like weight-loss results. Unfortunately, the latter use means just about everything on the web about the technology comes across as a hard pitch for a sketchy treatment.

As far as I can tell, manufacturers and brand names include Erchonia, Zerona, CoolLipo, and the like.

Just about every mention, whether for pain or weight loss, talk about FDA approval. But I can't find any specific FDA report or listing, nor any details on the laser's approved uses. Is there a handy list anywhere of all the FDA approved things out there? And a search of the "reputable" web resources that I can think of like WebMD have very little to say.

The assertion is that these techniques are so new, that there's limited information available. But that's also what you'd say if you wanted to sell me snake oil.

On the other hand, it appears a lot of "reputable" (though I will put that in quotes), or at least established, clinics that do plastic surgery offer this, usually as one of many options. More than a few local TV stations have done segments, as YouTube demonstrates. But cosmetic surgery as a whole is already a mixed bag -- where a dentist or other outpatient practitioners could easily be moonlighting in liposuction.

This eHow article is just about the only fairly level-headed write up I can find. Everything else merely repeats the same points about how awesome these lasers are. Is there any "there" there, or are people basically switching the price tags on a PowerPoint laser pointer and selling hope?

Where can I find this old Flash animation with hopping bunnies and the head of Margaret Thatcher?

chrismear — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:10:47 -0800

Does anyone remember and know where I can find an old Flash animation that I saw on the internet years ago, which featured hopping bunnies, the floating head of Margaret Thatcher, and a jaunty song containing the word 'ja!'? Other features that I remember from this animation:

the head of Margaret Thatcher shot laser beams from her eyes;
there was a bit in the middle with, I think, valkyrie-type naked women dancing in a cancan style;
the opening lyrics of the song were something like (phonetically), "Oppan? Ja. Poppan? Ja!"; and
I think there were buildings on fire in the background.

I would like to see it again for nostalgia's sake, and also to confirm that this did actually exist and I'm not just going very very mad and inventing this horrible scene in my head from whole cloth.

I have tried searching for these terms on Google, but have had, perhaps understandably, little success.

Seems like there should be one around here somewhere....

Large Marge — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:58:31 -0800

I live in the East Bay, and I'd like to get my new moleskine notebook laser etched with my own design. There has got to be somewhere in the bay I can go get this done for a reasonable price (I'm not paying 40 bucks for a modofly job). I know at the maker faire shopbot had a whole station set up for stuff like this and it was free there. Any ideas?

Maybe I have been drinking...

Large Marge — Fri, 02 May 2008 22:39:17 -0800

What happened to that giant Michael Jackson Robot that was being built to shoot lasers at planes in the desert near Las Vegas. I haven't heard about that recently and I really want that to happen- any new info, o mighty hivemindius?

Dermatologists (or those who go to them) help me prevent & treat wrinkles (details inside).

mintchip — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:04:27 -0800

Dermatologists (or those who go to them) help me prevent & treat undereye wrinkles (details inside). I've been a die-hard sunscreen user for years, and I'm also fanatic about staying out of the sun. Consequently, people always guess I'm almost a decade younger.

However, newer sunscreen formulas always manage to get into my eyes and are extremely irritating so lately I've stopped using sunscreen around the eye area. Also, I tend to squint a lot when I smile.

ALL of a sudden(!) I just woke up with fine lines under my eyes...and they are getting worse.

My questions are thus:

1. Are there sunscreens that absolutely won't irritate the eye area?
2. If I learn to stop squinting when I smile will it make any difference at this point?
3. Is there any treatment that will really fix the fine lines? Do lasers really work and if so, how much do they cost? What about topical treatments (OTC, prescription, etc.)?

I know this might seem silly, but humor me please. I've been wearing sunscreen 365 days/year for years, so obviously I am hoping to slow Father Time.

Is this photo doctored?

Mo Nickels — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:55:17 -0800

Is this picture from Time magazine photoshopped? To my eyes, that laser beam is just wrong. I realize it's not an earth-shattering story if the photo is doctored, but if it is, it should be noted in the credit line. The article the photo belongs to is How Graffiti Artists are Cleaning Up.

What are the Big Ideas for combating global warming?

Galvatron — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 14:37:01 -0800

What are the Big Ideas for combating global warming? Who is proposing them? Which do you find most plausible? I'll admit it: I've watched some Star Trek in my time. Let me tell you, when there's a planetary crisis brewing, they don't sit around for twenty years debating Kyoto Protocols. They call in the Enterprise, drill down to the planet core with phasers, and reliquify the magma. (Substitute "tractor-beam the asteroid," "initiate a cascade reaction," or "compress the gravitational field" as you see fit.)

If you can accept the idea that we have, in fact reached a tipping point where climate change may accelerate out of control, then we're potentially too late to reverse the effects by meagre (and uncoordinated) efforts at limiting emissions. So what are the Big Ideas for solving the problem? Who is talking seriously about treating the earth as a very large engineering problem?

As just one example, are there proposals for economically feasible ways to temporarily alter the earth's reflectivity? Would such proposals be sufficiently non-disruptive to everyday life that nations could agree on them? What is the probability that such efforts would have the desired effect?

For the purpose of this question, please assume that global warming/climate change is a reality; I'm not interested in holding that debate here. Bonus points for any answers involving lasers.

How do I find the right LASIK doctor?

bDiddy — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 07:52:28 -0800

I'm looking into laser eye surgery and I need to know how to distinguish one doctor from the next. I know of a few places who perform the surgery, but really only from their advertising on radio stations I listen to. The testimonials from the people on the radio sound good, but then again they're paid testimonials so I don't know what to believe. I plan on going in for a free consultation, but I assume I'll hear about the same thing anywhere I go. So my questios are these: How do I determine which doctor is a good doctor versus one who will laser my eyes into dried up raisins? Alternatively, does it not really matter and I should just go wherever I am most comfortable? Also, how can I find good doctors who may be out there but who don't advertise on the radio stations I listen to?

I am in northern NJ, so if anyone has recommendations, I'd appreciate it.

Stop smoking with lasers or acupuncture?

nj_subgenius — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 05:27:51 -0800

Any of you stopped smoking (or not) after acupuncture or laser therapy? After many years of smoking 30 or so cigs a day I went to a hypnotist, which helped me quit for a two weeks - which was the longest I'd gone before. The hypnotherapy helped a lot with resolve to stay quit but not for long. FWIW, I can't take bupropion, so Zyban is out of the question. Have done patches and gum. I hate to think a health scare is going to get me to quit cold turkey and by then it could be be too late. Help!

Wooden Dinosaurs R We?

metaculpa — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 00:10:30 -0800

How are the wonderful wooden dinosaur models made?
Is it done, perchance, with lasers? More to the point, what is their wholesale cost? How would that change if I wanted 10k of a single model? If I guaranteed an order of 1k, each with a different pattern?

And how does one find these things out?
I suppose I should just call someone up and ask, eh?

Why does laser light

joelf — Sun, 20 Mar 2005 08:40:05 -0800

Why does laser light "sparkle"? I noticed the laser light sparkles, it's really apparent if you shine it at something that difuses the light, like some semi clear plastic, or cloudy water. The light has a quality to it i've never seen anywhere else. It sparkles. I'm just wondering if anyone knows why?

Can we make cool explosions with lasers yet?

lbergstr — Fri, 04 Jun 2004 16:36:35 -0800

Can we do cool shit with lasers yet? This is a two-part question, actually: can the military blow up the moon with a laser by now? Or something like that? And are there consumer lasers that I could mount on my car and destroy things with?

How do gaming console laser guns work?

kev23f — Fri, 12 Dec 2003 06:17:50 -0800

You know the laser guns that various gaming consoles have - well how do they work exactly? [more inside] These laser guns are generally attached to the console itself, so how does the tv know where the laser is pointing at any one time?
Possibly a really stupid question, but hopefully someone can help with a link or two. Thanks.