FEATURES

Ray guns get real
For 50 years, the U.S. military has wanted a solid-state laser weapon that can destroy targets at the speed of light without collateral damage. The latest batch of contenders brings some new ideas to the hunt for the ultimate weapon. By Jeff Hecht

Germany’s green-energy gap
The offshore wind farms that were to replace nuclear- and coal-fired power plants aren’t coming online quickly enough. By Peter Fairley

UPDATE

Interplanetary Internet
Weaving a different kind of web—in space.
By Elise Ackerman

Of cows and power lines

What’s the point of Intel’s Mobile Internet Device?

King coal eats its veggies

Is this the moment for broadband over power lines?

Jordan’s high-tech water plan

The Big Picture
Three robots in search of an author.

News Brief: Bendable Memristors expanded

News Brief: Zap!

OPINION

Spectral Lines
Our new Web site allows users to explore the content-rich world of IEEE Spectrum and IEEE

Reflections
Some engineering problems are wicked hard. By Robert W. Lucky

DEPARTMENTS

Back Story
Lasers aim for ICBMs but hit mosquitoes.

Geek life
A dream phone turns out to be only a dream. By Susan Karlin
Put 470 000 words in your pocket. By Steven Cherry

Careers
Art curators get help from signal-processing researchers. By Susan Karlin

Hands on
Add a virtual wristwatch to your other DIY projects. By James Turner

Books
179 mathematical teasers for readers 11 to 88. By Clive Feather

Tools & Toys
Wiring your entire house for sound has never been easier. By Tekla S. Perry

The Data
Telcos are laying as many underwater cables as they did in the dot-com heyday. By Steven Cherry