- I really loved this origin movie.

- A powerful crystal, dangerous to the touch-

- Capable of powering enormous engines-

- Requiring careful calibration with the most advanced technology-

- Or things go kablooey.

- Dilithium crystals!

- Always wondered where they came from.

It feels like another Star Trek moment in science--portable machines that can analyze the chemical make-up of objects within seconds. This Science News article describes how chemists adapted mass spectrometry and lasers to be able to detect counterfeit prescription drugs while still in their packages.

In the last century, powerful tools were ( Read more... )