I can't decide if this is extremely cool or extremely scary. DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) is developing their very own turbolaser called HELLADS.

Story on Technovelgy.com

On the one hand, I have a rather geeky inclination to do a little happy dance and go on and on about how cool this is. On the other hand, though, I can't help but wonder at humanity's penchant for coming up with new and better ways to destroy itself. I can only hope that once they're done with this little project they might consider working on something a little more elegant -- a lightsaber, mayhaps?