It Makes a Difference to the Sheep

If this news article is to be believed, we're far closer to developing such sci-fi weapons than I thought.

Test subjects can't see the invisible beam from the Pentagon's new, Star Trek-like weapon, but no one has withstood the pain it produces for more than three seconds.

People who volunteered to stand in front of the directed energy beam say they felt as if they were on fire. When they stepped aside, the pain disappeared instantly.

Thanks to Virginia Postrel (who sees the disturbing potential for stuff like this to be used to torture people) for the link.