Is it ture that MIT has created a Tractor Beam?

Question

I had heard this rumor and was wondering if it was true, if so can you give me some information on it?

Answer 1

who cares?

Answer 2

It's a tractor beam in the very loosest sense.  We're not talking about taking humans and lifting them into the air with a light beam.  We're not even talking about frogs or insects.

They have developed a way to manipulate microscopic object and cells with a beam of light.  They're referring to this technology as "optical tweezers"

So technically the answer is yes; however, we're talking very small objects on the order of a millionth of a meter.

Answer 3

Sort of.  But it won't be levitating cows or towing spaceships

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/nano-...