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If you live in the U.S., Canada, or Europe, you might be gearing up for the "Star Wars" premiere this weekend and it's not a spoiler alert to say the movie will have lasers in it.
In medical science, they can be used as scalpels.
In industry, they can be used to cut and wilt.
In entertainment, laser light shows.
But how closer are they to being used as military weapons?
Laser weapons on military jets.
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory told CNN it hopes to demonstrate a fighter jet laser as soon as 2020.
It really is a nationally tipping point, where we see the technology evolving and maturing to the stage where it really can be used.
This year, the Air Force, the Pentagon research arm DARPA, and Lockheed Martin successfully tested a laser turret that would allow near supersonic planes to surround themselves with 360-degree defensive laser shield.
The Air Force Lab has already built working lasers that can destroy aircraft from the ground, like this laser shoot down of an unmanned plane in 2009, which was a precision breakthrough.
At sea, the U.S. Navy already has an operational laser weapon aboard the USS Ponce.
But hitting moving targets from a fighter jet flying hundreds of miles an hour is a lot harder.
A successful laser weapon can burn through strong materials remarkably fast with virtual silence.
Pilots could use it to defend against enemy planes, threats from the ground and incoming missiles.
No need to reload because ammunition is electrical-powered, not bullets.
To be effective, fighter jet lasers will have to be smaller and ground based lasers.
They'll have to be accurate despite the G-forces, vibrations and speed that come with air combat.
In addition to fighters, the commander of Air Force Special Operations says he wants defensive, high energy lasers aboard huge AC-130J Ghostrider Gunships by 2020.
Experts say it will be the beginning of a new era as laser weapons are poised to exit science fiction and join missiles, guns, and bombs in the real world.
Thom Patterson, CNN.
You may know mistletoe is a plant.
But did you know it's a parasite?
Mistletoe can be bad for oak, poplar and apple trees, and it can be toxic if people and animals eat it.
So, if you find yourself under the mistletoe with the wrong person this Christmas, just share that fun fact because no one finds a parasite romantic.
Now, that's random!
All right. We've shown a lot of amazing basketball shots on CNN STUDENT NEWS.
Usually, they're by a player not a mother and usually, they're not made granny style.
This half court shot was worth half a tuition payment at a private high school.
The mom says she said a prayer and chuck it with her eyes closed.
Nope, but yep! Yes. You saw that, though the mom apparently didn't.
The ball bounced once, then arced into the basket. Swish!
Now, she gets it. Yes, it counted. She had three chances to make it.
This was her last one. It will save the family $4,000 and give them a memory money can't buy.
So, of course, it was worth the shot.
The result was nothing but net. Even with the swish, she totally banked it.
It was a hot shot, a shot at funding, a shot in the arm for tuition.
And though it's almost time for us to bounce off-court, our staff at CNN STUDENT NEWS wishes all of you a Merry Christmas, a Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays.
We hope you had a Happy Hanukkah.
And we thank you for another wonderful calendar year.
Look forward to seeing you on January 4th, 2016. I'm Carl Azuz.
