Polarised light sends fibres in a new direction

Japanese scientists have developed a photochromic molecular fibre that can be bent in different directions using polarised light. 

Photomechanical effects in materials are interesting from a fundamental science point of view and possible practical applications such as light driven actuators. Previously the bending direction of these materials could only be altered by changing the position and wavelength of the light source. More...

http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/ChemScience/Volume/2010/04/polarised_lights.asp