From Science Fiction to Reality: U.S. Navy Technology and Innovation:
"From the 1930s on, science fiction comics, books and movies had plenty of futuristic portrayals of "ray guns" shooting some kind of mysterious energy.
Decades later, Star Wars and Star Trek helped captivate millions more with the idea. But all along, the Office of Naval Research has been steadfastly developing the real thing. Starting in the 1950s, ONR sponsored research that ultimately led to the first "lasers" (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation)."
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