It makes up most of the sun and is often used to weld metal, but now plasma is being harnessed by Texas A&M scientists and put to use in medical research, among other fields.
Texas A&M researchers at the Plasma Engineering and Diagnostics Lab aim to use plasma — the fourth state of matter formed when gas is subjected to extreme temperatures — to advance technology in medicine, petroleum and other industries. With proper control, plasma might one day be used as next-generation surgical scalpels, portable X-ray machines and Improvised Explosive Device detectors.
