The word "laser" stands for a bunch of scientific words: The first two letters stand for "light amplification," and the last three for "stimulated emission of radiation."

In other words, a laser amplifies, or intensifies, light. A laser can take a weak beam of light and make it more powerful. Some of these light beams are so strong that thay can burn tiny holes in steel in less than a second, says 3-2-1 Contact magazine.A laser beam is powerful because all its light rays travel in the same direction, without spreading out. Think of it like water running through a pipe. (Light rays in ordinary light travel in different directions, like water spraying from a fountain.) A laser beam's rays are all exactly the same wavelength, too. So, the rays can pulse together to form a bright, strong beam.

Different kinds of lasers are already being used for everyday purposes, such as playing CDs, cutting metal and performing surgery. And who knows? Someday people may even shave with lasers, not razors!

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