Traditionally, scientists have pointed lasers at objects in the hope of heating them, but this process takes time. That's because the heat from the laser first excites the electrons contained within, and it's the electrons that then push the ions around -- which is pretty inefficient. The team decided to see if they could cut out the middleman and simply heat these ions directly.

It transpires that certain types of plastics, specifically ones with a secret blend of different ions, are perfect for the method. When you fire a laser at this material, it creates an electrostatic shockwave that bypasses the electrons and superheats the ions directly. Of course, this is all a theoretical process, so now it's down to all of those labs with a high-powered laser to test it out.

[Image Credit: Getty]