News in Brief Physics Laser tractor beam tugs on beads Experiment is first to pull objects over considerable distances with light By Andrew Grant October 21, 2014 at 1:45 pm - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print A doughnut-shaped beam of green light can pull glass beads for tens of centimeters, the longest distance ever reported for a tractor beam of light. Regardless of what science fiction would suggest, it’s hard to get an object to move in the opposite direction as the light illuminating it.