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 Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Share on X (Opens in new window) X 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.