Tuning quantum vacuum forces from attractive to repulsive
The force is strong not only in Star Wars lore but also as a fundamental property in physics. For example, scientists can put two uncharged metal plates close together in a vacuum, and "voila!" - -they will attract each other like Luke Skywalker and his trusted lightsaber. In 1948, Dutch theoretical physicist Hendrick Casimir first predicted an attractive force responsible for this effect