Physicists create exotic electron liquid

By bombarding an ultrathin semiconductor sandwich with powerful laser pulses, physicists have created the first 'electron liquid' at room temperature. The achievement opens a pathway for development of the first practical and efficient devices to generate and detect light at terahertz wavelengths -- between infrared light and microwaves. Such devices could be used in applications as diverse as communications in outer space, cancer detection, and scanning for concealed weapons.