Once again, reality overtakes fiction...

Here's the fiction in a fun clip from 1986; Star Trek's imaginary "Transparent Aluminum:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzRziK-kZtQ

Here's the reality, today:

(PhysOrg.com) -- Oxford scientists have created a transparent form of aluminium by bombarding the metal with the world’s most powerful soft X-ray laser. 'Transparent aluminium' previously only existed in science fiction, featuring in the movie Star Trek IV, but the real material is an exotic new state of matter with implications for planetary science and nuclear fusion.

http://www.physorg.com/news167925273.html/