It came from outer space — Episode 2: Green Goo

Episode 1 last week featured GM's OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, essentially a GPS-based remote-controlled car disabler.

From a June 5, 2008 article in The Economist: "One way to avoid the need for chases would be to track felonious vehicles electronically, instead of running after them. StarChase, a company based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, has developed a way to do just that. A pneumatic cannon [above] is mounted on the pursuit car.

"With the help of a guiding laser, it shoots a satellite-based tracking device, smothered in epoxy goo, onto the target vehicle, allowing the police to track the suspect without endangering the public. The Los Angeles Police Department plans to deploy the system this year."