Theoretical foundations for the Laser were developed by none other than Albert Einstein himself. Then in 1953, the first maser was produced - a device using the same principle, but amplifying microwaves, not visible light. The first actual laser was built in 1960 at Hughes Research Laboratories, California, using a ruby crystal to produce a coherent beam of red light. Laser quickly became an indispensable technology in manufacturing, communication, research, data storage and military weapons. Its cultural impact on the science fiction genre can't be overlooked either.