8 scientific breakthroughs straight from the movies

"Star Wars"-style holograms? Fabric that mimics Harry Potter's invisibility cloak? Some of the most implausible sci-fi concepts are becoming a reality

Inception
(Image credit: Screen shot/ inceptionmovie.warnerbros.com)

Hollywood has long been obsessed with ahead-of-the-curve technology — flying cars, time machines, self-lacing sneakers. In certain cases, however, science is catching up, creating functional versions of Hollywood's most futuristic ideas. Here, 8 once-merely-cinematic innovations that are being developed for real life:

1. A 3D hologram (Princess Leia hairdo not included)

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