The novel Gd-containing sulfide glasses were investigated. Some glass properties including infrared spectra, microhardness, density and the curves of XRD and DSC were tested.

When that glass is then "read" by a laser, the voxels produce tiny whirlpools of light, the properties of which have already been determined by the polarity of the laser pulse that created each voxel.

"There is some evidence that you can modify the composition to make it innately stronger," Dr. Stevens said, although that risks altering other properties or making the glass too costly.