Fighting fire with an electric-field generating "magic wand":

Researchers say they've found a new way to snuff out flames using an electric field-generating wand -- and the seemingly magical technique just might be put to use in future fire rescues...

The technology sounds a bit like the fictional flame-freezing charm or the Aguamenti spell mentioned in J.K. Rowling's series of Harry Potter books, and the fact that it's done with a wand-like electrode makes the story even better. "The best geometry of the electrode is in the form of a thin wire, which journalists creatively labeled a wand," [Harvard researcher] Cademartiri said.