Maybe you can't "catch a falling star and put it in your pocket," but new technology from the Department of Information Physics at University Tokyo's Komuro Laboratory makes it possible to hold a ray of light in the palm of your hand.

Thanks to innovative tracking technology, a laser beam projected from a tiny, unmoving light bulb seems to "stick" to objects and can bounce back and forth from one hand to another. The Sticky Light uses a laser, mirrors, and a photodetector to move around and "stick" to dark, solid objects.

Creators think the gaming possibilities of the Sticky Light are endless. The half-milliwatt spot of light can travel across vertical and horizontal surfaces, following paths in a printed maze or jumping between contoured objects.

"The scanned material does not need to be just a black and white flat drawing; it can be virtually anything," the inventors say. "What is needed is that the scanned object present enough contrast for the sticky light to be able to know its whereabouts, and then stick and/or follow the contours and shapes."

Videos are available online demonstrating hand drawn game boards that turn a sheet of paper into an air (or light) hockey table with the help of the Sticky Light. The light can also bounce and "roll" along lines as they are being drawn.

There's no word yet on when the device will be ready for the consumer market, but holiday shoppers interested in illuminated Christmas gifts might be interested in LED jewelry, LED bath toys, and more, available for purchase online.