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It is disturbing how much the modern world owes to warmongers. In Weapons Grade (Constable & Robinson, £12.99), David Hambling explores the terrain, excavating the past from the Manhattan Project to lasers. Originally developed to kill, lasers are now used for music and pleasure. Hambling also considers future tech. Sadly, here too are great ideas that will have to shake off their murky origins. We could have personal air conditioning – from pulses of chilly air, the peaceful side of a thermal weapon.