If you're anything of a sci-fi geek, you know that one of the coolest technologies in the imaginary universe is 3D holographic projection.  Displaying a still image or even a video feed in actual 3D, not just 3D projected onto a 2D surface.  We've gotten good at the latter, but the former has until now remained a bit beyond our reach.  Well, researchers at USC have taken a significant leap towards that far-off future that includes ray guns, aliens and giant planet-destroying battlestations.  They've developed a true 360 degree holographic display.

The details are of course complex and confusing, but in simple terms, it works by using a high-speed projector to project an image onto a angled mirror spinning at a very high rate.  You can view the 3D image from any angle, walk around it and the perspective remains correct.  Hit the link below to see a video demonstration of the technology in action.  It's pretty impressive.