Let's confuse people...

[metavac]

You may have run across this little gem recently. Greenleaf et. al. describe a neat little waveguide made of metamaterial. Of course, being mathematical physicists, they're interested in the topological features of such an application, and therefore feel fully justified lifting terms primarily of interest to cosmologists and particle physicists. Terms like 'wormhole.' Terms like 'modifying space.' Terms that attract investors with fond memories of warp drive technobabble. Terms that might justify bumping up your IPO a couple dozen cents on the dollar should you choose to take a sabbatical for a year and kick off a start up.

And who says the science industry is full of boring principle-mongers?

[Teleros]

Looks more like a bunch of journalists (and maybe a few PR types) trying to make it sound more interesting to me. I mean, "invisible tube" doesn't sound quite as eye-catching as "wormhole" does it ?

[metavac]

It's not just journalists. The actual paper alludes to cosmological wormholes and modifying space. Of course, it neatly avoids proposing anything akin to a space-time shortcut, but that doesn't stop the authors from lifting wicked sick terms when it suits'em.