Scientists at Rice University, Stanford University, and UT Austin have developed a mechanism to generate solvated electrons through plasmon resonance, making it easier to turn light into these clean, zero-byproduct chemicals. This breakthrough could lead to new ways of driving chemical reactions and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 18, 2023
Researchers developed a self-powered nanowire sensor that can detect nitrogen dioxide in the air without power source. The sensor has potential applications in environmental monitoring, healthcare, and industrial safety.
SourceARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 5, 2023
Researchers from Nara Institute of Science and Technology have developed a straightforward means of fabricating high-quality soft semiconductors for advanced electrical circuits. The new method offers superior control over the resulting semiconductor film morphology, critical to its electrical properties.
SourceNara Institute of Science and Technology·JournalAdvanced Electronic Materials·DateJan 4, 2023
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have developed an optoelectronic resonator that enhances the sensitivity of an electron pulse detector, allowing for ultrafast electronic characterization of proteins or materials. This breakthrough may aid in the study of biomolecules and industrial materials.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalACS Photonics·DateDec 14, 2022
GoPro HERO13 Black
GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.
A research group developed an in-sensor reservoir computing system for latent fingerprint recognition, achieving 100% recognition accuracy even with 15% background noise. The system uses deep ultraviolet photo-synapses and a memristor array to process information in parallel, reducing latency and increasing efficiency.
SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 2, 2022
A research team from USTC has discovered a novel method to amplify the relative phase in optical interference by leveraging non-linear effects. This breakthrough could lead to improved measurement accuracy in quantum optics and precision applications.
SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalLight Science & Applications·DateNov 28, 2022
A research team from USTC has designed a novel photodiode that achieves low dark current, high bandwidth, and improved responsivity. The device uses plasmonic resonance to enhance absorption efficiency, leading to increased signal quality for high-speed optical communication networks.
SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalACS Applied Electronic Materials·DateNov 28, 2022
Harvard scientists create a high-performance on-chip femtosecond pulse source using a time lens, enabling broadband, high-intensity pulse sources. The device is highly tunable, integrated onto a small chip and requires reduced power compared to traditional table-top systems.
SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature·DateNov 16, 2022
Researchers at Columbia University have invented a flat lens that exclusively focuses light of a selected color, appearing transparent until illuminated with the correct wavelength. The device overcomes challenges in conventional AR glasses, enabling unattenuated and undistorted vision of both real-world scenes and contextual information.
SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalLight Science & Applications·DateSep 28, 2022
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.
A team of researchers from Osaka University used computer simulations to model the optical radiation force distribution induced by an interference pattern, enabling the fabrication of nano-sized structures with chiral properties. This technology has the potential to create new optical devices, such as chirality sensors.
SourceOsaka University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 28, 2022
A team from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences has developed an electro-optic frequency comb that is 100-times more efficient and has more than twice the bandwidth of previous state-of-the-art versions.
SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature Photonics·DateSep 7, 2022
The study reveals that noise sources in the micro resonator can cause the lines to be narrower than previously thought, enabling more precise measurements. By understanding this phenomenon, researchers can develop even more accurate devices, such as instruments measuring signals at light-years distances.
SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 1, 2022
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
Researchers developed a silicon photodiode array for in-sensor processing, allowing for real-time image filtering and extraction of relevant visual information. The technology has potential applications in machine vision, bio-inspired systems, and intelligent imaging devices.
SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature Electronics·DateAug 26, 2022
Freeform optics have revolutionized the way we approach precision optical systems, enabling superior imaging in compact packages. Researchers have summarized the present state of art in advances, design methods, manufacturing, metrology, and applications. Key challenges include standard definitions, optimization complexities, and measu...
SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateJul 7, 2022
A team of researchers at Osaka University measured the photovoltaic properties of antimony sulfiodide:sulfide devices and discovered a novel effect. They found that changing the color of incident light from visible to ultraviolet induced a reversible change in output voltage, while leaving current unchanged.
SourceOsaka University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 5, 2022
Researchers at Aalto University developed a method to produce colors using gold nanocylinders suspended in a gel, controlled by custom DNA molecules. The technique uses polarized light to transmit specific colors depending on the orientation of the nanoparticles.
SourceAalto University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMay 31, 2022
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a single-material diamond mirror that withstood a 10-kilowatt Navy laser without damage. The mirror's unique nanostructure design makes it 98.9% reflective, potentially enabling more robust high-power lasers for various applications.
SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 23, 2022
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.
A new approach using artificial intelligence generates designs automatically, allowing researchers to create complex metasurfaces with billions of nanopillars. This enables the development of larger, more complex metalenses for virtual reality and augmented reality systems.
SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 17, 2022
Researchers at Rice University have created a 'metalens' that transforms long-wave UV-A into a focused output of vacuum UV radiation. The technology uses nanophotonics to impart a phase shift on incoming light, redirecting it and generating VUV without the need for specialized equipment.
SourceRice University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 5, 2022
Scientists at the University of Tsukuba have created a nanocavity in a waveguide that selectively modifies short light pulses, enabling the development of ultrafast optical pulse shaping. This breakthrough may lead to the creation of new all-optical computers that operate based on light.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalNanophotonics·DateApr 28, 2022
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.
Researchers discovered near-zero index materials where light's momentum becomes zero, altering fundamental processes like atomic recoil and Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. These materials could enable perfect cloaking and have potential applications in quantum computing and optics.
SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalLight Science & Applications·DateApr 27, 2022
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba and Hiroshima University investigated ternary polymer solar cells to understand why adding an extra ingredient improves their performance. They found that the acceptor molecule ITIC enhances the orientation of polymer molecules, reducing charge accumulation and increasing stability.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·Journalnpj Flexible Electronics·DateApr 21, 2022
Researchers at Hebrew University have developed a standardized method to compare flat lens technologies, enabling the creation of ultra-thin lenses that are cheap, lightweight and efficient. This breakthrough has significant implications for various industries, including consumer electronics and VR headsets.
SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalNature Photonics·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 5, 2022
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new approach to enable standard image sensors to capture light in three dimensions. The system uses acoustic resonance and piezoelectric properties of lithium niobate to modulate light, allowing for high-performance lidar capabilities in compact devices.
SourceStanford University·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 28, 2022
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.
Researchers developed a metasurface attachment that can turn any camera into a polarization camera, capturing light's polarization at every pixel. This innovation benefits various fields like face recognition, self-driving cars and remote sensing, revealing hidden details and features.
SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·DateMar 18, 2022
Researchers from the University of Cambridge and Disney Research developed a new method to display highly realistic holographic images using holobricks that can be stacked together. This technology has the potential to support large-scale holographic 3D displays with high-quality visual experiences.
SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalLight Science & Applications·DateMar 15, 2022
Rice University scientists discovered that strong magnetic fields can manipulate the material's optical phonon mode, a phenomenon previously unseen. The effects were much stronger than expected by theory, revealing a new way of controlling phonons.
SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 15, 2022
A study led by Przemyslaw Nogly at PSI has detailed insight into the mechanism of a light-driven chloride pump in bacteria, revealing how light energy converts to kinetic energy and transports chloride ions inside cells. The pump uses two molecular gates to ensure one-way transport, with the process taking around 100 milliseconds.
SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 3, 2022
Researchers at Penn State developed a computational optimizer to design a 3D unit cell with cube-shaped cavities that enables asymmetric transmission of linearly polarized light across a wide frequency range. The optimized design was successfully fabricated and tested, demonstrating robust optical properties.
SourcePenn State·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateFeb 2, 2022
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.
Quantum entanglement is studied in attosecond laser laboratory experiments, where neutral hydrogen molecules are ionized using an attosecond pulse. The experiment reveals a competition between vibrational coherence and entanglement, demonstrating the breakdown of local realism.
SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 27, 2022
Researchers at UMass Amherst developed a gear-shaped photonic crystal microring that increases light-matter interactions without sacrificing optical quality. The device boasts an optical quality factor 50 times better than previous records.
SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2022
Femtosecond laser precision engineering enables micro/nano-structure creation with high resolution and dry processing. Key challenges include achieving small heat affected zones and ensuring sufficient processing speeds for industrial needs.
SourceUltrafast Science·JournalUltrafast Science·TypeLiterature review·DateDec 3, 2021
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.
Scientists at Chalmers University of Technology discovered a way to create a stable resonator using two parallel gold flakes in a salty aqueous solution. The structure can be manipulated and used as a chamber for investigating materials and their behavior, with potential applications in physics, biosensors, and nanorobotics.
SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 2, 2021
On-chip frequency shifters in the gigahertz range enable precise color shifting for high-speed optical communication. This innovation has significant implications for the development of quantum computers and future network infrastructure.
SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature·DateNov 24, 2021
Researchers at Columbia University have developed a compact and power-efficient phase modulator that can control the phase of visible light waves. This breakthrough enables large-scale integration of devices for applications such as chip-scale LIDAR, AR/VR goggles, and quantum information processing chips.
SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalNature Photonics·DateNov 22, 2021
The new method enables faster prototyping of customized optical components for various applications, including eyewear and telescopes. It achieves extremely smooth surfaces using basic equipment found in most labs.
Researchers at POSTECH demonstrate experimental demonstration of negative refraction at visible frequency for the first time, achieving high-resolution images beyond diffraction limit. The study uses a vertical hyperbolic metamaterial to exhibit negative refraction in entire visible domain, overcoming limitations of conventional materi...
SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalNanophotonics·DateNov 15, 2021
Meta Quest 3 512GB
Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.
The Stanford Computational Imaging Lab has developed a technique to reduce speckling distortion in holographic displays, while another paper proposes a method to realistically represent the physics of 3D scenes. The new system uses neural networks and camera-in-the-loop calibration for real-time adjustments.
SourceStanford University·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 12, 2021
Researchers at Harvard SEAS developed a new silicon coating that counters chromatic dispersion in transparent materials like glass. The ultra-thin coating uses precisely designed silicon pillars to capture and re-emitting red light, allowing slower-moving blue light to catch up.
SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 11, 2021
Researchers have developed a method to study proteins at their physiological temperatures by applying microscopic pulsed heating. They found that a critical protein complex regulating cell motility and morphology exhibits cooperative regulation of actin-myosin interaction by drebrin E, which is temperature-dependent.
SourceOsaka University·JournalNano Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 9, 2021
A new buoy-borne underwater dark field imaging system has been developed to expand marine plankton monitoring capabilities. The system features a high-quality imager with embedded computer and cloud computing-based deep learning algorithms for object detection and quantification.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalIEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering·DateOct 27, 2021
La Trobe University researchers developed a smart microscope slide that can detect cancer cells using enhanced color contrast. The technology uses nanoscale modifications to distinguish cancer cells from normal tissue, making early diagnosis more efficient.
SourceLa Trobe University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 6, 2021
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.
Researchers at KAUST developed bright red indium gallium nitride microlight-emitting diodes that emit light across the entire visible-light spectrum. The devices have a high output power of 1.76 milliwatts per square millimeter, outperforming previous devices.
SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalOptica·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 27, 2021
Researchers at the University of Rochester have developed a time-domain single-pixel imaging technique that detects ultrafast light pulses with high accuracy and speed. The new method can capture 5 femtojoule pulses with temporal sampling sizes as low as 16 femtoseconds, outperforming existing methods.
SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalOptica·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 24, 2021
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a unique optical amplifier that offers high performance, is compact enough to integrate into a chip just millimeters in size, and does not generate excess noise. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize both space and fiber communication.
SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 21, 2021
A team of researchers at Aarhus University aims to develop an optical sensor using terahertz light to decode the direction of tiny magnetic 'tornadoes' called skyrmions. Skyrmions offer a promising candidate for future bits in computer technology, requiring less power and generating less heat than current methods.
Researchers developed a precise stopwatch to count single photons, enhancing imaging technologies like forest mapping and disease diagnosis. The new time lens technology improves photon timing resolution by orders of magnitude.
SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalOptica·DateAug 24, 2021
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.
Researchers at Harvard SEAS have demonstrated a new way to control polarized light using metasurfaces, enabling holographic images with an unlimited number of polarization states and manipulation in virtually infinite directions. This advancement could lead to applications in imaging, microscopes, displays, and astronomy.
SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 13, 2021
Researchers at Aalto University have discovered that fibrous red phosphorous, when electrons are confined in its one-dimensional sub-units, shows large optical responses. The material demonstrates giant anisotropic linear and non-linear optical responses, as well as emission intensity.
SourceAalto University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 12, 2021
Researchers developed a result-diversified automatic design method for freeform optics, generating various three-mirror systems with high imaging qualities. The method provides a brand new thought for fully automatic optical design, enabling exploration of solution spaces and changing the working mode in engineering applications.
SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateApr 13, 2021
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.
Researchers from Aalto University have successfully combined virus particles, protein cages, and nanoparticles to create novel crystalline materials with tunable properties. These biohybrid superlattices exhibit enhanced optical, magnetic, electronic, and catalytic features.
SourceAalto University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateDec 19, 2012
The new center will foster NASA-related developments based on optical sciences and technology, enhancing the national aerospace science workforce. CAOSS will also develop partnerships with industry, NASA research centers, federal laboratories, and minority-serving colleges.
The University of California and Caltech are designing a 30-meter telescope called the California Extremely Large Telescope (CELT) to study distant galaxies and star formation. The telescope will have a segmented primary mirror made up of 1,080 small hexagonal mirrors, and its cost is estimated to be around $500 million.
SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·DateSep 5, 2000
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.