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Noise-canceling optics

A team led by Caltech's Changhuei Yang and Edward Zhou developed a device that selectively cancels scattered light, revealing dimly reflective objects. The technology, termed 'coherence gated negation,' has potential applications in satellite exploration and biomedical imaging.

Solving the problem of glare

Researchers have developed innovative methods to counteract glare and reduce unwanted light in various imaging applications, including microscopy, biomedicine, and astronomy. These new approaches use modified light to minimize glare, offering a promising solution for improving image quality.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateOct 5, 2016

How our brains overrule our senses

A new study identifies brain processes in mice that may help explain how weak sensory inputs are interpreted differently in the same brain. Activity in higher-level perception areas of the brain is shaped by lower-level sensory input, adding a cellular layer to our understanding of perception.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateDec 7, 2015

Magnetic stimulation effective in helping Parkinson's patients walk

A new study published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience reports that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation can reduce gait freezing in Parkinson's patients. The treatment, involving high-frequency rTMS, improved motor skills and continued to show benefits even after the intervention was stopped.

SourceIOS Press·JournalRestorative Neurology and Neuroscience·DateAug 31, 2015

The future is looking less cloudy

Tel Aviv University researchers have discovered a practical solution to fog detection using cellular communication networks. The study utilizes higher cellular frequencies to detect even light fog, providing high-resolution spatial measurements and potentially reducing accidents. Current fog monitoring tools are insufficient, but the n...

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalBulletin of the American Meteorological Society·DateFeb 25, 2015

Biomimetic dew harvesters

Researchers have discovered how a desert beetle collects dew on its back, which could lead to improved water yield in man-made dew condensers. The beetle's unique nanostructure allows for near-perfect infrared emissivity, enabling efficient cooling and dew formation.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateDec 8, 2014

Clearing the cosmic fog

A European team of astronomers has confirmed that the UDFy-38135539 galaxy is the most remote object identified so far in the Universe. By analyzing its light's redshift, they found that it was seen just 600 million years after the Big Bang, providing valuable insights into the era of reionisation and galaxy formation.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateOct 20, 2010

Ferns and fog on the forest floor

Researchers found that ferns in the northern end of the redwood forest ecosystem are better equipped to absorb fog water than those in the southern region. This has important implications for the structure of plant communities and how ecosystems function during drought periods. The study suggests that native ferns may be able to acclim...

SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalAmerican Journal of Botany·DateJul 8, 2010

Fog has declined in past century along California's redwood coast

A study by University of California, Berkeley scientists found that California's coastal fog has decreased significantly over the past 100 years, from 56% to 42%, due to a decline in the coast-inland temperature gradient. This change may lead to drought-stress for redwood ecosystems and potentially impact recruitment of new trees.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 15, 2010

Stevens faculty release study on free-space optical communication in Optics Express

Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology have made significant breakthroughs in free-space optical communication by demonstrating a unique atmospheric effect called scavenging, which improves the system's performance in adverse weather conditions. The study shows that mid-infrared QCL systems can deliver up to 300% greater throug...

SourceStevens Institute of Technology·JournalOptics Express·DateMar 17, 2009