Researchers at Rice University have created 2D chiral superstructures using three-sided pyramids, which could lead to breakthroughs in metamaterials. The structures, composed of ultrathin assemblies of particles, incorporate left-handed and right-handed domains and exhibit unique optical properties.
SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 25, 2022
A new broadband near-field chiral source enables comparison of different edge states to advance applications in integrated photonics and wireless devices. The research advances the field of chiral photonics science, promoting applications of chiral-sorting technology for microwave metadevices.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateJul 19, 2022
Researchers at Osaka University have created a microfluidic system that can detect minute changes in the concentration of trace amounts of ethanol, glucose, or minerals in water using terahertz radiation. The device achieved sensitivity levels an order of magnitude better than existing microfluidic chips.
SourceOsaka University·JournalJournal of Physics Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 27, 2022
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed self-powered smart implants that can monitor spinal fusion healing in real-time. The implants use a new class of multifunctional mechanical metamaterials to record pressure and stresses, generating their own power and providing crucial information about the healing process.
SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateJun 23, 2022
A team of UCLA engineers developed a new design strategy and 3D printing technique to build robots in one step. The breakthrough enables the manufacturing of mechanical and electronic systems needed to operate a robot all at once, resulting in lighter weights, bulkier volumes, and reduced force output.
SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 16, 2022
Scientists develop a universal design framework for arbitrary on-chip spatial mode control using metamaterial building blocks, enabling record-high order mode up to the 20th. The method supports high-efficiency integrated photonic communication systems and boosts development of various information processing fields.
SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·JournalLight Science & Applications·DateJun 6, 2022
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new beam-steering antenna that increases data transmission efficiency, particularly at higher frequencies. The technology is fully compatible with existing 5G specifications and has been demonstrated to provide unprecedented data transmission efficiency.
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.
McGill University researchers have created a class of cellular metamaterials that can flat-fold and lock into positions that remain stiff across multiple directions. These materials offer unprecedented properties for deployable structures such as submarines, robots, and low-volume packaging.
SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 24, 2022
NIST researchers have developed a new atomic radio receiver that boosts signal strength 100-fold by enclosing cesium atoms in a custom copper structure resembling headphones. The structure acts as a split-ring resonator, enhancing the incoming radio signal and enabling the detection of weaker signals.
SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalApplied Physics Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 23, 2022
The study explores the synergy between Floquet matter and metamaterials, enabling nonreciprocal propagation, time-reversal, and novel optical gain. Periodic temporal modulation can produce a synthetic effective magnetic field in topological insulators, opening new avenues for wave control.
SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·JournaleLight·DateMay 19, 2022
Researchers at Duke University have developed a machine learning algorithm that incorporates known physics into neural networks, allowing for new insights into material properties and more efficient predictions. The approach helps the algorithm attain transparency and accuracy, even with limited training data.
SourceDuke University·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·TypeExperimental study·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
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Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.
A research team developed a technology to increase chirality between light and nanoparticles using metamaterials, significantly strengthening the signal. This allows for the accurate structural analysis of chiral nanoparticles with high precision.
SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalACS Photonics·DateApr 28, 2022
Researchers have developed a new type of meta-imager that enables arbitrary all-optical convolution for AI and image processing. The meta-imager combines a metalens with a complex-amplitude modulator to perform convolutional operations in parallel, at the speed of light.
SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·JournalLight Science & Applications·DateMar 27, 2022
By slicing a block of elastomer with a periodic array of holes at a 45-degree angle, researchers discovered new properties and opened up new applications for this long-studied group of materials. This change in surface morphology can alter friction between the material and an underlying surface.
SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalExtreme Mechanics Letters·DateMar 18, 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 at Johns Hopkins University created a lightweight, reusable material that can absorb extreme energy impacts like metal, offering improved protection for helmets, body armor, and vehicles. The new foam-like material could lead to stronger, lighter, and safer protective gear.
SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 8, 2022
A new study employs computer algorithms to design multimaterial structures mimicking natural designs for efficient actuators and energy absorbers. The approach enables the creation of sustainable devices with reusable and fully recoverable energy dissipators.
SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 28, 2022
Researchers have achieved triple-wave cloaking for both sound and light using computational inverse design method. This breakthrough expands the functionality of biphysical cloaks, enabling a wider range of materials to be used, including those beyond traditional metals.
SourceShinshu University·JournalOptics Express·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 14, 2022
A new wearable magnetic metamaterial helmet can create better brain scans by boosting MRI performance. It fits over a person's head during a brain scan, creating crisper images that can be captured at twice the normal speed.
SourceBoston University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateFeb 10, 2022
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.
The study reveals that a single folding mechanism can generate an infinite family of shapes in flexible structures. Researchers have developed a novel approach to predict and control tough, flexible structures from skyscrapers to microscale using conformal deformations.
SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 8, 2022
Researchers have created a new rubber-like solid substance with surprising qualities: it can absorb and release large quantities of energy. The material is programmable, thanks to its use of tiny magnets embedded in an elastic substance, enabling predictable phase transitions.
SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 2, 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
Researchers develop simplified version of large-scale invisibility cloak using fluid dynamics, controlling fluid flow speed and direction. The technique uses varying fluid channel thickness to conceal obstacles, restoring original streamline paths.
SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateJan 7, 2022
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.
Researchers have discovered a new material, α-MoO3, that can be used to create invisibility concentrators with improved performance and lower production costs. The study suggests the use of α-MoO3 to control energy flow and scatter light, enabling the creation of devices with near-perfect invisibility.
SourceDe Gruyter·JournalNanophotonics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 21, 2021
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have discovered a new type of sound wave that vibrates transversely and carries both spin and orbital angular momentum like light. This finding provides new degrees of freedom for sound manipulations, enabling unprecedented acoustic communications and sensing capabilities.
SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 7, 2021
Researchers categorize origami- and kirigami-based mechanical metamaterials into six groups based on folding and cutting patterns. Hybrid designs offer great potential for shape morphing and real-world applications.
SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Reviews·DateNov 23, 2021
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.
Scientists design a special metamaterial that achieves 'zero index' with infinite effective spatial wavelength, overcoming limitations of short spatial wavelength in the optical regime. DCZIMs offer advantages over other mechanisms, including no ohmic losses and scalable fabricating using standard planar processes.
SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·JournalLight Science & Applications·DateNov 17, 2021
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
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
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 University of Missouri and University of Chicago develop an artificial material that can respond to its environment, make decisions, and perform actions not directed by humans. The material uses a computer chip to control information processing and convert energy into mechanical energy.
SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 2, 2021
Researchers create ultra-broadband sound absorber with an average absorption coefficient of 0.93, surpassing previous limitations. The metamaterial's design utilizes near-field non-locality to suppress excessive response and achieve efficient impedance matching.
SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateOct 29, 2021
A team at Tampere University has created a metamaterial eENZ mirror that can control the correlation properties of light, switching between high and low correlation states. By manipulating polarization, they achieve near-perfect coherence switching.
SourceTampere University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 13, 2021
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences developed a metasurface using ultra-deep holes to focus light to a single spot, achieving a record-breaking aspect ratio of nearly 30:1. This breakthrough enables the creation of large achromatic metalenses with diverse color control capabilities.
SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNano Letters·DateOct 13, 2021
Researchers propose a new quantum circuit that mimics black hole behavior, allowing for the study of Hawking radiation. The proposed system uses a white hole and metamaterial to amplify Hawking radiation, potentially leading to breakthroughs in quantum communication.
SourceHiroshima University·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 8, 2021
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 at Chalmers University of Technology have created microscopic metavehicles that can be controlled and maneuvered using light. By layering an optical metasurface onto a particle and using a light source to control it, the vehicles can move in complex patterns and even transport other objects.
SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalNature Nanotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 28, 2021
Researchers at North Carolina State University developed a class of materials that can change their fundamental architecture, inspired by nature's metamorphosis. The metamorphosis system involves connecting kirigami units to create structures capable of bearing significant weight and transforming into different architectures.
SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalMaterials Today Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 8, 2021
Scientists at Huazhong University of Sci. & Tech. present a soft and disordered hyperuniform elastic metamaterial (DHEM) that achieves remarkably high efficiency vibration concentration in broad frequency band, reaching up to ~4000 enhancement factor. The DHEM design covers a range of frequencies from ~100 Hz to ~10 kHz.
SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateSep 7, 2021
Researchers at George Washington University have created a nanophotonic analog processor capable of solving partial differential equations. The processor can process arbitrary inputs at the speed of light and is integrated at chip-scale.
SourceGeorge Washington University·JournalCommunications Physics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 27, 2021
Researchers at Duke University have developed a new approach to using sound waves to manipulate tiny particles suspended in liquid in complex ways. The 'shadow waveguide' technique creates a tightly confined, spatially complex acoustic field inside a chamber without requiring any interior structure.
SourceDuke University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2021
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.
The researchers created a new vascular metamaterial that can be reconfigured to modify its thermal and electromagnetic properties. The microvasculature is made using 3D printing technologies, allowing engineers to create networks of tiny tubes in various shapes and sizes.
SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalAdvanced Materials Technologies·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 17, 2021
A new algorithm can help engineers predict how cellular materials will react to different loads, conditions, and constraints. The research found that this approach can achieve extreme mechanical properties, including negative Poisson's ratio and elastic modulus.
SourceSwansea University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 13, 2021
Researchers at Cornell University propose a new way to modulate metamaterials' absorptive and refractive qualities in real-time, increasing their effectiveness. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new metamaterials with improved wave absorption and scattering properties.
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 created metamaterials using low-cost inkjet printing with potential implications for telecommunications, GPS, and medical devices. The materials can be electrically tuned to adjust their properties, enabling the design of unconventional mirrors, lenses, and filters.
SourceTufts University·JournalNature Electronics·DateJun 21, 2021
Researchers at UNIST developed mechanically closable nanotrenches to switch optical functionalities in a repeatable manner. These findings enable nonlinear switching of metamaterial multifunctionalities with applications in various fields including 6G communication frequency control.
SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalNano Letters·DateJun 12, 2021
Scientists have designed metamaterials that can produce rotons, quasiparticles that behave like free particles, without using quantum effects under normal conditions. These materials could enable the manipulation of sound waves in ways previously impossible, such as bouncing or redirecting them.
SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 10, 2021
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.
Scientists at Tel Aviv University developed a nanotechnology that transforms transparent calcite into a sparkling gold-like particle. The new material can serve as a platform for innovative cancer treatments and offers a biofriendly delivery of optical resonances, enabling multifunctionality in biomedical systems.
SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJun 10, 2021
Researchers discover moths have evolved acoustic metamaterials on their wings to absorb ultrasound, outsmarting bats. This adaptation decreases echo return and enhances insect survival, with scales tuned to different frequencies forming a broadband absorption array.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a new class of self-aware metamaterials that can sense pressure, stresses, and generate power. These materials are scalable, efficient, and can be used in various civil, aerospace, and biomedical engineering applications.
SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNano Energy·DateJun 1, 2021
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.
A metamaterial absorber enhances infrared spectroscopic detection signals 100-fold, allowing for more distinct results with small traces of substances. The proposed technique offers low-cost manufacturing and vast applications in detecting biomolecules, harmful substances, and gases.
SourceNational Research Council of Science & Technology·JournalSmall Methods·DateMay 31, 2021
Engineers developed a new class of mechanical metamaterials that delocalize deformations to prevent failure. The materials feature a 25-fold enhancement in deformability and an orders-of-magnitude increase in energy absorption.
SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateMar 11, 2021
Researchers developed low-cost, mass-producible metamaterial tiles to absorb environmental emissions and improve telescope sensitivity. The tiles enabled unprecedented sensitivity in measuring the cosmic microwave background, transforming our understanding of the universe's beginning and evolution.
Researchers at the University of Illinois used artificial materials with defects to study topological features and demonstrate a practical approach for exploring unconventional materials. They created a method for trapping fractional charges on disclination defects, which signals the presence of certain kinds of topology.
SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalNature·DateJan 21, 2021
Researchers have developed a new metamaterial that can be reprogrammed after creation, offering potential for dynamic materials with adaptive stiffness and strength. This breakthrough has far-reaching implications for industries ranging from healthcare to aerospace.
SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature·DateJan 20, 2021
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.
A team of researchers at the University of Minnesota has discovered a groundbreaking one-step process for creating materials with unique properties, called metamaterials. They demonstrated a variable photonic crystal material with 99 percent efficiency using temperature and laser wavelength.
SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalNano Letters·DateJan 11, 2021
Purdue University scientists have created a patterned sheet of domes that can store energy in its skin, enabling strong mechanical tasks and programmable data processing. The technology has potential applications in flexible robotics and mechanical computing, where energy storage and efficient processing are crucial.
SourcePurdue University·JournalAdvanced Science·DateDec 2, 2020
Researchers from University of Konstanz and LMU Munich demonstrate ultrafast electron diffraction to uncover nanomaterials' functionality. They observe quantum mechanical phase shift through interaction with light waves, providing a movie-like sequence of images revealing fundamental light-matter interactions.
SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 24, 2020
Researchers discovered the precise construction of moths wings that enable extraordinary ultrasound-absorptive properties, creating a resonant absorber 100 times thinner than sound wavelength. This breakthrough inspires the design of ultra-thin sound absorbers for homes and offices.
SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 23, 2020
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.
Scientists from the US Army and MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms created a new way to link materials with unique mechanical properties, enabling the design of modular materials with tailored properties. This could lead to dynamic structures that can reconfigure on their own, such as swarms of robots forming bridges.
SourceU.S. Army Research Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 19, 2020
Researchers created tiny building blocks called voxels that exhibit special properties and can be assembled into large, complex objects. Examples include cars, robots, and wind turbine blades that respond to environmental stimuli in predictable ways.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 18, 2020
Researchers have experimentally observed effective gravity and two-time physics in ferrofluid-based hyperbolic metamaterials, paving the way for ultra-fast all-optical hypercomputing. This phenomenon has potential applications in time-sensitive fields such as real-time computing and target recognition.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateSep 21, 2020