Researchers discover diffraction behaviors never seen in conventional quasicrystals using a new type of monotile structure. The team's findings open a new direction for exploring the fusion of quasiperiodic order and chirality, with potential applications in light manipulation and optical devices.
SourceInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 29, 2026
A team at Graz University of Technology has solved the puzzle of MOF thin film structure using advanced diffraction techniques and computational modeling. They found that prototypical Cu(bdc) thin films are not porous as expected, but instead densely packed with additional hydroxide groups.
SourceGraz University of Technology·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 2, 2026
Researchers developed a deep-learning framework that uses real-world measurements to design optical surfaces with precise control over light behavior. The AI model achieves high consistency with experimental results while reducing simulation costs and time.
SourceSingapore University of Technology and Design·JournalPhotoniX·DateJun 4, 2026
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.
Scientists successfully built the smallest X-ray interferometer to measure how X-rays interact with atomic nuclei. This breakthrough technology enables precise measurement of X-ray refraction and provides new avenues for research.
SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 26, 2026
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories develop a new technology harnessing metals and light colors to create colored X-ray images with unprecedented resolution and accuracy. This enables better identification of materials, defects, and tumor cells, potentially leading to improved medical diagnostics and safer world.
Researchers created a new material platform for non-volatile memories using covalent organic frameworks (COFs) and successfully installed electric-field-responsive dipolar rotors. The COFs' unique sln topology allows the rotors to flip without steric hindrance, enabling high thermal durability up to near 400°C.
SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 5, 2025
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
Researchers can now study microstructures inside metals, ceramics, and rocks with X-rays in a standard laboratory without needing a particle accelerator. The new technique, lab-3DXRD, enables quick analysis of samples and prototypes, providing more opportunities for students.
The team's achievement marks a significant advance in robotics, allowing for maneuverable robots that can perform up-close imaging and measure forces at the scale of some body's smallest structures. The new diffractive robots are tiny, measuring 5 microns to 2 microns, and can be controlled by magnetic fields to move independently.
SourceCornell University·JournalScience·DateDec 2, 2024
Researchers at UCLA developed a new type of imaging technology that forms images in only one direction, enabling efficient and compact methods for asymmetric visual information processing and communication. The technology works exceptionally well under partially coherent light, achieving high-quality imaging with high power efficiency.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateOct 29, 2024
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 the University of Tokyo introduce a new optical computing scheme called diffraction casting, which improves upon existing methods. The system uses light waves to perform logic operations and has shown promise in running complex calculations, including those used in machine learning.
SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalAdvanced Photonics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 3, 2024
A novel approach to overcome limitations of traditional methods, NeuPh uses local conditional neural fields to reconstruct high-resolution phase information from low-resolution measurements. It provides robust resolution enhancement and outperforms existing models in accuracy.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateSep 5, 2024
Researchers developed DeepLens design method based on curriculum learning to optimize complex lens designs. The approach considers key parameters like resolution, aperture, and field of view, providing optimal solutions without human intervention.
SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 12, 2024
A pyramid-structured diffractive optical network has been developed to achieve unidirectional image magnification and demagnification. The system uses successive transmissive layers optimized through deep learning to perform computational tasks in an all-optical manner.
SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·JournalLight Science & Applications·DateAug 5, 2024
Researchers from SLAC, Stanford and other institutions have developed a technique to improve time resolution for the MeV-UED electron camera and trained an artificial intelligence model to tune the beam for various experimental needs. This enables unprecedented precision in exploring novel effects in materials and chemistry.
SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalStructural Dynamics·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 8, 2024
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SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.
A recent study reveals that layered materials composed of low-dimensional structures exhibit new properties when exposed to light. The researchers found that electrons can transfer between layers and convert energy into thermal energy, facilitating fast thermal conversion.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 6, 2024
Researchers introduced a novel method for generating computer-generated holograms (CGHs) that significantly reduces computational overhead while maintaining high-quality 3D visualization. The approach leverages a split Lohmann lens-based diffraction model, enabling rapid synthesis of 3D holograms through a single-step backward propagat...
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 8, 2024
Researchers extend spatially incoherent diffractive networks to perform complex-valued linear transformations with negligible error, opening up new applications in fields like autonomous vehicles. This breakthrough enables the encryption and decryption of complex-valued images using spatially incoherent diffractive networks.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateJan 22, 2024
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.
Researchers at IBS achieve real-time observation of molecular ion formation and structural evolution using MeV-UED, unveiling a stable 'dark state' and ring-shaped intermediate ions. This breakthrough advances understanding of ion chemistry and its applications.
SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 10, 2024
A research team developed an innovative optical technique, 'spectrum shuttle,' to produce and shape GHz burst pulses. The method facilitates ultrafast imaging within subnanosecond timescales, enabling analysis of rapid phenomena.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateDec 19, 2023
The study reveals that excited electrons in perovskites cause a shift towards increased symmetry in the crystal lattice. This attractive interaction between excitons could be exploited to enhance electron transport and improve solar cell performance.
SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Physics·TypeObservational study·DateDec 4, 2023
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.
Researchers developed three diffractive deep neural networks using orbital angular momentum to recognize objects in images, achieving accuracy comparable to wavelength and polarization-based models. The technology has potential for real-time processing applications like image recognition and data-intensive tasks.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateNov 27, 2023
Researchers at Osaka University developed a water-repelling nanostructured light diffuser that surpasses the functionality of other common diffusers. The diffuser uses randomly arranged self-cleaning nanopatterns to produce high transmittance and wide angular spread, making it useful for visual displays and energy-saving windows.
SourceOsaka University·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 12, 2023
A team of scientists has successfully caught fast-moving hydrogen atoms within ammonia molecules using ultrafast electron diffraction. They observed the motion of hydrogen atoms and captured the associated change in the molecule's structure as it evolved, providing insights into proton transfers.
SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 6, 2023
Researchers at the University of California - Santa Barbara have developed a method that enables high-quality imaging of still objects with only WiFi signals. The technique uses Keller cones to trace edges of objects and has successfully imaged the English alphabet through walls, a task previously deemed too difficult for WiFi.
SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the IEEE·DateSep 11, 2023
A hybrid system of electronic encoding and diffractive optical decoding transmits optical information with high fidelity through random, unknown diffusers. The system outperforms traditional approaches that only utilize a diffractive optical network or an electronic neural network for optical information transfer.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateAug 28, 2023
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.
Researchers have made groundbreaking progress in confining light to subnanometer scales using a novel waveguiding scheme. The approach generates an astonishingly efficient and confined optical field with applications in light-matter interactions, super-resolution nanoscopy, and ultrasensitive detection.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateJul 17, 2023
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a multifunctional interface between photonic integrated circuits and free space, allowing for simultaneous manipulation of multiple light beams. The device operates with high accuracy and reliability, enabling applications in quantum computing, sensing, imaging, energy, and more.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateMay 24, 2023
A team from Nanjing University and Sun Yat-Sen University developed a two-facing Janus OPO scheme for generating high-efficiency, high-purity broadband LG modes with tunable topological charge. The output LG mode has a tunable wavelength between 1.5 μm and 1.6 μm, with a conversion efficiency above 15 percent.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateApr 24, 2023
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.
Scientists create a simple approach to fabricating highly precise 3D aperiodic photonic volume elements (APVEs) for various applications. The method uses direct laser writing to arrange voxels of specific refractive indices in glass, enabling the precise control of light flow and achieving record-high diffraction efficiency.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateApr 21, 2023
Researchers used in-situ cryogenic TEM imaging to directly observe formation of pure-phase ice I c on low-temperature substrates. The study resolves the long-standing debate about cubic ice's existence, with implications for materials science, geology, and climate science.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 29, 2023
A research team created bioplastic diffraction gratings from chitosan extracted from crab shells, enabling the production of portable and disposable spectrometers. The biodegradable gratings could improve sustainability in optical manufacturing and reduce seafood waste.
Researchers developed temporal compressive super-resolution microscopy (TCSRM) to overcome optical diffraction's spatial resolution restriction. TCSRM achieves high-speed imaging at 1200 frames per second with a spatial resolution of 100 nanometers, enabling observation of fast dynamics in fine structures.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateMar 10, 2023
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.
Scientists at IISc develop neuromorphic camera that uses machine learning to pinpoint objects smaller than 50 nanometers in size, enabling nanoscale precision in biological processes, chemistry, and physics. The technique combines optical microscopy with the neuromorphic camera and machine learning algorithms.
SourceIndian Institute of Science (IISc)·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateFeb 21, 2023
A team of researchers identified a rare lead compound, lead(II) formate, in various areas of Rembrandt's The Night Watch using micro and macro X-ray analysis. This discovery provides clues about the artist's pictorial practices and the reactivity of lead driers in historical paintings.
SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 30, 2023
Researchers have developed a diffractive optical processor that can compute hundreds of transformations in parallel using wavelength multiplexing. The processor, which is powered by light instead of electricity, can execute multiple complex functions simultaneously at the speed of light.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateJan 9, 2023
A new parallel peripheral-photoinhibition lithography system has been developed, enabling the fabrication of subdiffraction-limit features with high efficiency. The system uses two beams to excite and inhibit polymerization, allowing for nonperiodic and complex patterns to be printed simultaneously.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateDec 19, 2022
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.
A new mesoscopic oblique plane microscopy method captures up to three times more resolvable image points than other similar systems, enabling whole-body volumetric recordings of neuronal activity and blood flow dynamics. The technique allows for single-cell tracking within the complete 3D circulation system for the first time.
Researchers at Brookhaven Lab and PNNL develop a new method to study the solid-electrolyte interphase in lithium metal batteries, revealing its convoluted chemistry. The team's findings provide a foundation for building more effective battery cells with higher energy density.
SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateDec 5, 2022
Researchers have developed a method for centimeter-scale color printing using grayscale laser writing, achieving vivid and fine-tunable colors. The technique leverages pixelated optical cavities to generate transmission colors with a transmission efficiency of 39-50%.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateNov 10, 2022
Researchers develop hybrid brightfield-darkfield transport of intensity approach, expanding accessible sample spatial frequencies and achieving 5-fold resolution increase. This method enables precise detection and quantitative analysis of subcellular features in large-scale cell studies.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateNov 3, 2022
Researchers from the University of Kassel developed an approach to extend the limits of interferometric topography measurements for optical resolution below small structures. Microsphere assistance enables fast and label-free imaging without requiring extensive sample preparation.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Optical Microsystems·DateNov 1, 2022
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.
A research team from DTU has successfully designed and built a structure that concentrates light in a volume 12 times below the diffraction limit, paving the way for revolutionary new technologies. The breakthrough could lead to more sustainable chip architectures that use less energy.
SourceTechnical University of Denmark·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 26, 2022
Researchers used energy dispersive diffraction to create high-resolution 3D maps of bioapatite arrangements within shark centra, revealing key structures and their functions. The study provides insights into the structure-function relationship of the shark skeleton and could be applied to other organisms.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Medical Imaging·DateFeb 2, 2022
Scientists successfully image a single ion in an ion trap system on nanosecond timescale, achieving resolution beyond 175 nm. The technique also demonstrates sub-10nm positioning accuracy and time resolution of 50 ns.
SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 6, 2022
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.
Researchers discovered a novel topological edge soliton that inherits topological protection from its linear counterpart, enabling robust and localized light beams. This breakthrough is achieved through nonlinear photorefractive lattices harnessing the valley Hall effect, without requiring an external magnetic field.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 25, 2021
Researchers at DESY create a table-top electron camera that captures the inner, ultrafast dynamics of matter by shooting short bunches of electrons at a sample. The system uses Terahertz radiation for pulse compression and is validated with the investigation of a silicon sample.
SourceDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY·JournalUltrafast Science·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 16, 2021
A team of Beckman researchers developed software to boost infrared imaging-based cancer diagnosis, enhancing image resolution and accelerating recording speeds. The software integrates data analysis and reduces limitations associated with IR imaging, making it faster and more accurate.
SourceBeckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology·JournalChemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 5, 2021
The NanED project aims to train 15 PhD students in 3D electron diffraction (3D ED) techniques, with a focus on industrial applications. The program will be led by the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia and unite experts from 8 European research institutions and global companies.
SourceIstituto Italiano di Tecnologia - IIT·DateJul 15, 2021
MicroED can solve high-resolution crystal structures from sub-micron-sized crystals, aiding small-molecule drugs and transient polymorphs determination. This approach helps guide synthesis strategies and inform production decisions.
SourceCCDC - Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre·JournalFrontiers in Molecular Biosciences·DateJul 13, 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.
Developed by Jinan University researchers, the approach produces superoscillatory light spots without side lobes. The technique utilizes a cylindrical diffraction and sharp-edged apertures to eliminate tradeoffs between main and side lobes, enabling larger field of view while maintaining feature size within optical diffraction limit.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateJun 24, 2021
A new optical diffraction tomography technique allows for high-resolution imaging of thick tissue sections without chemical staining, increasing diagnostic speed and accuracy. The method has been demonstrated to visualize individual cells and multicellular tissue architectures with subcellular resolution.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateApr 30, 2021
Researchers identify subnanoscale chemical short-range order (CSRO) in face-centered cubic VCoNi alloy using complete suite of tools and methods. CSRO is linked to mechanical properties and plasticity mechanisms.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature·DateApr 28, 2021
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.
A team of researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University has developed a new way to break the Abbe diffraction limit and realize subwavelength imaging in an all-optical manner. By utilizing nonlinear four-wave mixing, they create super-resolution through scattering of evanescent fields into the far field.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateApr 5, 2021
A new imaging method has been developed that can capture high-resolution images of photoreceptors in the human eye, overcoming resolution limitations imposed by light diffraction. The technique uses annular pupil illumination and sub-Airy detection to enhance microscopy techniques for earlier detection and treatment of eye diseases.
Scientists successfully applied novel approach to imaging gas-phased molecule Carbonyl Sulfide, revealing a significantly bent and asymmetrically stretched configuration of the ionized OCS+ structure. The ZCP-LIED technique retrieves accurate and precise information about atomic structure without exact knowledge over the laser field.
SourceICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 9, 2021
Scientists created a method for calculating optimal parameters of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) to enhance viewing angles without compromising image quality. The new technology uses diffraction optical elements with specific surface microreliefs to expand the angle of view, allowing for better color rendition and high resolution.
SourceRUDN University·JournalJournal of the Society for Information Display·DateJan 22, 2021
A team of scientists has proposed an efficient full-path calculation method for optical diffraction, leveraging the mathematical similarities between scalar and vector diffraction. The method uses the Bluestein approach to reduce computation time to sub-second levels, with superior flexibility in choosing ROIs and sampling numbers.
SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateJul 17, 2020
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.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new method to produce more efficient and precise diffraction gratings, which can be used to create miniaturized optical devices. These devices have potential applications in futuristic smartphone cameras, biosensors, and autonomous vision for robots and self-driving cars.
Researchers from Tomsk Polytechnic University proposed a new configuration for nanoscopes that uses special diffraction gratings with gold plates, allowing for accelerated image generation without losing magnification power. The study's results are published in Annalen der Physik and show improvements in resolution up to 0.3 λ.
SourceTomsk Polytechnic University·JournalAnnalen der Physik·DateMay 23, 2019
Researchers at Samara University developed an ultralight diffraction optic that weighs just 5 grams, compared to a massive system of lenses and mirrors weighing 500 grams. The new technology enables high-resolution images with comparable quality to consumer cameras and mobile phones.
SourceSamara University·JournalIEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing·DateAug 8, 2018
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.