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Displays controlled by flexible fins and liquid droplets more versatile, efficient than LED screens

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new type of flexible display that uses capillary-controlled robotic flapping fins and liquid droplets to create switchable optical and infrared light multipixel displays. The displays are 1,000 times more energy efficient than traditional LED screens.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 30, 2023

Ultrafast and tunable

A study by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf team demonstrates efficient conversion of high-frequency signals into visible light using graphene-based materials. The mechanism involves a thermal radiation process, and the conversion is ultrafast and tunable.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNano Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 15, 2023

Thermal infrared reflectance characteristics of natural leaves in 8–14 μm region: mechanistic modeling and relationships with leaf water content

A research team developed a radiative transfer model for plant leaves in the thermal infrared spectrum and found that as the cuticle layer decreases, leaf reflectance increases with decreasing water content. This study provides essential theoretical foundations for understanding TIR spectral behavior of leaves.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalRemote Sensing of Environment·DateJun 14, 2023

Webb Space Telescope detects universe’s most distant complex organic molecules

Researchers have detected complex organic molecules in a galaxy more than 12 billion light-years away from Earth. The study used the James Webb Space Telescope and gravitational lensing to observe the galaxy's atomic and molecular composition, revealing insights into the formation of galaxies, their lifecycle, and how they evolve.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateJun 5, 2023

Twinkling stars fuel interstellar dust

Research reveals connection between star brightness and dust concentrations, paving way for study of dust's role in planetary formation. The University of Tokyo's latest findings may help unravel the secrets of life's creation.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Japan·TypeObservational study·DateApr 6, 2023

This ‘Harry Potter’ light sensor achieves magically high efficiency of 200 per cent

Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology have developed a photodiode with sensitivity exceeding 200%, using green light and a double-layered cell design. This breakthrough enables the device to detect weak light signals, making it ideal for medical purposes, wearable monitoring, and machine vision applications.

SourceEindhoven University of Technology·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 17, 2023

Intense femtosecond light pulses in the mid-infrared for spectroscopic and technical applications

Researchers from the Max Born Institute report on a new light source generating ultrashort infrared pulses beyond 10 µm wavelength, exhibiting high potential for vibrational spectroscopy and optical materials processing. The system demonstrates excellent beam quality and stability, with output power and repetition rate scalable.

Fast burst of infrared light opens a way for 3D processing inside semiconductor chips

Researchers from LP3 Laboratory developed a light-based technique for local material processing in three-dimensional space of semiconductor chips. They successfully fabricated embedded structures inside Si and GaAs materials, which cannot be 3D processed with conventional ultrafast lasers.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateNov 7, 2022

When light is the switch: nanometric photodiodes to study the activity of neurons

Researchers developed nanometric photodiodes that can bind to nerve cell surfaces and activate them with infrared light, allowing for selective stimulation of individual neurons. This technology has the potential to study the nervous system in-depth and develop targeted therapies for neurological diseases.

SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 12, 2022

Chung-Ang university researchers pioneer new way to manipulate microdroplets

Scientists at Chung-Ang University have pioneered a novel method for controlling microdroplet motion on solid surfaces using near-infrared light. This approach allows for more precise control than traditional thermal techniques and opens up new possibilities for applications in microfluidics, drug delivery, and self-cleaning surfaces.

SourceChung Ang University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 21, 2022

Light-based therapies achieve good results in rehabilitation of patients with post-COVID complications

Researchers have found that light-based therapies such as photobiomodulation and photodynamics can effectively treat a range of post-COVID complications, including muscle and joint damage. The studies, conducted in Brazil, utilized laser irradiation, negative pressure, and other technologies to improve symptoms and promote healing.

Controlling how fast graphene cools down

Researchers have demonstrated control of graphene's relaxation time, allowing for novel functionalities in devices such as light detectors and modulators. This work paves the way for the development of ultrafast optical devices with potential applications in photonics and telecommunications.

SourcePolitecnico di Milano·JournalACS Nano·TypeObservational study·DateMar 4, 2022

Pusan National University researchers show how radiative coolers can “beat the heat” off solar cells

Pusan National University researchers demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating a radiative cooler with a multi-junction solar cell, achieving a 6°C temperature drop and a 2% increase in open-circuit voltage. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and eco-friendly solar cells, paving the way for renewable energy sources.

SourcePusan National University·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 10, 2022

Now you don’t see it … and now you do

A team of researchers at Rice University has developed a new method to detect tiny cracks in concrete using silicon fluorescence. The technique involves applying a thin coat of opaque paint to the concrete and shining near-infrared light on it, revealing even the smallest microcracks.

SourceRice University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 25, 2022

Cascading femtosecond lasers into the mid-infrared

Researchers at ETH Zurich demonstrate the first direct femtosecond-pulse emission from a quantum cascade laser in the mid-infrared region, generating powerful pulses as short as 630 femtoseconds and 4.5 watt peak power. This breakthrough opens up practical routes to accessing ultrafast dynamics across the molecular fingerprint region.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 22, 2021

Jet from giant galaxy M87: Computer modelling explains black hole observations

Theoretical physicists modelled the region around M87's supermassive black hole, confirming that gravity plays a key role in accelerating particles out to thousands of light years. The findings provide further evidence for Einstein's theory of general relativity and its application to astrophysical phenomena.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 4, 2021

AI-powered glaucoma screening test delivers rapid results

A new rapid screening test for glaucoma uses infra-red sensors to monitor eye movement, providing accurate results within seconds. The test could help advance early detection of the disease, a leading cause of irreversible blindness, and make it more accessible for national screening programs.

SourceRMIT University·JournalIEEE Access·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 27, 2021

Infrared light therapy might aid dementia patients

A pilot study found improvements in memory, motor function, and processing skills in healthy individuals after receiving transcranial photobiomodulation therapy. The therapy, involving infrared light, has the potential to alleviate nerve cell damage and reduce symptoms of dementia.

SourceDurham University·JournalPhotobiomodulation Photomedicine and Laser Surgery·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 18, 2021

Quantum dots enable infrared lasing at room temperature for silicon photonics

Colloidal quantum dot technology enables infrared lasing at room temperature, paving the way for low-cost solution-processed and CMOS integrated lasing sources. The breakthrough discovery may facilitate fully integrated silicon photonics, enabling lower power consumption, higher data rates, and multi-spectral 3D imaging capabilities.

SourceICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences·JournalNature Photonics·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 29, 2021

Source-independent radiometric calibration (SIRC) for high-accuracy infrared remote sensing

Scientists propose Source-independent Radiometric Calibration (SIRC) for high-accuracy infrared remote sensing, overcoming limitations of traditional methods. SIRC requires only temperature information and modeling to implement calibration, providing a more reliable and traceable way.

New method visualizes blood flow in the brain down to 1 blood cell

Researchers have developed a dye-free method to visualize blood flow in the brain, allowing for detailed mapping of small capillaries and assessing blood flow rates. The technique has potential applications in understanding cardiovascular diseases, tumor growth, and targeted drug delivery.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalThe European Physical Journal Plus·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 26, 2021

New scanning technology could help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease using light

Researchers developed a non-invasive optical technique using spectroscopy to identify structural changes in the brain and diagnose Alzheimer's disease. The new technology has potential as a simple, completely non-invasive method of early detection and could also assess treatment effectiveness.

SourceVeterans Affairs Research Communications·JournalJournal of Alzheimer’s Disease·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 28, 2021

Infrared held in a pincer

Scientists have created the first chromium complex that emits light in the longer wavelength NIR-II range, a significant breakthrough for biomedical imaging. This achievement is expected to lead to cheaper alternatives for luminescence-based applications.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJul 22, 2021