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The firefly among fish

The flashlight fish uses its bioluminescent light organs to detect prey in the dark, adjusting flash frequency to the context. Researchers also found that the fish blink at a high rate during feeding and are regulated by lighting conditions.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 9, 2017

Thin, flexible, light-absorbent material for energy and stealth applications

A new material developed by UC San Diego engineers can absorb a broad range of infrared wavelengths, enabling potential applications in cooling buildings and cars, enhancing solar cell efficiencies, and blocking thermal detection. The material's unique properties allow it to be customized for specific absorption ranges.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 2, 2017

The quantum sniffer dog

A microscopic sensor has been developed at TU Wien that can identify different gases simultaneously using a laser and detector in one. The sensor, made of a sophisticated layered system of materials, emits light in the infrared range and measures its strength to detect gases with unique 'fingerprints'.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalACS Photonics·DateOct 24, 2016

New optical material offers unprecedented control of light and thermal radiation

Researchers have discovered a new phase-transition optical material that can dynamically control light over a broad wavelength range. The material, samarium nickelate (SmNiO3), can be electrically tuned between transparent and opaque states, opening up applications for smart windows, infrared camouflage, and optical communications.

Sunflowers move by the clock

Researchers at UC Davis discovered how sunflowers follow the sun during the day using their internal clock, affecting growth hormones and flower orientation. The study found two growth mechanisms at work in sunflower stems, one driven by light availability and another controlled by the circadian clock.

Rice experts unveil submicroscopic tunable, optical amplifier

Rice experts unveil a submicroscopic tunable, optical amplifier that generates infrared light and boosts the output of one light by capturing energy from a second light. The innovation is a single nanoparticle serving as an optical parametric amplifier, with potential applications in chemical sensing and molecular imaging.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateMay 9, 2016

Tracing star formation rates in distant galaxies

A team of researchers, led by UC Riverside graduate student Irene Shivaei, used a combination of near-infrared spectrometer and infrared images to study 17 bright distant galaxies. They compared various observables, including ultraviolet light, infrared light, and nebular emission lines, to estimate the star-formation rate. The study i...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 23, 2016

Nanolight at the edge

Graphene-based technologies enable ultra-small optical nanodevices by capturing light in record-small volumes. The researchers identified two types of plasmons - edge and sheet modes - with unique properties that can channel electromagnetic energy in one dimension.

SourceElhuyar Fundazioa·JournalNature Photonics·DateMar 21, 2016