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Portable system boosts laser precision, at room temperature

Physicists at MIT have designed a quantum light squeezer that reduces quantum noise in lasers by 15% at room temperature. The system uses an optical cavity with two mirrors to engineer the light exiting the cavity, allowing for more precise measurements in quantum computing and gravitational-wave detection.

Leap in lidar could improve safety, security of new technology

Researchers developed a new silicon chip with no moving parts that improves lidar system resolution and scanning speed, enabling applications in self-driving cars and smartphones. The breakthrough could lead to cheaper, smaller, and more complex lidar systems.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Light from inside the tunnel

Physicists from Max Born Institute and University of Rostock discover light-induced tunneling of electrons in dielectrics, creating a nonlinear current that dominates bright bursts of light. This finding expands fundamental understanding of optical non-linearity and its applications in information processing and material processing.

Black hole collision may have exploded with light

Astronomers have spotted evidence of a light-producing scenario during a black hole merger, with the flare likely resulting from the reaction of gas to the merging black holes. The event, observed by ZTF and other telescopes, provides insights into the behavior of supermassive black holes.

World's fastest Bose-Einstein condensate

A team of scientists at Aalto University has successfully created a Bose-Einstein condensate that behaves as if it were one particle, but makes the elusive state of matter in just 100 femtoseconds. The breakthrough could lead to new areas of fundamental research and applications with these condensates.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Geometry of intricately fabricated glass makes light trap itself

Scientists at Penn State have fabricated a 'photonic topological insulator' that can mediate interaction between photons and form self-sustaining wave patterns called solitons. This innovation could lead to more efficient lasers, medical imaging, and other photonic technologies.

Laser technology: The Turbulence and the Comb

A team of scientists has successfully produced a special type of light called a frequency comb, which consists of different light frequencies arranged at regular distances. The breakthrough uses circular quantum cascade lasers and turbulence to create the ordered light, contradicting current laser theory.

Custom-built to ready-made

A team of researchers from UC Santa Barbara, Caltech, and EPFL has developed a new technology that simplifies and condenses complex optical systems onto a single silicon photonic chip. This breakthrough allows for easy integration with traditional silicon chip production, significantly reducing cost and improving performance.

Order from disorder

Researchers at Harvard University have successfully generated frequency combs using turbulence in light, contradicting current laser theory. The discovery could lead to more efficient and compact devices for applications such as telecommunications and portable sensing.

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.

Photonics: From custom-built to ready-made

Researchers developed a compact optical system using silicon photonics, significantly lowering production costs and enabling easy integration with traditional chip production. The technology addresses growing demands for multicolor laser lights in data centers, promising new opportunities in applications like optical clocks.

TU Darmstadt: Pause button for light particles

Physicists at TU Darmstadt have successfully stopped individual photons and preserved them for a short time, enabling the creation of controlled interactions between light and atoms. This breakthrough could lead to breakthroughs in nonlinear optics and simulation of solid materials through photon crystals.

Superlens squeezes light into nanospace

Physicists have created a focusing component that converts light into electromagnetic waves, compressing it to 60% of the initial wavelength. This breakthrough allows for densely packing optical components in photonic and plasmonic devices, potentially bypassing fundamental limitations of traditional lenses.

Angling for underwater WiFi

Researchers have developed an underwater wireless system that supports internet services using visible light signals, allowing for faster and more reliable data transmission. The Aqua-Fi prototype demonstrated a maximum data transfer speed of 2.11 megabytes per second and an average delay of 1.00 millisecond.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Pushing photons

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara developed a new approach to design LEDs that can extract and direct photons with high efficiency. By using metasurface concepts, they were able to confine electrons and holes in gallium nitride nanorods, allowing more light to escape the semiconductor structure.

Scientists create smallest semiconductor laser

Researchers develop nanoparticle-sized semiconductor laser generating coherent green light at room temperature, overcoming a significant technological hurdle. The tiny laser operates efficiently without external pressure or low temperatures.

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.

High-resolution 3D view inside tumors

A new technique, multi-spectral optoacoustic mesoscopy (MSOM), enables high-resolution visualization of tumor tissue patterns without the need for surgical biopsies. MSOM allows researchers to study blood supply patterns, oxygenation levels, and drug efficacy with greater accuracy.

Towards visible-wavelength passively mode-locked lasers in all-fibre format

Researchers have developed a visible-wavelength passively mode-locked all-fibre laser, generating picosecond pulses at 635 nm. The laser has a tunable duration and a narrow spectral bandwidth, opening up new possibilities for applications in optical communications, biomedicine, material processing, and scientific research.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Saturable plasmonic metasurfaces for laser mode locking

Researchers developed plasmonic metasurfaces that can be tuned with polarization light, providing efficient saturable absorption for ultrafast lasers. The metasurfaces achieved stable self-starting ultrashort laser pulse generation with a modulation depth of up to 60%, outperforming previous studies.

A new law in laser physics could make eye surgery simpler

Scientists have developed a new type of laser that can deliver high amounts of energy in very short bursts, making it ideal for corneal surgery. The research uses quartic solitons to produce short, powerful light pulses without heating and damaging the surface.

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.

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.

From digital to optical

Researchers from ITMO University have successfully created an all-optical switch based on a metal-organic framework, which can be synthesized in vitro and is useful for developing ultrafast optical memory cells. The switch operates faster, more efficiently, and consumes less energy than traditional electronic devices.

Speeding up long-range coherent LiDAR

Researchers at EPFL have developed a new way to implement parallel FMCW LiDAR by using integrated nonlinear photonic circuitry. The technology enables up to 30 independent FMCW LiDAR channels, improving acquisition rates tenfold for autonomous vehicle applications.

Hollow-core fiber raises prospects for next-generation scientific instruments

Researchers have developed hollow-core fibers that can preserve light's essential attributes over long distances, overcoming challenges in optical interferometric systems and sensors. The technology has the potential to enhance performance in applications such as gravitational wave sensing and inertial navigation.

Laser loop couples quantum systems over a distance

Researchers have created a new tool for quantum technologies by coupling atoms with nanomechanical membranes using laser light. The technique enables strong interactions between quantum systems over longer distances, opening up possibilities for quantum networks and simulations.

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.

Dendrimers finally have what it takes to break into the laser scene

Researchers from the University of Tsukuba have synthesized branched polymer crystals that can be used as tiny laser sources, overcoming dendrimers' fragility and poor crystallinity. The new material exhibits lasing properties and shows promising potential for applications in displays and micro-optical circuits.

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.

Graphene sets sail in microgravity

Researchers demonstrate laser-propulsion of graphene sails in microgravity, accelerating prototypes up to 1 m/s². The scalable design minimizes sail mass, paving the way for human lifespans to reach other star systems.

Identifying light sources using artificial intelligence

Researchers developed a smart quantum technology that reduces light source identification measurements from millions to under hundred using AI. This enables quicker and less damaging light exposure in applications like microscopy and cryptography.

Optical 'nanomixer': Scientists propose new method for mixing liquids

Researchers from ITMO University and Czech Academy of Sciences develop nanoantenna to efficiently manipulate light, creating an optical vortex that mixes liquids and reagents. The system uses gold nanoparticles as a stirring 'spoon', amplifying diffusion by hundreds of times while minimizing side effects.

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.

New metasurface laser produces world's first super-chiral light

Researchers have demonstrated a new metasurface laser that produces 'super-chiral light' with ultra-high angular momentum, enabling control over optical communications and applications in industries like food, computer, and biomedical. The laser design allows for high power operation in a compact design.

Lighting the way to safer heart procedures

A new study from Johns Hopkins University proves the feasibility of using photoacoustic imaging for medical procedures, offering a potential replacement for current radiation-based methods. The technique involves using light and sound to produce images without ionizing radiation.

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.

Light driven proton pump in distant relative

Researchers discovered a novel light-sensitive protein in Asgard archaea that functions as an inward proton pump, opening possibilities for controlling pH levels in cells or microorganisms with light. This finding could lead to the development of new biomolecular tools and applications in optogenetics.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Eindhoven researchers present revolutionary light-emitting silicon

Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology successfully developed an alloy with silicon that can emit light, paving the way for photonic chips. The breakthrough could lead to faster data transfer, reduced energy consumption, and new applications in self-driving cars and medical diagnosis.

Shifting dimensions: Exciting excitons in phosphorene

Researchers from OIST discovered that as exciton density increased, exciton-exciton annihilation shifted from 1D to 2D due to phosphorene's anisotropic properties. Temperature also played a role, with exciton annihilation reverting to 1D at lower temperatures.

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.

Sensing internal organ temperature with shining lights

Scientists at Tohoku University have created a white powder that luminesces when heated, allowing for the potential monitoring of internal body temperature. The powder, made of zirconia, can be injected into the body and then illuminated with a near-infrared laser to induce luminescence.

Advanced 'super-planckian' material exhibits LED-like light when heated

Researchers have discovered a material that emits light in the near-infrared portion of the spectrum when heated, defying Planck's Law. This 'super-Planckian' radiation is generated by a three-dimensional tungsten photonic crystal and has potential applications in energy harvesting, military tracking, and optical physics.

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.

A nanoscale laser made of gold and zinc oxide

Researchers have created a nanoscale laser made of gold and zinc oxide, which can precisely localize and amplify incident laser light. The hybrid nanomaterial has the potential to be used as ultrafast optical switches or transistors in future optical computers.