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Plasmonic pioneers fire away in fight over light

Researchers at Rice University argue that photoluminescence, not Raman scattering, is responsible for the remarkable light-emitting properties of metal nanoparticles. This breakthrough could lead to improvements in solar-cell efficiency and the development of new biosensors.

JILA researchers uncover quantum structure of buckyballs

Researchers measured hundreds of individual quantum energy levels in the buckyball, revealing its intricate structure and enabling new insights into extreme quantum complexity. The findings have potential applications in quantum computing and astrophysics.

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.

Brilliant glow of paint-on semiconductors comes from ornate quantum physics

Researchers have discovered eccentric quantum physics in emerging semiconducting materials, enabling unique radiance and energy-efficiency. These hybrid semiconductors, called halide organic-inorganic perovskite (HOIPs), are easy to produce and apply, with potential applications in lighting and solar panels.

Chirality in 'real-time'

Scientists have created a system to probe biomolecules' chiral properties in real-time, providing insights into their biological function. The setup allows for the detection of enantiomers at picosecond resolution, overcoming previous limitations.

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.

Artificial bug eyes

Researchers have created bioinspired artificial compound eyes with improved visual properties, enabling better motion detection and light sensitivity. The innovative structure consists of tiny independent repeating visual receptors called ommatidia, grown on top of convex glass domes with antireflective and water-repellent nanostructures.

Holographic color printing for optical security

Researchers at SUTD developed a new holographic colour printing device that modulates both phase and amplitude of light, increasing security and deterring counterfeiting. The technology uses nano-3D-printed polymer structures to display coloured images under ambient white light while projecting multiple holograms under laser illumination.

Excitons pave the way to more efficient electronics

Researchers from EPFL's Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structures have found a way to control some of the properties of excitons, changing their polarization and generating light. This discovery can lead to a new generation of electronic devices with reduced energy loss and heat dissipation.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Twisting light to enable high-capacity data transmission

Researchers have developed tiny gears made of germanium that can generate a vortex of twisted light, enabling high-capacity data transmission with chip-based optical computing and communication. The new technology has the potential to boost the amount of data that can be transmitted using less light.

New optical memory cell achieves record data-storage density

Researchers have demonstrated a new technique that can store more optical data in a smaller space than previously possible on-chip, improving upon the phase-change optical memory cell. The new approach enables storing information in 34 levels, equivalent to 5 bits, and could help meet the growing need for computer data storage.

New type of low-energy nanolaser that shines in all directions

Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology developed a new polariton laser that emits light in all directions, using deliberately imperfect silver nanostripes. The discovery has vast potential applications, including microscopy lighting, LIDAR technology, and general illumination.

MIT team invents method to shrink objects to the nanoscale

Researchers develop 'implosion fabrication' technique to create nanoscale 3D objects with high resolution and functional materials. The method enables assembly of materials in a low-density scaffold, allowing for easy modification and dense solid formation.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Watching brain cells fire

Stanford researchers have developed a way to study the firing of individual brain cells using only light, eliminating the need for invasive methods. The new approach measures subtle changes in cell shape when they fire, allowing for a cleaner and simpler way to study the brain.

Terahertz laser for sensing and imaging outperforms its predecessors

The MIT-designed terahertz laser achieves three key performance goals: high constant power, tight beam pattern, and broad electric frequency tuning. This technology could be used for improved skin and breast cancer imaging, detecting drugs and explosives, and mapping the Milky Way galaxy.

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.

Novel laser technology for microchip-size chemical sensors

Researchers at TU Wien develop a patent-pending technology to create frequency combs on a single chip, enabling chemical analysis in tiny spaces. The system can detect various chemical substances and is robust against disturbances, making it perfect for practical applications.

Shedding a new light on optical trapping and tweezing

Wits physicists have developed a new device for manipulating and moving tiny objects, such as single cells in a human body or tiny particles in small volume chemistry, using the full beam of laser light. The device uses vector holographic trapping and tweezing to control and manipulate minute objects with high precision.

Racing electrons under control

Researchers controlled electron flow in graphene using light waves, enabling faster data transmission. They used two-dimensional materials to achieve this feat, opening doors for new transistor technologies.

Radical approach for brighter LEDs

Scientists have discovered that semiconducting radicals can fabricate highly efficient OLEDs by exploiting their quantum mechanical 'spin' property, overcoming limitations of traditional materials. The new technology could lead to brighter displays and lighting technologies, including blue- and green-light radical-based diodes.

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.

NRL demonstrates new non-mechanical laser steering technology

Scientists at NRL have developed a chip-based beam steering technology that steers laser light in two dimensions without mechanical devices, offering improved steering capability and higher scan speed rates. The new technology has potential applications in chemical sensing, monitoring emissions, and other industrial facilities.

Laser architecture can create complex structures to probe, control matter

Researchers developed a universal light modulator to create complex structures for probing and controlling matter. This architecture generates arbitrary light structures with programmable beamlets, enabling new scientific and technological frontiers in photonics applications that require high power.

Flying focus: Controlling lasers through time and space

Researchers have created a method to move intense laser focal points at any speed, including faster than the speed of light. This technique combines a lens that focuses specific colors of light at different locations with chirped-pulse amplification technology.

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.

Laser blasting antimatter into existence

Researchers blast trapped electrons with laser pulses to generate a cascade of particles, shedding light on astrophysical plasmas and potential industrial applications.

Russian physicists upgrade cheap diode laser for use in precise measurements

Researchers have developed a method to narrow the emission spectrum of an ordinary diode laser, making it suitable for spectroscopic chemical analysis. The technique uses optical microresonators to generate frequency combs, which can be used in applications such as security monitoring systems and lidars for self-driving cars.

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.

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.

UT Austin selected for new nationwide high-intensity laser network

The University of Texas at Austin will be a key player in LaserNetUS, a new national network of institutions operating high-intensity lasers. UT Austin's Texas Petawatt Laser will collaborate with leading optical and plasma physics scientists from around the US to advance research.

More goals in quantum soccer

Researchers at the University of Bonn have successfully applied the Purcell effect to improve the transmission of quantum information. By forcing photons onto a specific path using the Purcell effect, they achieved a significant increase in efficiency, enabling faster communication between quantum dots and transmitters.

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.

New laser advances

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a 'transistor' laser that can be manipulated at the nanoscale using an external voltage. This technology could lead to more accurate medical procedures and re-routing of fiber optic communication lines.

A new way to measure nearly nothing

A new portable vacuum gauge, developed by NIST scientists, tracks changes in the number of cold lithium atoms trapped by laser and magnetic fields to measure pressure. This innovation uses ultracold trapped lithium atoms, which have an exceptionally low vapor pressure at room temperature.

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.

Physics: Not everything is where it seems to be

Physicists at University of Innsbruck and TU Wien demonstrate that elliptical polarization causes a spiral shape in light wavefronts, leading to a distorted image of actual structures. This systematic error can affect biomedical research, super-resolution microscopy, and even astronomical object position estimation.

Disrupting crystalline order to restore superfluidity

Researchers at the University of Hamburg disrupt crystalline order in a quantum system using light pulses, restoring superfluidity. The study demonstrates a fundamental mechanism for controlling phase transitions in many-body systems via light control.

Efficiently turning light into electricity

Researchers at Osaka University have discovered carrier multiplication in certain perovskites, increasing efficiency up to 44% compared to traditional solar cells. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of more efficient photodetectors and solar cells.

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.

Novel topological insulator

Researchers at the University of Würzburg and the Technion have successfully built a topological insulator operating with dual excitations, offering a novel platform for switched electronic systems and laser applications. The discovery showcases the potential of this material for advanced optoelectronic devices.

Innovative sensing technique could improve greenhouse gas analysis

Researchers have developed a ghost imaging technique that can measure atmospheric greenhouse gases with subnanometer resolution, improving detection sensitivity and accuracy. The new approach enables measurements using less powerful light sources and at wavelengths where highly sensitive detectors aren't available.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

ICESat-2 laser fires for first time, measures Antarctic height

ICESat-2 successfully fired its laser for the first time, sending photons to measure Antarctic height and detecting small changes in planet's ice sheets, glaciers, and sea ice. The mission will continue with procedures to optimize the instrument, aiming to start getting excellent science-quality data within a month after launch.

Microresonators offer a simpler approach to sensing with light pulses

Researchers developed a simpler method to generate multiple frequency combs using small devices called optical microresonators. The technology generates up to three frequency combs simultaneously, reducing the need for complex synchronization electronics and enabling faster acquisition times.

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.

Study demonstrates new mechanism for developing electronic devices

Researchers at OIST have discovered a new method to manipulate electrons on the nanometer scale using light. By inducing electric fields on material surfaces, they can control electron flow within specific areas, potentially leading to faster and better functioning devices.

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.

UT engineers develop first method for controlling nanomotors

Researchers at UT Austin developed a novel technique to switch the mechanical motion of nanomotors using visible light, opening doors to autonomous and intelligent machines. The method enables tunable speed and efficient control of nanomotors for various applications.

Introducing the 'smart mirror'

Researchers from NIST developed a laser power sensor that can be built into manufacturing devices for real-time measurements. The 'smart mirror' uses radiation pressure to measure the force of light on a reflective surface, providing high accuracy and sensitivity for lasers of hundreds of watts.