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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.

High-res imaging gives an unparalleled view of how fungi grow

Researchers used high-speed pulse-chase imaging to study fungal growth, revealing precise timing of vesicle movement and motor protein involvement. The technique provided unprecedented precision, allowing for the discovery of different types of vesicles moving at varying velocities along the hypha.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 24, 2018

Advances in lasers get to the long and short of it

A new technique allows researchers to switch emission between long- and short-wavelength edges of photonic bandgap by applying a voltage of 20 V. This is achieved through modifying the dipole moment of cholesteric liquid crystals.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJan 24, 2018

Researchers from Basel and Bochum achieve resolutions in the 30 nanometer range

Scientists have developed a new method for microscopy that surpasses the Abbe diffraction limit by utilizing chirped laser pulses and quantum dots. This breakthrough enables the imaging of biological samples at resolutions of 1/31 of the wavelength of light, opening up new possibilities for nanoscale analysis.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNature Photonics·DateJan 24, 2018
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A superficial relationship: Soap on water

Researchers at OIST Graduate University studied the Marangoni effect, which causes soap to spread on water's surface. They developed a method to quantify the phenomenon through three independent measurements, showing that surfactant dissolution and spreading affect its behavior.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 23, 2018

Scientists achieve high power with new smaller laser

Researchers successfully produced a high-powered, randomly polarized laser beam using a 'Q switch' laser, which typically emits brief pulses of light. This breakthrough expands the potential applications of smaller and more powerful lasers in various fields.

SourceToyohashi University of Technology (TUT)·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 22, 2018
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.

Transportable laser

PTB physicists have developed a frequency-doubling unit that can endure transportation and maintain accuracy. The unit is based on a highly stable monolithic enhancement cavity for second harmonic generation, enabling reliable laser light for quantum-optical experiments.

SourcePhysikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)·JournalReview of Scientific Instruments·DateJan 22, 2018

Researchers use sound waves to advance optical communication

The researchers have developed a new device that uses sound waves to produce ultraminiature optical diodes, enabling nonreciprocal devices for photonic integrated circuits. These devices protect laser sources from back reflections and are necessary for routing light signals around optical networks.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Photonics·DateJan 22, 2018
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.

Science's 2017 Breakthrough of the Year: The observation of two neutron stars merging

The observation of two neutron stars merging generated tiny ripples in spacetime called gravitational waves, detected by LIGO detectors on Earth. This event also triggered an explosion studied by hundreds of astronomers worldwide, marking a major breakthrough in astrophysics and offering new tools for observing the universe.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateDec 21, 2017

Powerful new tool for looking for life beyond Earth

The new instrument uses micro Raman spectroscopy to detect organic compounds and minerals associated with biological activity. It can analyze samples up to 10 centimeters away with high resolution, significantly improving previous instruments.

SourceOptica·JournalApplied Optics·DateDec 20, 2017
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.

Nanoscale super-resonator extends light lifetime

Researchers create a subwavelength dielectric resonator that can trap light for an extended period due to destructive interference, allowing for more efficient optical devices. The structure is capable of suppressing energy leakage and keeping light for ten times longer than conventional resonators.

SourceITMO University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 18, 2017

Unleashing ultraviolet brings visible improvement

Researchers at KAUST have demonstrated rapid data transfer using ultraviolet-B light, overcoming interference issues with visible light and improving beam alignment challenges. The system achieved a record-breaking transmission rate of 71 megabits per second.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalOptics Express·DateDec 18, 2017

Real-time observation of collective quantum modes

A team of researchers at ETH Zurich has directly observed collective quantum modes in a quantum simulator, revealing the behavior of Goldstone and Higgs modes. This breakthrough sheds new light on fundamental phenomena like magnetism and superconductivity.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·DateDec 15, 2017
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.

UTA discovery could reduce cost, energy for high-speed Internet connections

Researchers at UTA and UVM have developed a novel group-delay-managed nonlinear-optical medium, enabling simultaneous all-optical regeneration of multiple WDM channels by a single device. This breakthrough could lead to cheaper and more energy-efficient high-speed internet communications.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Arlington·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 15, 2017

A shoe-box-sized chemical detector

A new optical-fiber-based laser enables detection of chemicals by analyzing reflected light patterns. The device uses a broadband infrared supercontinuum laser to identify substances based on their chemical signature.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalOptics Letters·DateDec 15, 2017
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.

Two holograms in one surface

A team of researchers at Caltech has developed a way to encode multiple holographic images in a single surface using carefully engineered silicon oxide and aluminum surfaces. The technology works by reflecting light differently depending on the angle of incoming light, allowing for high-quality images with no loss of resolution.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review X·DateDec 11, 2017

Hot bodies are attractive

Researchers at UC Berkeley found that blackbody radiation from a warm object can attract cesium atoms, with an effect 20 times stronger than gravity. This discovery has implications for precise measurements of fundamental constants and tests of general relativity.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature Physics·DateDec 8, 2017

Are molecules right-handed or left-handed?

Researchers use ultrafast laser to study camphor molecules' photoionization, finding that mirror images emit electrons in opposite directions. This asymmetry could be key to understanding the homochiral nature of living organisms.

SourceInstitut national de la recherche scientifique - INRS·JournalScience·DateDec 7, 2017
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.

Controlling spin for memory storage

Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a computational simulation that shows the potential of ultrafast laser pulses to switch electrons' spins in magnetic materials, enabling faster magnetic memory devices. The study suggests perovskite manganites and layered manganites as possible materials for testing their model.

SourceTohoku University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 5, 2017

Topological insulators are among this year's top achievements in photonics

Researchers have created three-dimensional topological insulators that can control light localization in all directions, promising major technological advances. These structures have a considerable practical potential for applications in optical computers, communication networks, antennas, and lasers.

SourceITMO University·JournalNature Photonics·DateDec 1, 2017

Squeezing light into a tiny channel brings optical computing a step closer

By forcing light to go through a smaller gap, researchers have increased its intensity and allowed photons to interact more strongly over a short distance. This technology brings optical processing closer to electrical transistors, potentially solving the problem of nonlinear optics and enabling faster, more efficient computers.

SourceImperial College London·JournalScience·DateNov 30, 2017
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.

Lighting the way to switch chemical reaction pathways

Researchers from QUT, KIT, and Ghent University create a light-switchable chemical reaction system to revolutionize chip printing. The system uses visible light to reversibly switch certain chemical processes, potentially making it cheaper, simpler and safer.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 30, 2017

Microscopy: A space-time sensor for light-matter interactions

Researchers at LMU Munich create a new mode of electron microscopy that enables the observation of fundamental interactions between light and matter in real time and space. The technique uses attosecond pulse trains to monitor ultrafast processes initiated by light oscillations onto matter, allowing for sub-atomic resolution.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalNature Physics·DateNov 30, 2017

A step forward for quantum computing

A team of physicists from Harvard University has developed a special type of quantum computer, known as a quantum simulator, which is programmed by capturing super-cooled rubidium atoms with lasers. The system could shed new light on material properties and complex optimization problems.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·DateNov 29, 2017
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.

Quantum optics allows us to abandon expensive lasers in spectroscopy

Researchers at Lomonosov Moscow State University have developed a new time-resolved spectroscopy method that analyzes quantized light transmitted through samples without femtosecond lasers. This design allows for cheaper analysis and preserves the sample, enabling studies of interactions and processes in substances.

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 21, 2017

Nano-watch has steady hands

Scientists at the University of Vienna have developed an incredibly stable nanoscale clock that can maintain its accuracy for extremely long periods. The clock, which consists of a levitated silicon cylinder, has a precision of one millionth of a second over four days.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 21, 2017
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Quantum dots amplify light with electrical pumping

Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have successfully amplified light using electrically excited films of quantum dots. The team developed a novel approach to eliminate heat loss and achieve optical gain, paving the way for highly flexible, electrically pumped lasers that can complement or displace existing laser diodes.

SourceDOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory·JournalNature Materials·DateNov 20, 2017

Borophene shines alone as 2-D plasmonic material

Researchers at Rice University have discovered that borophene, a two-dimensional boron material, can emit visible and near-infrared light by activating its plasmons. This property makes it a promising candidate for plasmonic and photonic devices such as biomolecule sensors, waveguides, nanoscale light harvesters, and nanoantennas.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateNov 20, 2017

Next-generation optogenetic molecules control single neurons

Researchers developed a new optogenetic technique that enables precise stimulation of individual neurons, allowing for the study of how cells generate specific behaviors. By targeting single neurons, scientists can map connections among neurons that underlie behavior and analyze how those connections change in real-time.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateNov 13, 2017

The unbelievable speed of electron emission from an atom

The study confirms years of theoretical work and shows attophysics is ready to tackle complex molecules. Researchers used extremely short laser pulses and sensitive detection to distinguish between electrons with minimal speed difference.

SourceLund University·JournalScience·DateNov 13, 2017
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Plasma from lasers can shed light on cosmic rays, solar eruptions

Researchers used laser-created plasmas to simulate astrophysical behavior, finding two processes that transfer energy from magnetic reconnection to particles. Fermi acceleration and X-line acceleration were identified as key mechanisms.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalPhysics of Plasmas·DateNov 10, 2017

NASA team studies CubeSat mission to measure water on the moon

A NASA team is studying a CubeSat mission concept called Mini Lunar Volatiles Mission (MiLUV) to detect water on the lunar surface. The mission will use a laser spectrometer to measure surface reflectance at several wavelengths and gather data on the distribution and possible mobility of volatiles.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateNov 9, 2017

Color me purple, or red, or green, or ...

The NIST team has developed a directional color filter that can manipulate multiple wavelengths of light simultaneously and detect the source of incoming light. The device uses a nonuniform grid to selectively filter white light based on its angle of illumination, enabling applications in displays, solar energy harvesting, and sensing.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 7, 2017

Need entangled atoms? Get 'Em FAST! with NIST's new patent-pending method

Physicists at NIST have created a new method to link atoms' properties quickly, potentially providing precise sensing and quantum computer tools. The approach uses dipolar interaction to enable fast entanglement propagation through groups of atoms.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 7, 2017
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.

Diffused light shows clear structures

Researchers have successfully developed a method to analyze microscopic structures using incoherently scattered light, improving the analysis of small-scale biological systems. The technique has the potential to enhance imaging capabilities in fields like biology and medicine.

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·JournalNature Physics·DateNov 6, 2017

Shedding light on the mystery of matter accretion in young stars

An international team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery about matter accretion in young stars, allowing for more accurate calculations of the accretion rate. This finding is crucial for understanding the life cycle of stars and their growth under gravity's influence.

SourceInstitut national de la recherche scientifique - INRS·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 2, 2017
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

A strange new world of light

Scientists at Harvard have created a new tool to study novel aspects of light, enabling more complex operations and applications. The metasurface connects two aspects of light, allowing for the creation of any structured beam, including spirals, corkscrews, and vortices.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalScience·DateNov 2, 2017

Lens trick doubles odds for quantum interaction

Researchers at the National University of Singapore have developed a super-resolution imaging technique that doubles the odds of successful photon interaction with atoms. This innovation has significant implications for quantum computing and metrology, as it enables stronger interactions between photons and atoms.

SourceCentre for Quantum Technologies at the National University of Singapore·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 31, 2017

Making glass invisible: A nanoscience-based disappearing act

Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory developed a method to reduce surface reflections from glass surfaces to nearly zero by etching tiny nanoscale features into them. This achievement could enhance solar cell efficiency, improve electronic display use, and support high-power laser applications.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateOct 30, 2017

Quantum dots visualize tiny vibrational resonances

Researchers have discovered a way to visualize tiny vibrational resonances using quantum dots, which could lead to the development of new sensing technologies. The technique uses light waves to drive the motion of a thin membrane, creating patterns that can be visualized through an array of quantum dots.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateOct 30, 2017
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.

Scientists penetrate mystery of raging black hole beams

A team of scientists has captured the time delay between X-ray flares and optical light flashes in a stellar-mass black hole, resolving controversy over jet plasma activation. This study uses precise multi-wavelength observations to demonstrate that relativistic jets are formed by gravity and magnetic fields.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalNature Astronomy·DateOct 30, 2017

James Webb Space Telescope's laser-focused sight

The James Webb Space Telescope aligns its primary mirror segments through wavefront sensing and control, measuring imperfections with a near-infrared camera instrument. Engineers use computer algorithms to determine the mirror's shape and movement, resulting in sharp, focused images.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateOct 26, 2017
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.

Scientists write 'traps' for light with tiny ink droplets

Researchers at University of Cambridge develop a printing technique that can write structures small enough to trap and harness light. The method combines high-resolution inkjet printing with nanophotonics, enabling the creation of sensors, lasers, and compact optical circuits.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateOct 23, 2017

Research demonstrates method to alter coherence of light

Brown University researchers have developed a method to manipulate the spatial coherence of light, transforming it from incoherent to coherent and vice versa. By controlling surface plasmon polaritons, they achieved strong modulation across a range of 0-80% coherence, breaking previous barriers.

SourceBrown University·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 18, 2017

Catch a fleeting kilonova

UCSB astronomers capture the fleeting kilonova using a network of telescopes and gravitational wave data. The event sheds light on the formation of heavy elements in the universe.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature·DateOct 16, 2017
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.

Chemical treatment improves quantum dot lasers

Los Alamos National Laboratory researchers have developed a new method to create quantum dots that emit laser light more efficiently, using less power. The treatment involves adding extra electrons to the dots, allowing them to produce laser light without external stimulation.

SourceDOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateOct 16, 2017

Rice U. study: Vibrating nanoparticles interact

Rice University researchers have found that placing gold nanodisks into groups can selectively alter their vibrational frequencies, a discovery that could lead to new ways of converting light energy into mechanical energy. The study's findings show promise for applications in secure communications, sensing, and other fields.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 16, 2017