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NASA lining up ICESat-2's laser-catching telescope

The ICESat-2 satellite will measure the elevation of Earth from space to track changes in ice-covered poles, forests and ocean surfaces. The Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) instrument will time how long light travels from the satellite's lasers to Earth's surface.

Lord of the microrings

Scientists at Berkeley Lab have developed a unique microring laser cavity that can produce single-mode lasing even from conventional multi-mode laser cavities. This breakthrough holds implications for optical metrology, interferometry, data storage, spectroscopy, and communications.

Supersonic laser-propelled rockets

Researchers at Optica have developed a hybrid approach that integrates laser-ablation propulsion with gas blasting nozzles, increasing thrust efficiency. This innovation enables supersonic speeds for launching small satellites and accelerating aircraft to Mach 10 and beyond.

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.

Turning loss to gain: Cutting power could dramatically boost laser output

Princeton engineers found that carefully restricting power delivery to certain areas within a laser can boost its output significantly. By targeting specific modes, they showed improvements in efficiency ranging from 100-fold to 10,000-fold, allowing for more control over frequency and spatial pattern of light emission.

A 'Star Wars' laser bullet -- this is what it really looks like

Researchers at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences have developed a new compact high-power laser that can create ultrashort pulses. The laser generates powerful femtosecond pulses that can penetrate long distances, allowing for real-time atmospheric pollution detection using LIDAR technology.

Winning by losing

Researchers at Vienna University of Technology and Washington University in St. Louis have confirmed a paradoxical laser effect, where energy loss can turn lasers on. By carefully tuning the amount of light lost through a chromium needle, they were able to switch the laser system on.

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.

Engineers find a way to win in laser performance by losing

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a method to reverse optical loss and increase laser intensity by modulating loss in the system. By adding loss to a laser system, they achieved energy gains and demonstrated new nonlinear phenomena.

Tuning light to kill deep cancer tumors

A novel strategy combining nanoparticle technology with FDA-approved photodynamic therapy has been developed to effectively kill deep-set cancer cells in vivo. The treatment uses low-power, deep-tissue-penetrating light to activate the cancer-killing drug, showing improved destruction of tumors with minimal damage to surrounding tissue.

Rediscovering Venus to find faraway earths

Astronomers develop a new laser-based technology called the green astro-comb to detect tiny Doppler shifts, helping identify habitable zone planets. The device will enable precise measurements of exoplanet gravity, allowing for better detection of rocky worlds like Earth.

Getting sharp images from dull detectors

Scientists at the Joint Quantum Institute use thermal light and cheap detectors to achieve sub-wavelength imaging, overcoming classical optical limitations. They observe an interference pattern with fringes as narrow as 30 nm, pushing the boundaries of extreme quantum coherence.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Nanoparticles break the symmetry of light

Physicists at Vienna University of Technology have developed an optical switch using spin-orbit coupling of light. By employing gold nanoparticles coupled to ultra-thin glass fibers, they can emit light into the fiber in a way that does not travel in both directions, but instead is directed either left or right.

Quantum environmentalism

Scientists at the Cavendish Laboratory and Joint Quantum Institute create a new type of qubit control that leverages its surroundings to maintain quantum integrity. By harnessing the environment's magnetic field, they enable efficient manipulation and readout of quantum states, paving the way for quantum computing advancements.

Entanglement made tangible

Researchers at EPFL propose a feasible experiment to show entanglement in the macroscopic realm, leveraging optomechanics and nanostructures. The experiment involves converting light into mechanical vibrations, which exhibit entangled behavior.

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DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Ultrafast remote switching of light emission

Scientists have created a method to switch on and off the spontaneous emission of light by quantum dots at will, with pulses as short as 200 picoseconds. This technique has potential applications in quantum information transmission and control.

Toward optical chips

Researchers at MIT have developed a new method to build MoS2 light emitters that can be tuned to different frequencies, essential for optoelectronic chips. This breakthrough could lead to more energy-efficient and flexible displays.

The shadow of a disease

Researchers developed an optical method called iSCAT to detect individual proteins, such as those in cancers, using scattered light shadows. The method promises more sensitive diagnoses and sheds light on fundamental biochemical processes.

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Atomically thin material opens door for integrated nanophotonic circuits

Researchers developed a basic model circuit combining silver nanowire and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) that efficiently guides electricity and light along the same wire. The material enables strong light emission and efficient energy transfer, promising to improve mobile technology performance and efficiency.

Single laser stops molecular tumbling motion instantly

Researchers cooled singly charged aluminum monohydride molecules from room temperature to 4 degrees Kelvin in a fraction of a second, stopping their rotation. This breakthrough technique could lead to new applications in ultracold quantum-controlled chemistry and fundamental constants testing.

Breakthrough in light sources for new quantum technology

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen's Niels Bohr Institute have successfully created a steady stream of photons emitted one at a time, enabling control over their direction. The breakthrough has significant implications for future quantum technologies, including encryption and complex calculations.

Quantum physics enables revolutionary imaging method

Researchers develop new quantum imaging technique that captures images without detecting light used to illuminate the object, using entangled photon pairs. This breakthrough enables imaging in low-light conditions and has potential applications in biological and medical imaging.

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Molecular engineers record an electron's quantum behavior

Researchers developed a technique to control and observe individual electrons in nanoscale defects, enabling the creation of quantum-state snapshots. This breakthrough contributes to quantum information processing and could accelerate development of quantum computing devices.

NIST therapy for ultraviolet laser beams: Hydrogen-treated fibers

Researchers at NIST have created hydrogen-treated optical fibers that can transmit stable, high-power ultraviolet laser light for hundreds of hours. The fibers were infused with hydrogen gas and cured with ultraviolet light to reduce errors in logic operations in quantum computing experiments.

Light pulses control graphene's electrical behavior

Researchers at MIT have found a way to control graphene's electrical conductivity using extremely short light pulses. By modulating electron concentration, they can alter graphene's photoconductive properties from semiconductor-like to metallike behavior.

Building 'invisible' materials with light

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have created a technique for building materials using light, allowing for the production of metamaterials that can control light interactions. This breakthrough has significant potential applications in sensing and military stealth technology.

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Creating optical cables out of thin air

Scientists at the University of Maryland have successfully created air waveguides that can guide light beams over long distances without loss of power. This breakthrough has significant implications for various applications, including long-range laser communications, pollution detection, and topographic mapping.

Enhanced NIST instrument enables high-speed chemical imaging of tissues

The new NIST technique uses broadband, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (BCARS) to create high-resolution images of biological specimens. It achieves signals that are 10,000 times stronger than spontaneous Raman scattering and 100 times stronger than comparable coherent Raman instruments.

'Comb on a chip' powers new NIST/Caltech atomic clock design

Researchers from NIST and Caltech have created an atomic clock using a microcomb, enabling precise frequency control and conversion to microwave frequencies. The new design has the potential to be integrated into portable tools for calibrating telecommunications systems and improving radar navigation and scientific instruments.

Quantum leap in lasers at Dartmouth brightens future for quantum computing

Researchers at Dartmouth College have developed a breakthrough laser that uses an artificial atom to produce light, enabling the potential development of more powerful quantum computers. The new laser relies on superconducting electron pairs and has the ability to transmit information between quantum devices.

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.

The Optical Society launches Optica

The Optical Society's new open-access journal Optica publishes highest-impact research in optics and photonics. Key findings include the development of self-cooling solar cells, observation of rotational Doppler shift in white light, and precision time measurement on a silicon chip.

Tiny laser sensor heightens bomb detection sensitivity

Researchers at UC Berkeley developed a tiny laser sensor that can detect minute concentrations of explosives, including pentaerythritol tetranitrate, an explosive favored by terrorists. The device has the potential to replace traditional bomb-screening methods and could also be used to detect unexploded land mines.

Ultrafast X-ray laser sheds new light on fundamental ultrafast dynamics

Researchers used an ultrafast optical laser and X-ray pulses to study the movement of electrons between atoms in exploding molecules. They observed that electrons can jump over surprisingly long distances, up to 10 times the length of the original molecule, shedding new light on microscopic dynamics.

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Flashes of light on the superconductor

Researchers induce pseudogap state in material and subject it to laser pulses, inducing a temporary metallic state. The study provides new insight into superconductors and offers the possibility of controlling their characteristics through laser light.

Drone lighting

Researchers at MIT have created a drone lighting system that automatically assumes the right positions for photographic lighting effects. The system uses an autonomous helicopter to produce rim lighting, adjusting in real-time to capture delicate edge effects.

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Projecting a 3-dimensional future

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a new holography technology based on nanoantennas, enabling dynamic and complex three-dimensional projections without replotted images. The technology has vast applications in security, medical, recreational, and scientific research.

'Nanojuice' could improve how doctors examine the gut

Researchers developed nanojuice to improve non-invasive gut imaging, providing real-time views of the small intestine. This technique may help diagnose irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, and other gastrointestinal illnesses.

A million times better

Researchers at TUM and UT Austin developed nonlinear mirrors that reflect frequency-doubled output using input light intensity as small as a laser pointer. The new materials produce approximately one million times higher intensity of frequency-doubled output compared to traditional materials.

Hollow optical fibers for UV light

Researchers have developed a new type of optical fiber that can guide UV laser light without being damaged. The fiber has a hollow core with a diameter of 20 µm, which allows for single-mode transmission and reduces loss. This breakthrough enables new applications in precision spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and process plasmas.

Researchers invent 'meta mirror' to help advance nonlinear optical systems

Researchers at UT Austin have created a nonlinear metasurface that can reflect radiation at twice the input light frequency, producing approximately 1 million times larger frequency-doubled output. The new metamaterial has potential applications in advanced laser systems for chemical sensing and biomedical research.

GoPro HERO13 Black

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Not much force: Berkeley researchers detect smallest force ever measured

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California detected a force of approximately 42 yoctonewtons using a unique optical trapping system and ultracold atoms. The detection surpassed the Standard Quantum Limit, achieving sensitivity consistent with theoretical predictions.

KIT researchers protect the princess from the pea

KIT scientists create a volume in which an object can be hidden from touching, similar to a pea under the mattress of a princess. The mechanical invisibility cloak is based on a metamaterial structure that directs forces away from the object, making it invisible to touch.

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Laser physics upside down

Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have created a system of coupled lasers that exhibit paradoxical behavior. By adding or reducing energy, the lasers can switch each other on or off, making them suitable for building logical circuits using light.

With light echoes, the invisible becomes visible

Researchers at the University of Bonn developed a novel camera system that can see around corners without mirrors, using diffusely reflected light to reconstruct object shapes. The system records time-resolved data from light echoes, which brings valuable information about object shape and appearance.

Strange physics turns off laser

Researchers at Princeton University have created a laser system that unexpectedly shuts off when more power is applied, offering new possibilities for controlling optical systems. This phenomenon is made possible by the careful distribution of energy loss within an overall system being amplified.

A faster path to optical circuits

Researchers at EPFL create a novel method to design and optimize photonic crystal nanocavities, which can control the flow of light at the nanometer scale. The approach significantly speeds up the development of optical circuits, with quality factors exceeding one million.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

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Chemical sensor on a chip

A new type of sensor has been developed at the Vienna University of Technology using miniaturized laser technology, allowing for the analysis of liquids and gases. The sensor can measure the composition of liquids with an accuracy of 0.06%, opening up potential applications in chemical, biological, and medical analytics.

A new way to make laser-like beams using 250x less power

University of Michigan researchers have developed a polariton laser that can emit coherent light, works at room temperature, and requires significantly less power. The device is the most real-world ready of its kind and has potential applications in medical devices, treatments, and more.

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.

How NASA builds a space laser

The Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) will measure Earth's elevation with six beams, generating a more detailed portrait than the original ICESat. Scientists will track change, including melting glaciers and sea ice, using precise height measurements.

Lasers create table-top supernova

Researchers used high-powered lasers to create table-top supernovae, recreating the explosive events that occur when stars reignite or collapse. The experiments revealed irregular 'knotty' features and intense radio and X-ray emissions, confirming a theory about the interaction between magnetic fields and interstellar material.

A path toward more powerful tabletop accelerators

Researchers at Berkeley Lab discovered that certain requirements for laser pulses in emerging small-area particle accelerators can be significantly relaxed. This finding has the potential to bring about a new era of accelerators that would need just a few meters to accelerate particles to great speeds, rather than traditional accelerat...

First broadband wireless connection ... to the moon?!

A team of MIT researchers has successfully demonstrated a broadband wireless connection to the moon using a laser-based communication system, transmitting data at a rate of 622 megabits per second. The system, which uses multiple telescopes and amplification techniques to overcome atmospheric challenges, has the potential to enable lar...

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.