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Safest cosmetic surgery procedures

A new Northwestern University study analyzed over 20,000 minimally invasive cosmetic procedures and found no risk of serious adverse events. The study suggests that these procedures are exceedingly safe, with fewer than 1% minor complications, offering a significant cosmetic boost through mixed procedures.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJAMA Dermatology·DateNov 5, 2014

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.

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.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalOptica·DateJul 22, 2014

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...

SourceOptica·DateMay 22, 2014

Measuring wind turbines remotely

Researchers have developed a technological system to measure wind turbine oscillations from a distance of several hundred meters. The system uses a laser that automatically tracks the motion of rotor blades, collecting data on precise positions and building a model of rotary motion.

3D mapping is a 'Pisa' cake for Aussie scientists

Australian researchers have developed a breakthrough 3D mapping system, Zebedee, which enables the creation of detailed maps of complex sites like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The technology has been used to produce the first comprehensive 3D map of the tower's interior, capturing small details in the stairs and stonework.

'Super-resolution' microscope possible for nanostructures

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new super-resolution optical microscopy technique that can image synthetic nanostructures and molecules without the need for fluorescent dyes. The technique, called saturated transient absorption microscopy (STAM), uses a trio of laser beams to selectively illuminate molecules, allowing...

SourcePurdue University·JournalNature Photonics·DateApr 29, 2013

Keeping the past in the future with 3-D mobile mapping

Australian researchers use CSIRO's Zebedee to create detailed 3D maps of historic sites in Moreton Bay, preserving fragile and remote cultural heritage. The technology allows for rapid data collection, enabling analysis of important aspects of Australian history, such as the segregation of Indigenous people in leper colonies.

Laser-powered 'needle' promises pain-free injections

A new laser-based system can propel tiny, precise streams of medicine into the skin with minimal force, potentially eliminating pain from injections. The device uses an erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser to create a vapor bubble that forces drug-laden jets into the targeted depth of the skin.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Letters·DateSep 13, 2012

A camera that peers around corners

Researchers at MIT Media Lab have developed a new imaging system that can produce recognizable 3-D images of objects outside its line of sight by using femtosecond laser pulses and analyzing reflected light. The system has potential applications in emergency response, vehicle navigation, and medical devices.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 20, 2012

Lasers could be used to detect roadside bombs

A new laser technology has been developed by Michigan State University researchers to detect roadside bombs with high sensitivity and selectivity. The laser can canvas large areas and distinguish between explosives and similar compounds, making it a potential game-changer for detecting improvised explosive devices.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateSep 16, 2011

Put the brakes on using your brain power

German researchers have successfully used electroencephalography (EEG) to detect drivers' intentions to brake, reducing reaction time by 130 milliseconds. The system uses EEG and myoelectric activity to detect emergency situations before they occur, potentially saving thousands of car accidents caused by human error.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalJournal of Neural Engineering·DateJul 28, 2011

Laser sparks revolution in internal combustion engines

Researchers have developed a new laser system that can ignite engine air-fuel mixtures more efficiently than traditional spark plugs. The laser system is made from ceramics and promises less pollution and greater fuel economy, but further testing is needed to make it commercially viable.

SourceOptica·DateApr 20, 2011