Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Novel system mimics focus activity of the human eye

Researchers have developed Autofocals, a system that automatically corrects presbyopia by mimicking the natural accommodation response of the eye. Users experienced better visual acuity at nearer distances compared to monovision and progressive lenses methods.

New method eliminates guesswork when lenses go freeform

Researchers have developed a step-by-step method to design with freeform surfaces, eliminating much of the guesswork. This new approach enables designers to predict which freeform surfaces will work best for a given configuration, reducing trial and error and increasing efficiency.

Improving mid-infrared imaging and sensing

The new approach uses flat, artificial material composed of nanostructured optical elements to control and detect mid-IR waves, enabling cheaper, flatter, and more efficient detectors for night vision, biomedical sensing, and free-space communication. The devices can transmit up to 80% of mid-IR light with high efficiency and are made ...

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.

New method speeds up 3-D printing of millimeter-sized imaging lenses

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new method to create high-quality imaging lenses quickly using a 3D printer. The customized optical component can be printed in about four hours and has smooth surface quality, paving the way for applications in optics, vision correction, and disease diagnosis.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A marriage of light-manipulation technologies

Researchers successfully crafted a metasurface-based lens atop a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) platform, combining the best features of both technologies while reducing size. The device measures 900 microns in diameter and 10 microns in thickness, advancing LIDAR systems used to guide self-driving cars.

Metasurfaces enable improved optical lens performance

Researchers at Penn State have developed a new theory that uses gradient index materials and metasurface layers to improve optical lens performance. The new design reduces the need for multiple lenses, resulting in lighter and thinner optical systems.

Single metalens focuses all colors of the rainbow in one point

Researchers at Harvard have developed a single metalens that can focus the entire visible spectrum of light, including white light, in high resolution. This breakthrough eliminates chromatic aberrations and reduces thickness and design complexity compared to traditional lenses.

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.

Amber-tinted glasses may provide relief for insomnia

Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center found that wearing amber-tinted lenses before bed can improve sleep quality in individuals with insomnia. Participants wore wrap-around frames with amber or clear lenses for seven consecutive nights, resulting in an average of 30 minutes extra sleep and improved insomnia severity.

Brittle starfish shows how to make tough ceramics

Researchers discovered a unique process to create highly resistant lenses using calcite nanoparticles, mimicking the brittle starfish's ability to produce super-tough glass. This breakthrough could lead to improved materials for optical lenses, automotive turbochargers, and biomaterial implants.

New study shows disadvantage for firms possessing celebrity and status

A new study from the University of Notre Dame suggests that businesses seeking to accumulate both celebrity and high-status venture capitalist or underwriter affiliations may be worse off than pursuing one or the other. This challenges the long-held assumption that such assets are always beneficial for corporate success.

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.

Mirror image: Researchers create higher-quality pictures of biospecimens

Scientists from NIH and University of Chicago developed a new microscope that produces high-resolution images at high speed, improving efficiency and resolution. The use of mirrored coverslips allows for the capture of reflected images, removing unwanted background and increasing light collection.

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.

Colored glasses may provide light sensitivity relief post-concussion

A new study from the University of Cincinnati found that wearing colored lenses, such as blue, green, red, and purple, can provide significant relief from photophobia in post-concussion patients. This innovative approach offers a practical and comfortable alternative to dark sunglasses, which may not be suitable for all situations.

Ultra-thin camera creates images without lenses

Engineers at Caltech developed a new camera design that replaces traditional lenses with an ultra-thin optical phased array, enabling the creation of flat, thin, and lightweight cameras. The system manipulates incoming light to capture images, offering applications in smartphone cameras, astronomy, and wearable technology.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Scientists develop spectacles for X-ray lasers

Researchers at DESY developed tailor-made corrective glasses to concentrate X-ray beams stronger than ever before. The lenses improved focus by three-quarters and reduced scattered light, enabling more precise measurements and new applications.

Flat lens opens a broad world of color

Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed the first flat lens that works across a continuous bandwidth of colors, from blue to green. This breakthrough enables new applications in imaging, spectroscopy, and sensing.

I can see clearly now

Researchers create adaptive lenses made of glycerin and rubber-like membranes to change the focal length, eliminating the need for bifocals or reading glasses. The lenses are controlled by electronics and a battery, allowing users to switch between near and far vision in just 14 milliseconds.

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.

Discovered one of the brightest distant galaxies so far known

Astronomers have discovered one of the brightest non-active galaxies in the early universe, BG1429+1202, located 11.4 billion light-years away. The galaxy's high luminosity was made possible by a gravitational lensing effect caused by a massive elliptical galaxy along the line of sight.

New test needed to assess the quality and safety of sunglasses

A new test is required to evaluate the quality and safety of sunglasses, which can deteriorate over time due to UV exposure. The current standard relies on a aging test that simulates 50 hours of sun exposure, but this may not accurately reflect real-world conditions.

Innovative device simulates cataract replacement experience

Researchers developed a handheld device called SimVis that simulates different intraocular lens designs, allowing patients to choose the best correction for their needs. The device uses an optoelectronic tunable lens to change shape in response to an electric current, providing a realistic visual experience.

Snake eyes: New insights into visual adaptations

Researchers discovered most snakes have three visual pigments, making them dichromatic in daylight. Their lens structure allows UV light through for nocturnal species, while daytime hunters have UV-filtering lenses.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

New movie screen allows for glasses-free 3-D

A new display technology, Cinema 3D, allows viewers to watch 3-D movies without glasses, using a special array of lenses and mirrors. The system enables high-resolution images to be replicated across the theater, offering an immersive cinematic experience from any seat.

A digital Rochester Cloak to fit all sizes

The Rochester Digital Cloak uses flat screen displays to extend the range of angles that can be hidden from view. It enables cloaking large objects without requiring expensive lenses.

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.

Equilibrium modeling increases contact lens comfort

Researchers designed an equilibrium model to understand the factors that contribute to lens comfort, revealing the importance of suction pressure, radial tension, and hoop tension. The study aims to improve contact lens design and comfort, potentially leading to novel applications like drug administration and sensory enhancement.

Light-powered 3-D printer creates terahertz lens

The new lens uses metamaterials and 3D printing to counter the intrinsic imperfections of typical lenses, enabling flawless images without additional corrective components. The technology has potential applications in biomedical research and security imaging, making terahertz imaging cheaper, higher resolution, and more available.

Researchers develop new lens for terahertz radiation

A new type of lens for focusing terahertz radiation has been developed by Brown University researchers, performing as well or better than existing lenses. The device uses an array of stacked metal plates to focus terahertz waves, allowing for improved transmission and versatility in different wavelengths.

New lens ready for its close-up

Researchers have created a new method to create flat optical lenses that can bend light to a single point, correcting a widespread misconception. The new lens is up to 10 times thinner than current camera lenses and could be used in medical devices, drones, and future smartphones with high-powered cameras.

Dark 'noodles' may lurk in the Milky Way

Astronomers discover invisible structures shaped like noodles or hazelnuts, which could radically change ideas about interstellar gas. The shapes were estimated using innovative new technique and observations of a quasar lensing event.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Some mollusks equip their armor with eyes

Chitons have eyes with mineral-based lenses in their shells, allowing them to visualize predators and respond quickly. The size and complexity of individual chiton eyes impact the local mechanical performance of their armor, highlighting trade-offs between protection and sight.

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.

Novel X-ray lens sharpens view into the nano world

A novel X-ray lens designed by DESY scientists has been successfully tested, producing sharper and brighter images of the nano world. The lens employs a unique concept to redirect X-rays over a wide range of angles, enabling high convergence power and resolving smaller details.

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.

Electrons corralled using new quantum tool

Researchers have created a new 'whispering gallery' effect for electrons in graphene, allowing precise control over the reflecting region. This confinement could lead to the development of electronic lenses and other quantum-based electron-optics devices, enabling the study of subtle charge carrier behavior at a microscopic level.

UH researchers create lens to turn smartphone into microscope

A team of University of Houston researchers has developed a lens that turns smartphones into microscopes, achieving 120x magnification at an affordable cost. The lens uses a polydimethylsiloxane material and can be attached directly to the smartphone camera, making it ideal for educational purposes.

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.

Perfect colors, captured with one ultra-thin lens

Researchers create an ultra-thin, completely flat optical component made of glass substrate and silicon antennas that compensates for wavelength differences. This allows for consistent effects like deflecting beams of different colors by the same angle or focusing those colors on a single spot.

Eyeglasses that turn into sunglasses -- at your command

A team of scientists has created a new type of lens that can rapidly switch between clear and dark shades, addressing safety concerns for pilots and others who need adaptable eyewear. The lenses, which can be controlled by the wearer, also offer fine-tuning capabilities to match various hues.

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.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Astronomers find 7 dwarf galaxies with new telescope

Astronomers at Yale University have discovered seven previously unseen dwarf galaxies using a novel telescope that can detect low-surface-brightness objects. The finding suggests the possibility of a new class of galaxies in space, with potential implications for dark matter and galaxy evolution.

Sharper imaging using X-rays

The HZB team has developed novel 3D X-ray optics, enabling sharper imaging with improved resolution. The new optics capture more light and can be stacked on top of each other to achieve even better results.

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.