Articles tagged with Lenses
Physicists at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University developed a mini transfocator, a variable focus lens for compact and mobile optical systems. The new design offers submicron resolution and is ideal for studying biological samples under extreme conditions.
Researchers at Columbia University have created the first flat lens capable of focusing a range of colors and polarizations to the same focal spot. The ultra-thin 'meta-lens' offers performance comparable to conventional lenses but with significantly reduced size and weight.
A new outbreak of Acanthamoeba keratitis has been identified in contact lens wearers, with a threefold increase in cases since 2011. Poor hygiene, contaminated water, and improper use of contact lenses are linked to the risk of developing the disease.
A study of 3,000 Medicare beneficiaries found that adults from minority racial/ethnic groups were less likely to use low-vision devices, despite evidence of their benefits. However, there was no difference in the use of vision rehabilitation services between racial/ethnic groups.
Scientists have found that contact lenses can break down into smaller plastic particles when exposed to wastewater treatment plants, which can harm aquatic organisms. The study's authors hope that industry will take note and provide proper disposal guidelines for contact lenses.
Researchers at Samara University developed an ultralight diffraction optic that weighs just 5 grams, compared to a massive system of lenses and mirrors weighing 500 grams. The new technology enables high-resolution images with comparable quality to consumer cameras and mobile phones.
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.
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.
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 ...
A new 'omniphobic' coating repels liquids, including oil and alcohol, while remaining clear and durable. The coating could be used in various industries, including childcare, refrigeration and power generation, to increase efficiency.
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.
Researchers at NIST and NIH developed a new method that uses movable silicon gratings to focus neutron beams, allowing for the examination of objects at unprecedented scales. This breakthrough could complement existing scanning techniques, enabling scientists to probe the interiors of materials without damaging them.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This special issue of the Journal of African American Studies marks 40 years since Prince went pro, featuring scholarly analysis of his groundbreaking debut album For You. The collection provides fresh perspectives on Prince's innovative approach to music production and control.
Researchers from SLAC and Stanford used neural networks to analyze images of strong gravitational lensing, performing complex analyses in a fraction of a second. The technique has the potential to transform astrophysics by analyzing vast amounts of data quickly and automatically.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have created a new optical mapping 3D display that reduces eye fatigue and discomfort in VR environments. The display method, called OMNI, uses spatial multiplexing to create multiple plane depths with correct focus cues for depth perception.
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.
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.
Researchers from Microsoft Research and HRL Laboratories developed a method to curve off-the-shelf image sensors, significantly improving digital camera image quality. The new approach enables the creation of cameras with curved sensors that produce higher resolution images across the entire field of view.
Researchers at Harvard SEAS developed a first flat lens for immersion microscopy, providing a cost-effective and easy-to-manufacture alternative to the expensive hand polishing technique. This innovation enhances biological imaging capabilities by enabling the capture of fine detailed geometrical information of objects.
The robber fly has exceptional vision thanks to a unique arrangement of lenses, enabling it to spot prey over half a metre away in under half a second. Its 'lock-on' strategy allows it to adapt mid-air and catch its prey with precision, making it a potential model for drone design.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers found that 57% of patients achieved 20/40 vision without glasses or contact lenses after five years, while some side effects included endothelial cell loss. The study suggests Phakic ICLs may be a viable option for those unsuitable for LASIK.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have demonstrated the first planar lens that works with high efficiency within the visible spectrum of light. The lens can resolve nanoscale features separated by distances smaller than the wavelength of light.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Online citizen science project Space Warps has made significant contributions to astrophysics, discovering 29 new gravitational lenses and a novel lensing scenario. The involvement of thousands of volunteer scientists has demonstrated the value of human pattern recognition in analyzing vast datasets.
Researchers found that the Greenland ice sheet's firn layer, which stores meltwater, is acting like a sponge but can be overwhelmed. This leads to increased release of meltwater into oceans, threatening sea levels.
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.
The new approach created flexible Fresnel zone plate microlenses with a wide field of view, enabling capture of broad perspectives at reduced size. The lenses are no larger than the head of a pin and can be freely reconfigured.
A team of researchers used an online classification system, Space Warps, to identify 29 new gravitational lens candidates. The citizen scientists analyzed 430,000 images and helped the researchers uncover potential lenses that algorithms may have missed.
Researchers from Singapore developed an adjustable-focus endoscope that reduces colonoscopy discomfort by using a solid electrically-tunable lens system. The device is more compact and durable than existing high-magnification endoscopes, and could enable full-fledged optical zooming capabilities.
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.
Researchers at Penn University developed liquid-crystal-based compound lenses that work like insect eyes, enabling 3D image reconstruction and light polarization sensitivity. The lenses produce images with different focal lengths, allowing for reconstruction of spatial relationships.
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.
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.
Scientists develop a new technique to reduce the halo effect in multifocal lenses, allowing patients with presbyopia to use them safely at night. The technique smoothes the surface structure of contact or intra-ocular lenses, reducing optical aberrations and improving depth of focus.
The Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) has shattered its own record for producing polarized proton collisions at 200-giga-electron-volt collision energy. The accelerator now delivers 1200 billion collisions per week, more than double the number achieved in 2012.
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.
Researchers unveil prototypes of telescopic contact lenses that magnify objects up to 2.8 times, addressing low vision and AMD concerns. Complementary smart glasses recognize winks and blinks, allowing seamless switching between normal and magnified vision.
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.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have created a cloaking device that hides objects across a continuous range of angles, improving on previous devices. The device uses four standard lenses and is scalable to large sizes, working for the entire visible spectrum.
A study from Cornell University shows that familiarity and partisanship significantly impact how candidates are perceived. Unfamiliar candidates were viewed more objectively, without partisan biases.