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Matter at the crossroads

Researchers at Weizmann Institute create innovative method to track rapid material changes using two laser beams, enabling precise reconstruction of optical delay changes. This advance could lead to the development of fastest processors possible, increasing data transmission speed.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Negative refraction of light using atoms instead of metamaterials

Researchers at Lancaster University have successfully demonstrated negative refraction using atomic arrays, eliminating the need for metamaterials. This achievement paves the way for novel technologies based on negative refraction, including perfect lenses and cloaking devices.

SNU Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering's Optical Engineering and Quantum Electronics Laboratory develops ultra-compact camera technology optimized for VR/AR devices

Researchers at Seoul National University's Optical Engineering and Quantum Electronics Laboratory developed an optical design technology that dramatically reduces the volume of cameras with a folded lens system utilizing metasurfaces. The new lens system achieves a thickness of 0.7mm, making it suitable for ultra-compact devices such a...

Shrinking AR displays into eyeglasses to expand their use

A team of researchers has developed a compact augmented reality (AR) display that can be integrated into eyeglasses, significantly improving image quality and field of view. The new technology combines two optical technologies to create a high-resolution AR system with minimal distortions.

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.

What makes some brown algae shimmer and others not?

Kobe University researchers have discovered that the shimmering effect in some brown algae is due to the presence of tiny, uniform-sized spheres within cells called iridescent bodies. These microspheres reflect green light more than other colors, resulting in the alga's characteristic shine.

New approach to developing efficient, high-precision 3D light shapers

Scientists create a simple approach to fabricating highly precise 3D aperiodic photonic volume elements (APVEs) for various applications. The method uses direct laser writing to arrange voxels of specific refractive indices in glass, enabling the precise control of light flow and achieving record-high diffraction efficiency.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

An illuminated water droplet creates an ‘optical atom’

A water droplet acts as a model of an atom when illuminated by laser light, allowing researchers to study resonance phenomena and energy levels. The droplet's size changes due to evaporation, creating a visible 'optical atom' that can be used to analyze water quality and detect pollutants.

Climate change to produce more rainbows

A new study predicts that climate change will increase rainbow viewing opportunities in northern latitudes and high elevations, while decreasing them in tropical regions. The research used photographs from Flickr to map rainbow occurrences under current and future climates.

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.

Optical rule was made to be broken

Engineers at Rice University have discovered a way to manipulate light at the nanoscale that surpasses the traditional Moss rule for optical materials. The researchers found that iron pyrite has a high refractive index, making it suitable for applications such as virtual reality and 3D displays.

Researchers create biosensor by turning spider silk into optical fiber

A new light-based sensor harnesses the light-guiding properties of spider silk to detect and measure small changes in the refractive index of a biological solution, including glucose and other types of sugar solutions. The sensor is practical, compact, biocompatible, cost-effective, and highly sensitive.

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.

Advances in lithium niobate photonics

Lithium niobate photonics has developed rapidly, enabling compact devices with high performance. Thin film lithium niobate (TFLN) structures have shown significant improvements in refractive index contrast, paving the way for more integrated photonic devices.

Citrus derivative makes transparent wood 100 percent renewable

Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology have developed a transparent composite material made from limonene acrylate, a monomer derived from renewable citrus. The material offers high optical transmittance and low haze, with applications in structural use and potential uses in smart windows and nanotechnology.

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.

Why are optical refractive indices so small?

A recent study published in Physical Review X reveals that the refractive index of dilute atomic gases can only reach a maximum value of 1.7 due to near-field interactions and multiple scattering effects.

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.

New "metalens" shifts focus without tilting or moving

Researchers have fabricated a tunable metalens made of phase-changing material GSST that can focus light on objects at multiple depths without moving. This enables the creation of miniature optical devices such as heat scopes for drones and ultracompact thermal cameras for cellphones.

Move over heavy goggles, here come the ultra-high refractive index lenses

A research team at Pohang University of Science & Technology has developed ultra-high refractive index lenses using visibly transparent amorphous silicon. The new material allows for the control of all visible light colors, enabling more efficient and cost-effective virtual and augmented reality devices.

Engineers produce a fisheye lens that's completely flat

The researchers designed a single flat piece of glass with microscopic structures to manipulate light and produce crisp, 180-degree panoramic images. The new design enables ultra-wide-angle lenses to be integrated into smartphones, laptops, and medical imaging devices.

Ambient light alters refraction in 2D material

Scientists at Rice University have created a two-dimensional material with unique optical characteristics that can be controlled by ambient light. This innovation has the potential to aid the development of 3D displays, virtual reality, and lidar systems for self-driving vehicles.

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.

Shining a new light on biomimetic materials

Researchers have created a hydrogel that responds to optical stimuli and modifies the stimulus in response, trapping light within regions of the material. The discovery opens new pathways toward creating devices that aren't reliant on human control.

Controlling light with light

Scientists have created a novel material that can change its refractive index in response to low-intensity laser light, enabling the manipulation of light beams and creation of optical logic gates. This breakthrough could lead to the development of soft, circuitry-free robots driven by light from the sun.

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.

VTT developed an optical fiber made of cellulose

Researchers at VTT created an optical fibre from cellulose, suitable for measuring moisture levels in buildings. The cellulose-based fibre absorbs and releases water, allowing for accurate measurements.

New water-based optical device revolutionizes the field of optics research

A team of scientists at Tokyo University of Science developed a new method to modulate light using water as a medium, called giant optical modulation. This technique is less expensive and easier to use than conventional methods, with a maximum intensity change of 50% proportional to the applied AC voltage.

Structural protein essential for ciliary harmony in comb jellies

A team of researchers identified a critical protein component essential for coordinated motion in comb jellies. The study found that this protein, CTENO64, plays a vital role in maintaining harmony among the tiny surface organelles on comb plates, which propel these marine animals through the ocean.

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.

Electrochemistry to benefit photonics: Nanotubes can control laser pulses

Skoltech scientists have developed a method to control the nonlinear optical response of carbon nanotubes using electrochemical gating. This approach enables designing devices that can control the duration of laser pulses, opening up new possibilities for universal laser systems with controllable pulse duration.

Machine learning increases resolution of eye imaging technology

Researchers at Duke University have developed a method to increase optical coherence tomography resolution down to a single micrometer, enabling live imaging of tissues throughout the body. Machine learning tools are used to compensate for light distortions and create high-quality images.

Nature inspires a novel new form of computing, using light

Researchers at McMaster University have developed a novel form of computing using light patterns and materials that react intuitively to light. This new approach enables simple calculations such as addition and subtraction without the need for power sources.

Iridescent color from clear droplets

Researchers at Penn State and MIT discovered that uniform-sized clear water droplets on a surface can produce bright iridescent colors. The color is due to total internal reflection and light interference, creating an optical effect not possible in perfect spheres.

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.

Engineers make clear droplets produce iridescent colors

Engineers at MIT and Penn State University developed a model predicting the color of droplets given specific structural and optical conditions. The team found that total internal reflection allows hemispherical droplets to produce color through interference effects, which are stronger in small droplets.

Atomic jet -- the first lens for extreme-ultraviolet light developed

Scientists from the Max Born Institute have created the first refractive lens that focuses extreme ultraviolet beams, utilizing a jet of atoms instead of traditional glass. This innovation enables novel approaches to image biological samples on extremely short timescales, with potential applications in microscopy and structural analysis.

Ultra-white coating modelled on beetle scales

A team of scientists at the University of Cambridge has created a super-thin, non-toxic, lightweight, edible ultra-white coating that mimics the structure of beetle scales. The material scatters light extremely efficiently, producing bright white colours without the need for pigments.

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.

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.

DIY: Scientists release a how-to for building a smartphone microscope

Researchers from University of Houston release open-source dataset and instructions for building a smartphone microscope with an inexpensive inkjet-printed elastomer lens. The device can perform fluorescence microscopy, detect waterborne pathogens, and has potential applications in rural areas and developing countries.

A zero-index waveguide

Scientists have successfully developed a zero-index waveguide compatible with current silicon photonic technologies, allowing them to observe standing waves with infinitely-long wavelengths. This breakthrough could enable the creation of ultra-compact optical devices and pave the way for new quantum computing applications.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Know your flow

Viscoelastic polymer solutions exhibit elasticity, causing severe distortions in observed flow patterns. Researchers also studied 'living polymers', finding unique flow patterns with blockages in the channel.

'Shadow method' reveals locomotion secrets of water striders

Researchers in China developed a 'shadow method' to measure forces acting on water strider legs, revealing key principles behind their locomotion. The technique could help design advanced biomimetic robots and measure forces at the single molecular level.

NASA team begins testing of a new-fangled optic

A NASA team is testing a photon sieve optic for improved UV resolution, which could help answer a 50-year-old question about the sun's corona. The new technology has already achieved success in its initial testing phase.

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.

Mixing solids and liquids enhances optical properties of both

By immersing glass particles in a fluid, researchers enhanced the optical properties of both solids and liquids, demonstrating significant changes in diffusivity. The findings have potential applications in imaging, sensing, and photography, including calibrating medical-imaging systems and creating tunable optical devices.

Researchers demonstrate record optical nonlinearity

A team of researchers led by Robert W. Boyd has demonstrated up to 100 times greater nonlinearity in indium tin oxide than other known materials, revolutionizing photonics applications. This breakthrough opens the door for more careful study of the material's unique properties and potential applications.

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.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Smaller, faster, cheaper

A new type of electro-optic modulator is smaller, faster, and cheaper than traditional models, using plasmon-polaritons to enhance its performance. The device consumes much less energy than current commercial devices, making it a crucial step towards reducing the environmental impact of data transmission.

Theory turns to reality for nonlinear optical metamaterials

A research team at Georgia Institute of Technology has realized a nonlinear material with opposite refractive indices at the fundamental and harmonic frequencies of light, as predicted theoretically. This discovery has significant implications for controlling light in information processing, sensing, and signal generation.

Researchers discern the shapes of high-order Brownian motions

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a novel scanning optical interferometry technique that enables the spatial mapping and visualization of high-order modes of Brownian motions. This breakthrough technology holds promise for multimodal sensing, signal processing, and computing applications.