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Structural color just got glossy, durable and 3D-ready

The Kobe University team demonstrates glossy, non-iridescent, and protection-coated structural color coatings for 3D objects, reducing diffuse reflectance and increasing color brightness. The coatings are lightweight, making them ideal for aircraft and other applications where weight reduction is crucial.

SourceKobe University·JournalSmall Structures·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 8, 2026

New imaging technique sees through deep tissue, dense fog, and other obstacles

Researchers at the University of Rochester have developed a lower-cost imaging system that overcomes challenges in near-infrared light transmission through deep tissue and dense fog. The AI-enhanced time-gating technique produces clearer images in these environments, improving applications such as cancer detection and LiDAR systems.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalLight: Science & Applications·DateAug 17, 2026

When light collides with light

Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have discovered that tensor mesons play a significant role in light-light scattering, influencing muon magnetic properties. This finding resolves discrepancies between theoretical calculations and experimental results, paving the way for more precise tests of the Standard Model.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 28, 2025

The changing sky that plants see

Researchers developed a numerical tool to quantify sunlight intensity and its influence on plant growth, enabling accurate predictions of sunlight patterns. The model can help farmers optimize greenhouse conditions and planting schedules, leading to improved crop yields.

SourceKyushu University·JournalEcological Informatics·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 19, 2025

Pre-seed funding to recolor the world greener

Kobe University has developed a new way to produce colors using nanospheres, which could reduce the environmental impact of paints and cosmetics. The technology uses silicon spheres to scatter light, creating bright and brilliant colors that do not fade or change with viewing angle.

Research team demonstrated nonlinear compton scattering with a multi-petawatt laser, mimicking astrophysical phenomena and producing ultra-bright gamma rays

A team of researchers successfully demonstrated nonlinear Compton scattering using a multi-petawatt laser, producing ultra-bright gamma rays. The achievement offers new insights into high-energy electron-photon interactions without traditional particle accelerators.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 25, 2024

Optica Quantum October 2024 Issue Press Tip Sheet

The new issue of Optica Quantum features 10 research articles on quantum information science and technology. New methods for compensating scattering and aberrations in entangled photon systems have been proposed, and ultrafast nonlinear wave mixing spectroscopy schemes employing coherent light pulses and vacuum modes are being explored.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica Quantum·DateOct 30, 2024

Aston University researcher develops new optical technique that could revolutionise medical diagnostics

Aston University researcher has developed a new technique harnessing Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) light to improve imaging and data transmission through skin and biological tissues. The OAM-based approach shows unmatched sensitivity and accuracy, paving the way for non-invasive medical diagnostics and imaging.

SourceAston University·JournalLight Science & Applications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 25, 2024

The expansion of turbid drops in water

A team of researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz has developed a new method to study the interior of crystalline drops using monochromatic illumination. This approach exploits the color-dependent scattering of light and reveals the density profile of the drop, including initial rapid expansion due to particle repulsion befo...

New method improves understanding of light-wave propagation in anisotropic materials

Researchers have developed a new technique to study anisotropic materials, capturing full complexity of light behavior in these materials. The method revealed detailed insights into how light scatters differently along various directions within materials, allowing retrieval of scattering tensor coefficients.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateSep 17, 2024

Atoms on the edge

Researchers at MIT have directly observed edge states in a cloud of ultracold atoms, capturing images of atoms flowing along a boundary without resistance. This discovery could enable super-efficient energy transmission and data transfer in materials.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Physics·DateSep 6, 2024

Faster than one pixel at a time – new imaging method for neutral atomic beam microscopes developed by Swansea researchers

Researchers have developed a new imaging method for neutral atomic beam microscopes that can improve image resolution without significantly increasing measurement time. The new method uses magnetic spin precession to encode the position of beam particles, which interact with the sample.

SourceSwansea University·JournalNature Communications·TypeImaging analysis·DateAug 16, 2024

Physicists use light to probe deeper into the ‘invisible’ energy states of molecules

Researchers at the University of Bath have discovered a new optical phenomenon called hyper-Raman, which can penetrate deeper into living tissue and yield images with better contrast. This effect has significant potential applications in pharmaceutical science, security, forensics, environmental science, art conservation, and medicine.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 31, 2024

The nanotechnological revolution requires standardized ‘screws’ – here is a way to measure them

Scientists at the University of Bath discovered a new nonlinear optical property that measures the twist in tiny particles, similar to viruses and bacteria. This finding enables real-time particle size analysis and has significant implications for various fields like display technology, chemical catalysis, and medicine.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalACS Nano·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 14, 2024

Guardian of drone: Towards autonomous sea-land-air cloaks

A team at Zhejiang University has developed a self-driving cloaked unmanned drone with an intelligent aeroamphibious invisibility cloak, capable of manipulating electromagnetic scattering in real-time across dynamic environments. The cloak integrates perception, decision-making, and execution functionalities using spatiotemporal modula...

Structural color ink: Printable, non-iridescent and lightweight

Researchers at Kobe University developed a new approach to producing colors using the scattering of light from tiny silicon crystals. The material enables non-fading structural colors that do not depend on the viewing angle and can be printed, promising significant weight improvements over conventional paints.

SourceKobe University·JournalACS Applied Nano Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 30, 2024

Exploiting nonlinear scattering medium for optical encryption, computation, and machine learning

Researchers have discovered a way to utilize nonlinear scattering media for optical computing and machine learning. They created a novel theoretical framework involving third-order tensors, which can represent the complex relationships between input and output signals. This breakthrough has potential applications in real-world settings...

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 1, 2023

Polarized imaging dynamic light scattering measures the nanoparticle size, morphology, as well as their distributions simultaneously, thus finding applications in various fields including catalysts, abrasives, fillers, nanodrugs, and battery materials

Researchers developed a fast and convenient method called polarized imaging dynamic light scattering (PIDLS) to evaluate nanoparticle size, morphology and distributions. The method uses optical sphericity to describe the degree of deviation from spheres and provides statistical morphological distribution.

SourceParticuology·JournalParticuology·DateJul 5, 2023

NeuWS camera answers ‘holy grail problem’ in optical imaging

Engineers at Rice University and the University of Maryland developed NeuWS, a technology that can undo light scattering effects, enabling full-motion video through various media. The technology measures wavefronts to rapidly decipher phase information, overcoming the 'holy grail problem' in optical imaging.

SourceRice University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 28, 2023

Developing a nano-antenna that forms a near field of circularly polarized light: Promising applications in highly sensitive sensing and asymmetric photochemical reactions for molecular chirality

Researchers developed a nano-antenna that forms a near field of circularly polarized light, enhancing optical chirality and preserving helicity. This technology has promising applications in highly sensitive sensing and asymmetric photochemical reactions for molecular chirality.

SourceKobe University·JournalNano Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 28, 2023

Symmetry breaking by ultrashort light pulses opens new quantum pathways for coherent phonons

Researchers at Max Born Institute find that ultrafast mid-infrared excitation of electrons in bismuth reduces crystal symmetry, opening new quantum pathways for coherent phonon excitation. This leads to bidirectional atomic motions and oscillations with a frequency different from low-excitation levels.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalPhysical Review B·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 30, 2023

Data compression scheme facilitates measurement of blood flow to the brain

Researchers develop innovative data compression scheme to facilitate multispeckle diffuse correlation spectroscopy with high pixel resolutions, enabling non-invasive measurement of brain blood flow. The scheme uses field-programmable gate array compression to alleviate computational burdens and expand the use of SPAD cameras in biomedi...

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Biomedical Optics·DateMay 9, 2023

The roly-poly gold rush

Researchers have developed a novel imaging method to detect gold nanoparticles in woodlice, allowing for the study of metal toxicity and its impact on the environment. This technique enables scientists to precisely pinpoint the fate of individual gold nanoparticles in complex biological systems.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateApr 11, 2023