Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Imaging at the speed of light

Scientists have developed a technique to visualize the complete evolution of micro- and nanostructure formation on a material's surface. This allows for better control over these structures, which are crucial for improving various technologies such as anti-corrosive materials, energy absorbers, and medical instrumentation.

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.

Overcoming the limitations of optical microscopy

A research group led by Prof. Dr. Benjamin Judkewitz is working on a new approach to overcome light scattering limitations in optical microscopy, enabling images of deeper tissue layers. The European Research Council has allocated €1.49 million over five years to fund this endeavor.

NIJ grant to develop investigative tool for counterfeit bills

A team of experts from Sam Houston State University is developing a novel investigative tool using micro Raman spectroscopy to analyze inkjet printer signatures. The goal is to provide reliable leads in counterfeit cases while being time-effective and non-destructive.

New method developed for analyzing photonic crystal structure

Researchers have developed a new method for analyzing photonic crystal structure, which provides a direct view of the inner details. The technique uses scattered light patterns to reveal the iso-frequency contours, offering a beautiful and straightforward way to observe the material's properties.

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.

What a twist: Silicon nanoantennas turn light around

Researchers developed a silicon nanoantenna that scatters light in a particular direction depending on the intensity of incident radiation. The nanoantenna allows for the dynamic modification of its properties, enabling faster control over light propagation and paving the way for ultrafast processing of optical information.

First random laser made of paper-based ceramics

A team led by Professor Cordt Zollfrank from the Technical University of Munich created the first controllable random laser based on cellulose paper. The laser uses a biogenic structure to scatter light in different directions, but can still be controlled and localized.

Noise-canceling optics

A team led by Caltech's Changhuei Yang and Edward Zhou developed a device that selectively cancels scattered light, revealing dimly reflective objects. The technology, termed 'coherence gated negation,' has potential applications in satellite exploration and biomedical imaging.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Solving the problem of glare

Researchers have developed innovative methods to counteract glare and reduce unwanted light in various imaging applications, including microscopy, biomedicine, and astronomy. These new approaches use modified light to minimize glare, offering a promising solution for improving image quality.

More to rainbows than meets the eye

Researchers are exploring the practical uses of rainbows in weather forecasting and combustion engine efficiency. A comprehensive review highlights the importance of simulating rainbows using mathematical modeling. The study also provides tips for capturing rainbows on camera, making them a rare and special phenomenon.

Scientists count microscopic particles without microscope

Scientists from Russia and Australia have developed a simple new way to count microscopic particles in optical materials using laser diffraction. This method allows for the structure and shape of any optical material to be determined without expensive electron or atomic-force microscopy.

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.

Plumbing the possibilities of a camera that 'sees around corners'

A team of researchers led by Andreas Velten is working on a camera technology that uses scattered-light photons to capture scenes outside human line of sight. The project aims to push the limitations of this technique over four years, with potential applications in medical imaging, disaster relief, and space exploration.

New noninvasive imaging method for showing oxygen in tissue

A team of scientists developed a new approach to visualize oxygen in tissue, using optoacoustic methods and a novel algorithm that corrects for light propagation effects. This non-invasive imaging method achieves high accuracy and resolution, enabling the study of various medical conditions such as tumor growth and metabolism.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Transparent wood could one day help brighten homes and buildings

Scientists have developed transparent wood that can be used in building materials, potentially saving homeowners money on artificial lighting costs. The material, which is stronger than Plexiglass, still traps some light and may boost the efficiency of solar cells.

Novel metasurface revolutionizes ubiquitous scientific tool

Researchers at Harvard have built a polarimeter on a microchip, shrinking the widely used instrument to make it more accessible for various applications. The device provides high-performance polarization measurements at reduced size and cost, promising enhanced network security and real-time monitoring.

A new metamaterial will speed up computers

A team of scientists has proposed a two-dimensional metamaterial composed of silver elements that refracts light in an unusual way, potentially speeding up computer processing. The material could be used to develop compact optical devices and create an 'invisibility cloak'.

Seeing viruses in a new light

Researchers have developed a new system to track nanometer-sized viruses at sub-millisecond time scales, shedding light on the spontaneous self-assembly of viruses. This breakthrough could help design drugs that prevent viruses from forming in the first place.

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.

Measuring nanoscale features with fractions of light

Using a novel microscope that combines standard through-the-lens viewing with scatterfield imaging, NIST team accurately measures patterned features on a silicon wafer as small as 16 nanometers wide. The technique reveals variations in feature dimensions amounting to differences of a few atoms.

Details from the inner life of a tooth

Researchers have developed a new computed tomography method that uses scattering to visualize nanostructures in objects measuring just a few millimeters. This technique allows for the precise three-dimensional visualization of collagen fibers in human teeth, revealing their detailed structure for the first time.

Disk gaps don't always signal planets

A new study suggests that disk gaps may be a cosmic illusion and not necessarily caused by hidden planets. The researchers used models to show that growth, migration, and destruction of small particles can create apparent gaps in the disk.

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.

Now you see it: An ultra-thin invisibility cloak

Scientists have developed a new ultra-thin invisibility cloak that can render small objects undetectable by rerouting incoming light waves. The cloak is designed with a reflective metasurface and light-scattering antennae, allowing it to conceal objects with sharp edges and peaks.

Computer graphics: Less computing time for sand

A new multi-scale process adapts simulation to the structure of light transport in granular media on various scales. This enables efficient computation of photorealistic representation in images and animations, accelerating computation by a factor of ten compared to conventional path tracing.

Potential of disk-shaped small structures, coccoliths

Researchers discovered that coccoliths can modulate solar light, enhancing photosynthesis in microalgae. The study found that magnetically oriented coccoliths change light scattering, contributing to understanding how these structures control light.

Hot electrons point the way to perfect light absorption

Researchers found that ultrashort light pulses become trapped in small areas of rough ultrathin films, leading to efficient light absorption. This discovery can help develop highly efficient absorbers for thin-film solar cells and sensors.

Novel material design for undistorted light waves

Researchers at TU Wien have discovered new materials that can locally amplify or absorb light, allowing for the creation of undistorted light waves with uniform intensity. This breakthrough enables new kinds of light waves without wave interference, potentially useful for technological applications.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Nanoscale light-emitting device has big profile

The researchers created a nanoresonator that can manipulate light to cast a large 'reflection', making objects appear 10,000 times larger than their physical size. This technology has huge implications for photography and solar power.

New microscope technique could speed identification of deadly bacteria

Researchers have developed a new microscope technique using holographic images and machine-learning software to identify bacterial species at the single bacterium level. The approach has shown high accuracy in distinguishing between pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria, promising to reduce treatment time and improve patient outcomes.

Experiment confirms quantum theory weirdness: ANU media release

Scientists at ANU performed John Wheeler's delayed-choice thought experiment, proving that measurement is everything in quantum physics. The experiment found that reality only exists when observed, confirming the validity of quantum theory and its predictions about interference.

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.

New methods for realistic surface rendering in computer games

Researchers at Vienna University of Technology and Activision-Blizzard develop a new mathematical method to create more realistic surface rendering in computer games. The 'SSSS-method' takes into account light scattering below the surface, reducing computing time while maintaining realistic images.

Windows that act like an LCD Screen

A novel liquid crystal technology allows displays to flip between transparent and opaque states, increasing visibility while reducing the need for power. The new design remedies previous problems with scattering and absorption, providing a faster response time and improved energy efficiency.

Building shape inspires new material discovery

Researchers at Australian National University have created a topological insulator that can bend light around corners with no loss of signal, opening possibilities for nanoscale light sources, efficient antennas, and quantum computing.

New design tool for metamaterials

Scientists at Berkeley Lab have developed a new design tool to predict the nonlinear optical properties of metamaterials. This breakthrough enables efficient design and creation of high-performance materials for applications such as coherent Raman sensing, entangled photon generation, and frequency conversion.

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.

Researchers use sound to slow down, speed up, and block light

Researchers at University of Illinois have demonstrated Brillouin Scattering Induced Transparency (BSIT), a phenomenon that can slow down, speed up, and block light in optical waveguides. BSIT uses sound waves to eliminate opacity and create a non-reciprocal behavior, enabling the creation of isolators and circulators.

New technology focuses diffuse light inside living tissue

Researchers have developed a new technique that focuses diffuse light inside living tissue, improving the speed of optical focusing by two orders of magnitude. This advancement paves the way for noninvasive optical imaging in deep tissue and photodynamic therapy.

Particles, waves and ants

Researchers found that the time spent by a drunken sailor on a square with streetlamps is constant regardless of the lamp density. This effect also applies to light waves in disordered media, rubber balls rolling across a plank, and even ant paths, revealing a universal phenomenon.

Giving LEDs a cozy, warm glow

Scientists develop a thermoresponsive coating that changes the color of white LEDs when dimmed, creating a warmer glow. This innovative technology uses liquid crystal and polymeric materials to create a temperature-dependent shift in light emission.

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.

Improving imaging of cancerous tissues by reversing time

Washington University engineers apply a novel time-reversal technology to track movement inside the body's tissues, improving imaging of cancerous tissues and developing potential treatments. By using TRAP optical focusing, they can focus light on moving targets, allowing for sharper images even several centimeters into the skin.

Research from Penn and UCSB shows how giant clams harness the sun

Researchers from Penn and UCSB discovered that giant clams use their iridescent structures to maximize the usefulness of light reaching symbiotic algae within their bodies. This unique system allows the clams to thrive in intense sunlight, leading to potential breakthroughs in alternative energy research.

Brains not recognizing an angry expression

Children with ADHD exhibit impaired brain response to angry facial expressions, whereas typically developing children show a significant hemodynamic response in both happy and angry expressions.

The shadow of a disease

Researchers developed an optical method called iSCAT to detect individual proteins, such as those in cancers, using scattered light shadows. The method promises more sensitive diagnoses and sheds light on fundamental biochemical processes.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

The beetle's white album

Researchers discovered that beetle scales scatter light efficiently to achieve ultra-whiteness, using a complex network of chitin filaments. This finding could lead to brighter, whiter materials for paper, plastics, and paints while reducing material usage.

Bats use polarized light to navigate

Scientists have discovered that greater mouse-eared bats use polarization patterns in the sky to navigate, calibrating their internal magnetic compass. The bats' ability to detect polarised light remains a mystery, but researchers hope this breakthrough will aid in protecting declining bat populations.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Overcoming light scattering: New optical system sees deeper inside tissue

Researchers have developed a single-pixel optical system that can overcome light scattering in tissue, enabling transmission of images through scattering media. The technique uses compressive sensing to compress large data files as they are measured, allowing it to reconstruct the image and penetrate deeper into tissue.

With light echoes, the invisible becomes visible

Researchers at the University of Bonn developed a novel camera system that can see around corners without mirrors, using diffusely reflected light to reconstruct object shapes. The system records time-resolved data from light echoes, which brings valuable information about object shape and appearance.

Precision-guided epidurals and better blood monitors

Researchers have developed precision-guided epidurals using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to reduce pain and complications. OCT also enables better blood monitors that measure oxygen saturation and flow rates without contrast agents.

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.