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Two attosecond flashes capture electrons in motion

Scientists have developed a table-top technique using all-attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy to study the oscillatory motion of an electron vacancy in xenon ions. The results provide insights into the underlying dynamics of light-induced processes.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 29, 2026

Lithium-doped carbon nanorings show promise for next-generation optical devices

Researchers discovered that lithium doping of a 12-benzene-ring molecule creates a material with strong optical responses due to synergistic effects between aromaticity and charge transfer. This finding establishes fundamental design principles for high-performance carbon-based photonic devices.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalChemical Physics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 22, 2026
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Magnon momentum microscopy: A new window into nanoscale spin-wave physics

Researchers developed a new method to observe nanoscale spin waves, directly detecting short-wavelength magnons using resonant soft X-rays. The technique, called magnon momentum microscopy (MMM), reveals strong nonlinear interactions and four-magnon scattering processes in magnetic materials.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 5, 2026

It takes two combs to tango

Dual-comb spectroscopy enables precise, rapid, and broadband measurements using two optical frequency combs with slightly different repetition frequencies. This technique has been implemented across the electromagnetic spectrum, from terahertz to visible range, with ongoing efforts towards ultraviolet range.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalNature Reviews Methods Primers·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 26, 2026

When order gives way to chaos: the turbulent birth of magnetic nanovortices

Scientists have directly imaged the effect of short current pulses on skyrmions, finding that they break up into disordered patterns before re-forming in a predictable manner. This discovery opens up new possibilities for computing concepts like probabilistic computing.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalSmall·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 22, 2026
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.

Thermal ‘tug-of-war’ enables memory with 66× lower energy consumption

Researchers developed a memory technology that stores data using almost no electricity by controlling spin states through temperature changes. The approach reduces energy consumption by up to 66 times compared to existing methods, making it suitable for low-power memory technologies.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMay 13, 2026

Putting neural networks to work in nonlinear optics

Researchers develop deep learning surrogate for simulating nonlinear optical physics in ultrafast laser systems. The model accelerates simulation by orders of magnitude while maintaining high fidelity, and enables integration with experimental laser control systems.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateMay 12, 2026
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.

Racetrack-shaped lasers for bright, stable frequency combs

A new laser source generates a specific type of light source called a frequency comb in the mid-infrared region, paving the way for miniaturization. The device overcomes engineering challenges to produce bright, stable, and compact frequency combs.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalOptica·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

Quantum entanglement on attosecond timescales

The study measures ultrafast electron dynamics in hydrogen molecules, observing oscillations in hole localization that depend on the delay between attosecond pulses. Entanglement occurs at the expense of electronic coherence in the remaining ion.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 1, 2026

Topological solitons power a chip-scale frequency comb source

Researchers create a new way to generate optical frequency combs at the chip scale, utilizing robust light pulses called topological solitons. This advance promises to make frequency combs more practical and easier to use outside the laboratory.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature·DateMar 25, 2026
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.

A clear roadmap for engineering combs of light

Engineers at Harvard create microcombs on photonic chips, enabling compact, programmable frequency combs for precision measurement and telecommunications applications. The breakthrough makes electro-optic microcombs more practical, energy efficient, and diverse.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 16, 2026

A dynamic twist of light’s ‘handedness’

The Harvard researchers' new device is elegantly designed to be tunable, with a bilayer design that becomes geometrically chiral and able to 'read' chiral light. By using the MEMS device to continuously vary the twist angle and interlayer spacing, the team showed they could tune the device's intrinsic ability to read different chiral l...

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalOptica·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2026

IEEE researchers achieve low-power ultrashort mid-IR pulse compression

A team of researchers from SASTRA Deemed University demonstrates a fiber-based method for compressing mid-infrared laser pulses into ultrashort, low-noise bursts efficiently. The system reduces input power from kilowatts to 80 watts, improving energy efficiency and thermal stability.

SourceInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers·JournalIEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 11, 2026

Generating micro-combs of light

Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have discovered a new way to generate ultra-precise, evenly spaced laser light combs on a photonic chip. This breakthrough could miniaturize optical platforms like spectroscopic sensors or communication systems.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 19, 2026

Pioneering second-order nonlinear vibrational nanoscopy for interfacial molecular systems beyond the diffraction limit

Researchers overcome spatial resolution limit of sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy by utilizing plasmonic near-field confinement. This breakthrough enables direct visualization of nanoscale orientation heterogeneity in interfacial molecular domains.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry C·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 18, 2026
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.

Swiss X-ray laser reveals the hidden dance of electrons

Scientists at SwissFEL have developed a technique known as X-ray four-wave mixing, allowing them to access coherences in matter for the first time. This breakthrough has the potential to illuminate how quantum information is stored and lost, ultimately aiding the design of more error-tolerant quantum devices.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 15, 2026

Elegant solution for measuring ultrashort laser pulses discovered

Researchers at Lund University have developed a compact and elegant way to stretch ultrafast laser pulses using a diffraction grating, allowing for precise control over pulse duration. This enables full characterization in a single shot, without the need for pre-compensation optical elements.

SourceLund University·JournalOptica·DateDec 18, 2025
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.

Observing nanoscale dynamics with soft X-rays

Researchers at the Max Born Institute developed a laboratory-scale soft-X-ray instrument to study ultrafast processes of emergent textures in magnetic materials. They observed nanoscale magnetic maze domains and discovered complex reorganization patterns on picosecond to nanosecond timescales.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalLight Science & Applications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 4, 2025

Massively parallel implementation of nonlinear functions using an optical processor

UCLA researchers create optical processor that performs massive parallel computation of nonlinear functions, executed rapidly and simultaneously at extreme spatial density. The study demonstrates the use of diffractive optical processors to approximate arbitrary sets of bandlimited nonlinear functions.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·JournaleLight·DateNov 6, 2025

Watching bandgaps in motion - attosecond interferometry of solids

Using extreme ultraviolet high-harmonic interferometry, researchers tracked changes in the electronic bandgap of silica glass and magnesium oxide under strong laser excitation. The study found a shrinking bandgap in silica and a widening bandgap in magnesium oxide.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalOptica·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 9, 2025

Pushing boundaries in ultrafast magnetization switching

Researchers discovered that ultrafast magnetization switching proceeds with a speed of about 2000 meters per second, not uniformly throughout the material. A moving boundary propagates through the film, sweeping through the entire layer in roughly 4.5 ps.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 22, 2025
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.

Enhanced magnetic second-harmonic generation in an ultra-compact plasmonic nanocavity

Researchers create subwavelength dimer-on-film nanocavities to excite magnetic dipole resonance, enabling Lorentz-force-driven second-harmonic generation with high efficiency. The approach breaks conventional design paradigms and offers a new framework for studying magnetic field-related nonlinear optical processes.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·JournalLight Science & Applications·DateSep 22, 2025

Reconfigurable nonlinear Pancharatnam-Berry optics with patterned ferroelectric nematics

Researchers developed reconfigurable nonlinear Pancharatnam-Berry optics using patterned ferroelectric nematics, enabling dynamic control over nonlinear phase shifts. The approach offers unprecedented flexibility for advanced optical processing, adaptive optics, and quantum information technologies.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·JournalLight Science & Applications·DateSep 15, 2025

Observation of nonlinear edge states in an interacting atomic trimer array

Researchers study impact of interactions on population distribution in topological trimer array, observing formation of nonlinear edge states. They extend domain of nonlinear topological photonics to ultracold atomic systems.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·JournalLight Science & Applications·DateSep 7, 2025
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Butterfly wings inspire solution to impossible problem

Researchers have developed a patterned layer of material that can dynamically tune advanced optical processes at visible wavelengths. The breakthrough enables adaptive camouflage, biosensing, and quantum light engines, leveraging the unique properties of van der Waals materials.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 7, 2025

Generation of femtosecond polygonal optical vortices from a mode-locked quasi-frequency-degenerate laser

Researchers have developed a method to generate femtosecond polygonal optical vortices with square, pentagonal, and hexagonal intensity distributions. The technique utilizes a passive mode-locked solid-state Yb:KGW oscillator at quasi-frequency-degenerate state, delivering high-power FPOVs with excellent power stability.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·JournalLight Science & Applications·DateAug 26, 2025

Digital to analog in one smooth step

The new Harvard device can turn purely digital electronic inputs into analog optical signals at high speeds, addressing the bottleneck of computing and data interconnects. It has the potential to enable advances in microwave photonics and emerging optical computing approaches.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 25, 2025
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.

Ten thousand molecules in time – Generation and control of collective vibrations in a liquid

Scientists generate collective molecular vibrations in a liquid by placing an electron ultrafast. These vibrations govern the electric behavior of the liquid and can be tuned to adapt its properties. The study reveals new insights into polar liquids' dynamics.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalPhysical Review Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 30, 2025

Phoenix: New open-source program for quantum physics

Researchers developed an open-source software tool, Phoenix, to simulate light behavior in quantum systems, solving wave equations in record time without high-performance computing expertise. The program is up to a thousand times faster and 99.8% more energy-efficient than conventional tools.

SourceUniversität Paderborn·JournalComputer Physics Communications·DateJul 30, 2025

TFLN-based RGB multiplexer for energy-efficient laser beam scanning

Researchers have developed a new RGB multiplexer based on thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) that enables faster and more energy-efficient light modulation for laser beam scanning systems. The multiplexer successfully combined red, green, and blue laser beams, generating mixed colors such as cyan, magenta, and yellow, and even white light.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateJul 28, 2025

Bagged: Skyrmions

A team of researchers developed a reliable method to create donut-like, topologically rich spin textures called skyrmion bags in thin ferromagnetic films. The success rate of generating such textures using single laser pulses is significantly higher than magnetic-field-driven approaches.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 28, 2025
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.

Could metasurfaces be the next quantum information processors?

Researchers create metasurfaces to control photons and entangle them for quantum computing and sensing. The discovery could lead to miniaturized optical setups with improved stability, robustness, and cost-effectiveness.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 24, 2025

Researchers demonstrated how optical fibers can make computers ultra-fast

A research team from Tampere University and Université Marie et Louis Pasteur has demonstrated a novel way to process information using light and optical fibers. The study used femtosecond laser pulses and an optical fiber to mimic the processing of artificial intelligence, achieving accuracy of over 91% in under one picosecond.

SourceTampere University·JournalOptics Letters·DateJun 18, 2025

Ultra-thin lenses that make infrared light visible

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new method for fabricating ultra-thin metalenses using lithium niobate nanostructures. These devices can convert infrared light to visible radiation, enabling new applications in security, microscopy, and electronics.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 2, 2025

Ballistic electrons chart a new course for next-gen terahertz devices

Researchers propose a new method for manipulating light using the geometry of matter, generating second-harmonic signals at much lower intensities than traditional methods. The team's design guidelines offer practical solutions for building nanoscale terahertz devices without applied voltage.

SourceSingapore University of Technology and Design·JournalACS Nano·DateMay 27, 2025

Nonlinearity of optoacoustic signals and a new contrast mechanism for imaging.

Researchers have identified nonlinearity in optoacoustic signals and a new contrast mechanism that significantly improves tissue characterization. The method uses thermally excited nonlinear susceptibility to offer novel imaging capabilities.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·JournalLight Science & Applications·DateMay 16, 2025
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

A compact, mid-infrared pulse generator

Physicists at Harvard SEAS have created a compact, on-chip mid-infrared pulse generator that can emit short bursts of light without external components. This device has the potential to speed up gas sensor development and create new medical imaging tools.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 16, 2025

Light that spirals like a nautilus shell

Harvard physicists develop an optical vortex beam that twists and changes shape, resembling spiral shapes found in nature. The 'optical rotatum' has potential applications in controlling small particles and micro-manipulation, and its creation is made possible with a single liquid crystal display.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 11, 2025

Coherence synthesis in nonlinear optics

A new study introduces a method to actively shape and control spatial coherence in nonlinear optics, allowing for the transfer of coherence patterns between different spectral ranges. This approach enables innovative applications in imaging, security, and biomedical diagnostics.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateApr 2, 2025

Doubling down on metasurfaces

A new bilayer metasurface, made of two stacked layers of titanium dioxide nanostructures, has been created by Harvard researchers. This device can precisely control the behavior of light, including polarization, and opens up a new avenue for metasurfaces.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 1, 2025
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.

Coherence synthesis in nonlinear optics

A new study introduces a method to synthesize spatial coherence during nonlinear interactions, allowing for the transfer of coherence patterns between different spectral ranges. This approach enables advanced imaging techniques such as infrared imaging for medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·JournalLight Science & Applications·DateMar 6, 2025

Harnessing device architecture for enhanced terahertz harmonic generation

Researchers have developed novel strategies to enhance THz nonlinearities in graphene-based structures, increasing third harmonic generation up to 30 times. A multilayered design and metasurface substrates were used to amplify the THz field, leading to a two-order magnitude increase in efficiency.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·JournalLight Science & Applications·DateFeb 14, 2025

Harnessing electromagnetic waves and quantum materials to improve wireless communication technologies

A team of researchers from the University of Ottawa has developed innovative methods to enhance frequency conversion of terahertz (THz) waves in graphene-based structures, unlocking new potential for faster, more efficient technologies in wireless communication and signal processing. These advancements hold great promise for wireless c...

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 21, 2025

Discovering quasiparticles ejected from color centers in diamond crystals

Scientists have created extremely thin sheets of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond crystals, which exhibit exceptional sensitivity to environmental variations. The findings reveal the emergence of Fröhlich polarons, previously thought not to exist in diamonds, opening up new prospects for quantum sensing.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 29, 2024
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.

New 'chiral vortex' of light reveals molecular mirror images

A new structure of light has been discovered that can accurately measure chirality in molecules, a property of asymmetry important in physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine. This 'chiral vortex' provides an accurate and robust form of measurement, allowing for the detection of chiral biomarkers.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalNature Photonics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 2, 2024

Innovative perovskite waveguides with edge lasing effect

Scientists have created perovskite crystals with predefined shapes to serve as waveguides, couplers, and modulators in integrated photonic circuits. The edge lasing effect is associated with exciton-polariton condensates, which exhibit nonlinear effects, enabling applications in quantum computing.

SourceUniversity of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics·JournalNature Materials·DateAug 22, 2024

Engineers bring efficient optical neural networks into focus

EPFL researchers have created an energy-efficient method for nonlinear computations using scattered light from low-power lasers. The new approach is scalable and up to 1,000 times more power-efficient than state-of-the-art digital networks, making it suitable for realizing optical neural networks.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 12, 2024
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.

Light-induced Meissner effect in optically driven YBa2Cu3O6.48

Researchers have discovered that photo-excited YBa2Cu3O6.48 expels a static magnetic field from its interior, comparable to equilibrium superconductivity. This finding suggests that tailored light pulses can be used to synchronize fluctuating states and restore superconducting order at higher temperatures.

SourceMax Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 11, 2024

A liquid crystal source of photon pairs

Scientists have demonstrated spontaneous parametric down-conversion in a liquid crystal, creating entangled photon pairs with high efficiency. The discovery enables flexible and electric-field-tunable quantum light sources.

SourceMax Planck Institute for the Science of Light·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 14, 2024

Good vibrations: New tech may lead to smaller, more powerful wireless devices

Researchers at the University of Arizona and Sandia National Laboratories have developed a new class of synthetic materials that enable giant nonlinear interactions between phonons. This breakthrough could lead to smaller, more efficient wireless devices, such as smartphones or other data transmitters.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 9, 2024

Shining a light on the hidden properties of quantum materials

Researchers at UC San Diego used terahertz time-domain spectroscopy to observe anomalous terahertz light amplification in Ta2NiSe5, uncovering its exciton condensate properties. This technique may allow for the discovery of new light-induced phenomena and their potential applications in entangled light sources.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 24, 2024
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.

Bridging light and electrons

Researchers at EPFL and Max Planck Institute have successfully bridged the gap between light and electrons using a transmission electron microscope. They achieved this by generating dissipative Kerr solitons that interact with free electrons, allowing for ultrafast modulation of electron beams.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalScience·DateJan 11, 2024

Study paves way for development of advanced quantum networks

Researchers at UNICAMP developed a new technology to create bridges between superconducting circuits and optical fibers, enabling efficient transmission of information in the electromagnetic spectrum. This breakthrough paves the way for the development of advanced quantum networks with potential applications in computing and communicat...

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 12, 2023