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A New Blue: Mysterious origin of the ribbontail ray’s electric blue spots revealed

The study reveals that the electric blue spots of the bluespotted ribbontail ray are produced by unique skin cells with a stable 3D arrangement of nanoscale spheres containing reflecting nanocrystals. The team believes this colouration provides camouflage benefits to the stingrays, allowing them to blend with their surroundings.

SourceSociety for Experimental Biology·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 4, 2024

An optical lens that senses gas

A research team from the University of Jena developed a micro-lens with an intelligent behavior that changes in response to gas molecules. The lens is made of hybrid glass and consists of a three-dimensional lattice with cavities that accommodate gas molecules, affecting its optical properties.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 26, 2024

Turning infrared light visible

The Indian Institute of Science has fabricated a device to up-convert short infrared light to the visible range, utilizing a non-linear optical mirror stack made of gallium selenide. This innovation has diverse applications in defence and optical communications, including astronomy and chemistry.

SourceIndian Institute of Science (IISc)·JournalLaser & Photonics Review·DateJun 20, 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

New technique could help build quantum computers of the future

Researchers have developed a method to create and control optical qubits in silicon with high precision, enabling the fabrication of reliable quantum computers. This breakthrough could advance quantum computing and networking capabilities, paving the way for breakthroughs in human health, drug discovery, and artificial intelligence.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 11, 2024

Transparent organic–inorganic hybrid photoresist with highly tunable refractive index for advanced display

Researchers at Beijing University of Chemical Technology and BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. have developed a novel transparent organic-inorganic hybrid photoresist with a highly tunable refractive index of up to 2.0, allowing for precision machining of optical microstructures and improving display device efficiency. The material exhibi...

SourceEngineering·JournalEngineering·DateJun 11, 2024

New technology gives people a better sense of what they’re breathing

Scientists developed a miniaturized micro-spectrometer to detect multiple toxic and greenhouse gases, offering increased control over individual exposure. The technology uses machine learning and metasurface spectral filter arrays to create a compact sensor that can be integrated into wearable devices.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems·JournalMicrosystems & Nanoengineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 6, 2024

New all-optical approach to revolutionize night vision technology

Researchers at TMOS have developed a new infrared filter thinner than cling wrap, which can be integrated into everyday eyewear, allowing users to view both visible and infrared light spectra. This breakthrough miniaturizes night vision technology, opening up new applications in safety, surveillance, and biology.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2024

Scientists discover CO2 and CO ices in outskirts of solar system

A research team led by UCF's Mário Nascimento De Prá and Noemí Pinilla-Alonso discovered carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ices on 59 trans-Neptunian objects using the James Webb Space Telescope. The findings suggest that carbon dioxide was abundant in the protoplanetary disk, while the origin of carbon monoxide remains uncertain.

SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeImaging analysis·DateMay 24, 2024

Producing novel liquid crystals by stacking antiaromatic units

Scientists have developed a new approach to designing materials with useful electronic and optical properties. By stacking antiaromatic units using van der Waals interactions, researchers created highly conductive liquid crystals. This breakthrough could lead to advances in organic electronics, optoelectronics, and sensing devices.

SourceRitsumeikan University·JournalChemical Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 23, 2024

Enhancing superconductivity of graphene-calcium superconductors

Researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology experimentally revealed that high-density Ca introduction enhances superconductivity in graphene-calcium compounds through confinement epitaxy, leading to increased critical temperatures. This breakthrough could enable the development of C6CaC6 superconductors with wide applicability in qu...

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalACS Nano·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

CSUFT-led team creates novel flame-retardant, smoke-suppressing, and superhydrophobic transparent bamboo for future glasses

Researchers from CSUFT have developed a novel transparent material derived from natural bamboo with three-layered flame-retardant barrier. The material exhibits excellent mechanical properties, high light transmittance, and potential applications in green flame-retardant glass and optical device applications.

SourceResearch·JournalResearch·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 12, 2024

Electro-optic tuning in composite silicon photonics based on ferroionic 2D materials

Researchers have demonstrated a novel approach to actively manipulate light using ferroionic 2D materials. These devices exhibit exceptional modulation efficiency and low optical losses, enabling applications in telecommunications, neuromorphic computing, and beyond.

From defects to order: Spontaneously emerging crystal arrangements in perovskite halides

A new defect-ordered layered halide perovskite was discovered, shedding light on how order can emerge through defects in hybrid organic–inorganic compounds. The compound's optical bandgap increased with the concentration of ordered defects in the lattice, presenting a new strategy for tuning perovskite properties.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalACS Materials Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 17, 2024

Will the convergence of light and matter in Janus particles transcend performance limitations in the optical display industry?

Researchers pioneer technique to control polaritons, unlocking potential for next-generation materials and surpassing performance limitations of optical displays. The breakthrough enables stable generation of polariton particles with enhanced brightness and color control.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 8, 2024

Pixelated non-volatile programmable photonic integrated circuits

The researchers achieved 20-level intermediate states of phase change materials using a micron-scale laser writing system. This allows for the demonstration of ultra-high flexibility in phase modulation and potential applications in neuromorphic photonics, optical computing, and reconfigurable metasurfaces.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateMar 21, 2024

New route to recyclable polymers from plants

Researchers have created a method to make fully recyclable polymers from plant cellulose, which can replace some plastics and reduce plastic pollution. The new polymers have various structures that offer different applications, including high-performance materials for optical, electronic, and biomedical uses.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalACS Macro Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 20, 2024

Tunable VO2 cavity enables multispectral manipulation from visible to microwave frequencies

Scientists create a multispectral platform using tunable optical cavities with vanadium dioxide, enabling fast response speed and reversible manipulation. The platform achieves broadband color-changing capacity in the visible region and drastic amplitude tunability in infrared to microwave regions.

Beetles living in the dark teach us how to make sustainable colors

Researchers at Singapore University of Technology and Design have discovered how to produce sustainable colors using beetles that live in the dark. By understanding how these beetles' exoskeletons reflect light, scientists can create environmentally friendly materials for various industries. This breakthrough has significant implicatio...

SourceSingapore University of Technology and Design·JournalAdvanced Engineering Materials·DateMar 13, 2024

Tuning a terahertz wave filter

Researchers at Tohoku University have created a tuneable terahertz wave filter that can achieve higher transmission rates and better signal quality than conventional systems. The new filter uses Fabry-Perot interferometry to control the filtering effect, enabling selective transmission of desired frequencies.

SourceTohoku University·JournalOptics Letters·DateMar 11, 2024