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Tiny lab on a chip

Researchers at Osaka University have created a microfluidic system that can detect minute changes in the concentration of trace amounts of ethanol, glucose, or minerals in water using terahertz radiation. The device achieved sensitivity levels an order of magnitude better than existing microfluidic chips.

SourceOsaka University·JournalJournal of Physics Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 27, 2022

Rice ‘metalens’ could disrupt vacuum UV market

Researchers at Rice University have created a 'metalens' that transforms long-wave UV-A into a focused output of vacuum UV radiation. The technology uses nanophotonics to impart a phase shift on incoming light, redirecting it and generating VUV without the need for specialized equipment.

SourceRice University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 5, 2022
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Hyperbolic metamaterials: Fusing artificial structures to natural 2D materials

Hyperbolic metamaterials exhibit extremely high anisotropy, enabling unique light manipulation capabilities. Researchers have harmonized HMMs with natural materials and artificial structures, expanding their applicability to fields like super-resolution imaging and emission engineering.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·JournaleLight·DateJan 10, 2022

Simple silicon coating solves long-standing optical challenge

Researchers at Harvard SEAS developed a new silicon coating that counters chromatic dispersion in transparent materials like glass. The ultra-thin coating uses precisely designed silicon pillars to capture and re-emitting red light, allowing slower-moving blue light to catch up.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 11, 2021

Bridging optics and electronics

Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a simple spatial light modulator made from gold electrodes covered by a thin film of electro-optical material. This device can control light intensity and pixel by pixel, enabling compact, high-speed, and precise optical devices.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 14, 2021
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.

Holey metalens!

Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences developed a metasurface using ultra-deep holes to focus light to a single spot, achieving a record-breaking aspect ratio of nearly 30:1. This breakthrough enables the creation of large achromatic metalenses with diverse color control capabilities.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNano Letters·DateOct 13, 2021

3D inks that can be erased selectively

Researchers from KIT have developed photoresists that can be erased selectively, allowing specific degradation and reassembly of microstructures on the micrometer and nanometer scales. This enables complex geometries with precise filigree structures, applications in biomedicine, microelectronics, and optical metamaterials.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 15, 2018

Ultrafast tunable semiconductor metamaterial created

Researchers have devised an ultrafast tunable metamaterial based on gallium arsenide nanoparticles that can be turned on and off quickly, paving the way for ultrafast optical computers. The material consists of semiconductor nanoparticles that concentrate and interact with light efficiently.

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 17, 2017
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.

Electrical signals dictate optical properties

Researchers at the University of Southampton have created an artificial material that can be controlled by electric signals. This breakthrough enables the rapid manipulation of metamaterial building blocks, leading to changes in transmission and reflection characteristics.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateMar 19, 2013

Iowa State, Ames Lab physicist developing, improving designer optical materials

Researchers at Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory are developing designer optical materials that can refract light in a negative angle, enabling control over light like semiconductors control electricity. These materials have the potential to create flat superlenses with superior resolution for biomedical applications.

SourceIowa State University·JournalScience·DateDec 16, 2010