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Quantum optics may turn this rare visual phenomenon into an eye test

Researchers used structured light from quantum optics to transform Boehm's brushes into brighter patterns, improving their detectability. This technique may help diagnose retinal diseases like macular degeneration.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study
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.

A black hole theory comes to life in the lab

Scientists at CUNY ASRC successfully amplify electromagnetic waves by simulating ultrafast rotation, recreating Penrose-Zel'dovich process. This breakthrough enables experimental studies of extreme rotational dynamics and opens new avenues for wireless communications and optics applications.

SourceAdvanced Science Research Center, GC/CUNY·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study

Subarray programmable THz metasurface for optical logic and PAM-4

Researchers developed a subarray programmable terahertz metasurface enabling optical logic and high-order amplitude modulation. The device achieves broadband transmission modulation from 170 to 260 GHz and can process information directly at the wavefront.

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

Making heat behave like data

Scientists developed a device that controls heat radiation direction and switches this effect on and off, enabling 'heat programming' like microchip data. The new material exhibits different responses depending on light direction, improving efficiency compared to previous devices.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·TypeComputational simulation/modeling

Frequency-dimensional simulator with rich coupling on a single chip

Researchers proposed a hybrid frequency-dimension simulator to explore complex lattice models, achieving scalable programmability and operation stability. The simulator's ability to introduce asymmetric couplings enables the simulation of diverse topological phases.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·JournalLight: Science & Applications
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

How camera-equipped homing pigeons could improve robotic vision in flight

A new study led by Dr. Anthony Lapsansky and Dr. Doug Altshuler found that pigeons make slow, subtle eye movements during flight to gather more information about their surroundings. This research has implications for the development of autonomous flying robots or drones, which can learn from bird-like visual strategies.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalCurrent Biology

All-in-one optically interactive soft robots with embedded liquid crystal holography

Researchers developed an all-soft robotic system utilizing liquid crystal holography for optical command processing, achieving a synergy of multi-degree-of-freedom actuation and information multiplexing. The system showcases an intelligent gripper capable of precise grasping and object classification.

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

High-performance thermally-evaporated light-emitting diodes via one-step vapor purification

This paper introduces a novel one-step vapor purification technique to achieve high-purity vapor atmospheres and reduce impurities in thermally evaporated devices. The approach successfully suppressed defect formation and improved stability in perovskite LEDs and OLEDs.

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

Kilometer-scale high-resolution fast non-line-of-sight imaging achieved by laser reflective tomography

Researchers have introduced laser reflective tomography to overcome the speed-resolution trade-off in NLOS imaging, achieving kilometer-scale high-resolution imaging without scanning mechanisms. This innovative approach combines single-point detection with multi-angle projection data for accurate scene reconstruction.

SourceEditorial Office of Opto-Electronic Journals Group·JournalOpto-Electronic Science·TypeExperimental study

High-sensitive DUV-SWIR broadband photodetectors

Researchers developed a perovskite/In0.47Ga0.53As thin-film heterojunction to create high-sensitive DUV-SWIR photodetectors with optimal stability and performance. The device achieved 98.9% retention of initial performance after 30,000 cycles.

SourceEditorial Office of Opto-Electronic Journals Group·JournalOpto-Electronic Science·TypeExperimental study

Which light is right for quantum sensing?

A team of researchers has found that the energy of light used to excite spin defects in hexagonal boron nitride affects their performance, leading to a threefold boost in contrast and calculated DC magnetic field sensitivity. The study also reveals a trade-off between emission stability and signal strength.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS

Double-bond character of phosphates in solid and liquid phases probed by oxygen K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Researchers investigated phosphate double-bond character in solid and liquid phases using oxygen K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The study found that the double-bond character increased with increasing negative charge in the solid phase, but decreased in aqueous solutions due to interactions between phosphates and Na+ ions.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·TypeExperimental study
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.

Extended field of view achromatic meta-axicon cluster

A team of scientists developed a minimalist optical system for achromatic imaging based on a monolithic integrated meta-axicon cluster. The novel imaging paradigm combines natural wideband consistency and computational imaging technology to achieve large-aperture, wide field of view (FOV), broadband achromaticity, and high resolution.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS

Ultra-broadband single-stack mid-infrared semiconductor lasers grown by MOCVD

Researchers developed a novel single-active-region mid-infrared QCL architecture that achieves broad spectral coverage and high gain uniformity. The diagonal multi-state-to-continuum active region design enables strong coupling between upper lasing levels, substantially broadening the gain bandwidth of the active region.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS

A new type of pixel

A research team led by David Norris developed pixels that can both steer light and analyse it, allowing for the creation of camera-displays with combined functions. These so-called bidirectional pixels use surface waves to control light intensity, polarisation, and oscillation phase.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature

Self-recoverable mechanoluminescence in simple oxides: Al₂O₃:Cr

Researchers developed a simple oxide system with intrinsic self-recoverable mechanoluminescence without external energy input. The material exhibits strong near-infrared emission under mechanical stimulation, featuring reversible ionization and recapture process enabling consistent emission over thousands of loading cycles.

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

New speckle-based metrology system enhances measurement of advanced x-ray mirrors

Researchers developed a laser Speckle-based Curvature Optical Metrology (SCOM) instrument to measure two-dimensional surface curvature of X-ray mirrors. The system offers a compact, flexible alternative to traditional height-based interferometric methods.

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

Generalized doppler effect for high-accuracy frequency shift measurement

A team of researchers has reported a generalized Doppler effect that enables simultaneous capture of rotation magnitude and direction with high accuracy. The approach uses spin-orbit coupling to encode motion information into multiple degrees of freedom, resulting in substantially larger frequency shifts than conventional methods.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS

NTU Singapore scientists create optical skyrmions using a two-century-old light phenomenon

Researchers have created stable patterns of light called optical skyrmions using a laser and a small circular disc, generating up to four related topological field patterns simultaneously. This method offers a simpler way to generate, study and adjust optical skyrmions, which hold potential for future data storage and computing systems.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalOptica·TypeExperimental study
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.

Megawatt-class scalable optical vortex arrays with 3,070 vortices demonstrated

A new paper reports a record-breaking optical vortex array with 3,070 phase-coherent vortices at a peak power of 58 megawatts. The system uses a novel three-mode representation and multibeam interference geometry to achieve scalability.

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

Artificial eyes could bring human-like sight to self-driving cars, robots

Researchers at Penn State developed photomemristors that adjust sensitivity based on light levels, like the human eye. These devices can process light data faster and more accurately than traditional systems in mixed lighting environments.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study
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.

“Flawless on the outside, flipped within”: Detecting hidden defects in 2D dielectrics with light

Researchers developed an interferometric second-harmonic generation imaging approach to identify antiparallel domains and detect hidden structural defects in hBN thin films. The study finds that SHG intensity is closely associated with differences in crystal orientation and destructive interference between domains.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalAdvanced Materials

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

How 'asymmetric alloying' is creating the next generation of luminescent materials

A novel asymmetric alloying method enables the creation of carbon-centered gold(I)-silver(I) chiral bicapped square antiprism polyhedral clusters, exhibiting phosphorescence and distinct chirality-dependent properties. The approach offers a new paradigm for precise alloying and stereocontrol of metal clusters.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study

Simultaneous measurements of solid–liquid interfaces and bulk liquids using soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Scientists have developed a method to measure the electronic structures of liquid water and organic molecules using soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy. By controlling the thickness of the liquid layer, they obtained XAS spectra of both the bulk liquid and the solid-liquid interface.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalJournal of Synchrotron Radiation·TypeExperimental study

Physics-trained digital ‘super-brain’ speeds up technology development

A digital 'super-brain' with physics-based knowledge significantly speeds up the design and development of optical components, such as those for quantum computers and camera lenses. By integrating physical principles into machine learning algorithms, researchers reduce simulation time from months to days.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalLaser & Photonics Review·TypeComputational simulation/modeling
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.

Laser focus: controlled formation of protein networks

Scientists at The University of Osaka have successfully fabricated protein networks in living cells using a focused laser beam. The approach allows for non-invasive control over network formation and exhibits dynamic motions similar to those observed in living cells.

SourceThe University of Osaka·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study

Precise measurement by physicists helps resolve long-standing proton radius puzzle

Researchers at Colorado State University have measured a hydrogen proton's radius to be 0.84 femtometers, resolving the long-standing scientific discrepancy that has puzzled scientists for years. The finding confirms the Standard Model theory and opens a door for further study, revealing subtle issues in earlier measurements.

SourceColorado State University·JournalPhysical Review Letters

New method turns ocean water into drinking water, without waste

A novel solar-thermal desalination process produces fresh water in an energy-efficient way, eliminating brine and chemical additives. The technology leverages the 'coffee ring' effect to extract salts from seawater, producing nearly 100% of the salts in solid form.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·JournalLight Science & Applications
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Super-resolution image projection over an extended depth using an optical processor

Researchers developed a system integrating convolutional neural networks and all-optical passive diffractive decoders for super-resolution image projection. The hybrid platform achieved significant improvements in image synthesis over extended depth, reducing data requirements without additional power constraints.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS

Laser breakthrough rewrites the rules of photonics manufacturing

A new laser-based process is set to revolutionize photonics manufacturing by removing manual calibration, which accounts for over half of production costs. The technology promises faster, cheaper, and precise manufacturing at sub-micron tolerances.

SourceHeriot-Watt University

Photon-driven synapse advances low-power neuromorphic systems

Researchers developed an all-optical artificial synapse that uses light to mimic neural learning and perform in-sensor image processing. The device shows paired-pulse facilitation and depression, allowing it to both enhance and suppress signals, a requirement for realistic neural behavior.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics

Using a single atom as a “camera” - visualization of light intensity and polarization beyond the resolution limit of optical microscopes -

Researchers use a single rubidium atom trapped in an optical tweezer as a scanning probe to image fine structures of light patterns with spatial resolution surpassing the diffraction limit. The technique successfully visualizes both light intensity and polarization distributions at the nanoscale.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Turning ocean water into drinking water, without waste

Researchers at the University of Rochester developed a solar-thermal desalination process that produces fresh water in an energy-efficient way, eliminating brine and requiring no chemical additives. The technology extracts nearly 100% of salts in solid form, producing table salt and precious minerals like lithium.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalLight Science & Applications

Skyrmions become colorful now!

Researchers have developed an on-chip platform using ferroelectric spherulites to generate stable, broadband optical skyrmions across the entire visible spectrum. This breakthrough merges high-capacity data transmission with topological protection, opening new avenues for classical and quantum communication technologies.

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

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
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Thermoradiative signatureless communications

Scientists have developed a new form of covert communication called thermoradiative signatureless communication, achieved by balancing electroluminescence with negative luminescence in mid-infrared LEDs. This approach can blend into thermal background, leaving no trace for eavesdroppers and offering added security.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS

A new paradigm in optical encryption: Detector as Key

Researchers developed an optically programmable dual-band perovskite single-pixel detector that acts as both a detector and decryption key, successfully encrypting color images with unparalleled security. The device's unique optical programmability enables it to distinguish between hidden information in different imaging modes.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS

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

New project TransEuroOGS will link optical ground stations across Europe

The TransEuroOGS project establishes a network of interoperable optical ground stations across Germany, Greece, Ireland, and Luxembourg to enable quantum-secure space-to-ground communication. The project aims to address challenges in secure transnational communication using quantum key distribution.

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Double-phase metasurface operators for all-optical image processing

Researchers develop a powerful, compact solution for all-optical image processing using meta-operators that perform complex tasks like edge detection and 3D hologram reconstruction. The platform enables real-time computation without digital post-processing.

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

Breaking the mid-infrared interconnection barrier: a robust bonding for high-power optics based on liquid-like chalcogenide glass

Researchers develop a novel adhesive based on liquid-like chalcogenide glass, enabling seamless bonding of high-index optical components and improving transmission and power delivery. The new material achieves significant enhancements in laser power delivery and durability under high-power conditions.

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

Bringing bacteria into better focus

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers developed a light-driven method to rapidly collect microscopic targets, outperforming traditional techniques. The technique concentrates bacteria between 1000-10,000 times faster than existing approaches, paving the way for early disease detection and analysis of nanoparticles.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalCommunications Physics·TypeExperimental study

How to see the invisible? The limits of two-photon vision

Researchers investigated the effect of laser-beam diameter on two-photon stimuli and found that accurate focusing is crucial for detection. The study revealed that beam geometry plays a key role in determining visibility thresholds, with precise alignment necessary to maximize photon density reaching the retina.

SourceInstitute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences·JournalOptics Letters
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.