Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Dark clouds on the horizon

The study improves the accuracy of black carbon's refractive index, revealing it may contribute up to 16% to atmospheric warming, affecting climate models. The method developed can be applied to other particles in the atmosphere and ocean.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalAerosol Science and Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 9, 2023

New approach to developing efficient, high-precision 3D light shapers

Scientists create a simple approach to fabricating highly precise 3D aperiodic photonic volume elements (APVEs) for various applications. The method uses direct laser writing to arrange voxels of specific refractive indices in glass, enabling the precise control of light flow and achieving record-high diffraction efficiency.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateApr 21, 2023

Nanoantennas directing a bright future

Researchers at Kyoto University have developed nanoantennas that significantly increase the efficiency and photoluminescence of white LEDs by replacing aluminum with titanium dioxide. This breakthrough enables the creation of intensely bright yet energy-saving solid-state lighting solutions.

SourceKyoto University·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry C·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 21, 2022

Optical rule was made to be broken

Engineers at Rice University have discovered a way to manipulate light at the nanoscale that surpasses the traditional Moss rule for optical materials. The researchers found that iron pyrite has a high refractive index, making it suitable for applications such as virtual reality and 3D displays.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2022

Fiddler crab eye view inspires Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology researchers to develop novel artificial vision

Researchers from GIST have developed an amphibious artificial vision system with a panoramic field-of-view based on the Fiddler crab's eye structure. The system overcomes limitations of current artificial visions, enabling imaging in both aquatic and terrestrial environments.

SourceGIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalNature Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 1, 2022

Drug treatment for cataracts moves a step closer

A team of scientists led by Professor Barbara Pierscionek has made significant progress in developing an anti-cataract drug. Lab trials showed improvement in refractive index profiles and lens opacity in 61% and 46% of cases, respectively.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 16, 2022

Unbreakable glass inspired by seashells

McGill University scientists created a new glass and acrylic composite material mimicking nacre for exceptional strength and durability. The material is three times stronger and five times more fracture-resistant than regular glass, with potential applications in phone screens and other industries.

SourceMcGill University·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 28, 2021

Researchers develop novel framework for tracking developments in optical sensors

A novel framework has been developed to systematically compare optical sensors, enabling the creation of a technology map that tracks developments in this rapidly growing industry. The map provides a comprehensive benchmark for standardizing optical refractive index sensors with plasmonic and photonic structures.

SourceSingapore University of Technology and Design·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·DateMay 16, 2019

DNA: The next hot material in photonics?

Researchers fine-tune DNA-based thin films to achieve a range of refractive indexes four times greater than silicon, enabling the creation of thinner optical fibers. This could lead to applications in photodynamic therapy, optogenetics, and biosensors.

SourceOptica·JournalOptical Materials Express·DateOct 2, 2017

Cicada wings inspire antireflective surfaces

A team of Shanghai Jiao Tong University researchers developed antireflective structures capable of suppressing visible light at different angles of incidence. The structures, inspired by cicada wings, were fabricated using titanium dioxide and show great potential for photovoltaic devices like solar cells.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateOct 11, 2016

Light-powered 3-D printer creates terahertz lens

The new lens uses metamaterials and 3D printing to counter the intrinsic imperfections of typical lenses, enabling flawless images without additional corrective components. The technology has potential applications in biomedical research and security imaging, making terahertz imaging cheaper, higher resolution, and more available.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·DateApr 29, 2016

UCSB study reveals mechanism behind squids' and octopuses' ability to change color

Researchers at UCSB have discovered a mechanism that allows squid and octopuses to change color by using specialized cells in their skin called iridocytes. The cells create layers or lamellae that operate as tunable Bragg reflectors, allowing the animals to control their transparency and match their surroundings.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateJul 25, 2013

MIT creates 3-D images of living cell

Researchers at MIT have developed a technique to create 3D images of living cells, revealing internal structures and enabling the study of cellular function in its native state. The method uses interferometry and refractive index properties, producing high-resolution images with resolutions as low as 150 nanometers.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Methods·DateAug 12, 2007