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The NIST team has developed a directional color filter that can manipulate multiple wavelengths of light simultaneously and detect the source of incoming light. The device uses a nonuniform grid to selectively filter white light based on its angle of illumination, enabling applications in displays, solar energy harvesting, and sensing.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 7, 2017

Making glass invisible: A nanoscience-based disappearing act

Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory developed a method to reduce surface reflections from glass surfaces to nearly zero by etching tiny nanoscale features into them. This achievement could enhance solar cell efficiency, improve electronic display use, and support high-power laser applications.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateOct 30, 2017

New technology to dramatically speed up home broadband

Researchers at University College London have developed a new receiver technology that provides consistently high-speed broadband connectivity. The technology enables dedicated data rates of over 10,000 megabits-per-second (Mb/s) for low-cost broadband connections to every UK home.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 19, 2017
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.

A zero-index waveguide

Scientists have successfully developed a zero-index waveguide compatible with current silicon photonic technologies, allowing them to observe standing waves with infinitely-long wavelengths. This breakthrough could enable the creation of ultra-compact optical devices and pave the way for new quantum computing applications.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalACS Photonics·DateOct 9, 2017

A dash of gold improves microlasers

Researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering have developed a new type of microlaser that uses gold nanoparticles to improve frequency comb technology. This innovation enables the creation of smaller, more efficient systems for applications such as portable chemical spectroscopy and cybersecurity.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalACS Photonics·DateOct 6, 2017

Shedding light on brain activity

The NEMONIC project aims to develop and widely share new optical brain-imaging techniques, enabling the recording of brain cells in action. The team, led by UCSB scientists, uses light to measure brain activity, overcoming technological bottlenecks to understanding the mind and brain.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·DateSep 20, 2017
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Tiny lasers from a gallery of whispers

Researchers have developed a new type of dye-doped WGM micro-laser that produces light with tunable wavelengths, offering broader tuning ranges and reversible tuning. The devices also exhibit enhanced sensitivity in refractive index sensing.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalAPL Photonics·DateSep 19, 2017

Ultraviolet light from superluminous supernova key to revealing explosion mechanism

A team of researchers discovered a way to use ultraviolet light observations to determine characteristics of superluminous supernovae previously unknown. They found that Gaia16apd was most likely an shock-interacting supernova, and their technique could help identify the explosion mechanism of future supernovae.

SourceKavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateSep 7, 2017
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Lasers used to detect risk of heart attack and stroke

A new diagnostic tool uses near-infrared light to identify high-risk arterial plaques, which can lead to blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. By selectively identifying rupture-prone deposits, doctors may be able to detect the threat of an imminent heart attack earlier.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 18, 2017

NASA studies CubeSat mission to solve Venusian mystery

A NASA-led CubeSat mission, CUVE, is designed to investigate the nature of a mysterious absorber in Venus' uppermost cloud layer. The mission will utilize ultraviolet-sensitive instruments and a novel carbon-nanotube light-gathering mirror to gather data.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateAug 15, 2017

Single-photon emitter has promise for quantum info-processing

Researchers have produced single-photon emitters at room temperature using carbon nanotubes, enabling optically-based quantum information processing. The emitters can be tuned to telecommunications wavelengths, making them suitable for ultrasensitive sensing, metrology, and imaging applications.

SourceDOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory·JournalNature Photonics·DateJul 31, 2017
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.

Nanostructures taste the rainbow

Researchers created nanostructures with varying widths that absorb different wavelengths of light, generating an electric current corresponding to the absorbed wavelength. The new detectors operate faster and detect a wider range of electromagnetic spectrum than traditional devices.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJun 28, 2017

Nature: Optical communication at record-high speed

Researchers from KIT and EPFL demonstrated a novel method for generating frequency combs in optical microresonators, enabling data transmission rates of over 50 terabits per second. This breakthrough uses soliton frequency combs to increase the performance of wavelength division multiplexing techniques in optical communications.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·JournalNature·DateJun 8, 2017

New sound diffuser is 10 times thinner than existing designs

Researchers from NC State University developed an ultra-thin sound diffuser that is 10 times thinner than existing designs, reducing echoes and improving sound quality. The new design uses less material and takes up less space, making it lighter and less expensive.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalPhysical Review X·DateJun 6, 2017
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.

When gold turns invisible

Researchers at Hokkaido University developed a gold compound that turns invisible when ground into a fine powder, emitting only infrared light. The substance's unique property has significant implications for bioimaging and the creation of invisible security inks.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 31, 2017

Interaction between the atomic nucleus and the electron on trial

Researchers measured transition between energy levels of lithium-like bismuth ions with unprecedented precision, contradicting existing theories. The discrepancy raises questions about the understanding of electron interaction with complex inner nuclear structures.

SourcePhysikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 16, 2017

A fast, non-destructive test for 2-dimensional materials

Researchers at Penn State have developed a fast, non-destructive optical method for analyzing defects in 2D materials. This new technique uses fluorescent microscopy to identify defects and correlates the results with visual confirmation under transmission electron microscopy.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 2, 2017

Putting a spin on logic gates

Researchers have developed a prototype for a spin-wave majority logic gate that utilizes wave interference to process information. This innovation uses spin waves instead of classical currents or voltages, enabling the creation of nanoscale devices with improved efficiency and reliability.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateApr 10, 2017
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.

Breakthrough telescope to map origins of stars, galaxies and the 'cosmic dawn'

The Cerro Chajnantor Atacama Telescope-prime (CCAT-p) will map the sky at submillimeter and millimeter wavelengths, giving unprecedented insights into star and galaxy formation. The telescope's high-altitude location and innovative design enable faster measurements of polarized signals, revealing clues about the universe's early moments.

SourceCornell University·DateApr 5, 2017

Protostar blazes bright, reshaping its stellar nursery

A massive protostar underwent an intense growth spurt, reshaping its surroundings and emitting nearly 100 times more light. This event supports the theory that young stars can experience dramatic growth spurts, which may be triggered by star-forming gas crashing onto their surfaces.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 15, 2017

Group blazes path to efficient, eco-friendly deep-ultraviolet LED

A Cornell research group has reported progress in creating a smaller, more earth-friendly alternative to mercury-based deep-UV lamps. Using atomically controlled thin monolayers of GaN and AlN, they produced deep-UV emission with a light-emitting diode (LED) between 232 and 270 nanometer wavelengths.

SourceCornell University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateMar 3, 2017
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.

First solar images from NOAA's GOES-16 satellite

The GOES-16 SUVI instrument has successfully captured its first solar images, providing valuable data on coronal plasma temperatures and emission measurements. This will enable the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center to issue early warnings for potential geomagnetic storms impacting Earth's magnetic field.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateMar 1, 2017

Extending VCSEL wavelength coverage to the mid-infrared

A team of German researchers has developed a buried tunnel junction VCSEL with a single-stage type-II active region to extend the wavelength coverage of electrically pumped VCSELs into the mid-infrared range. This achievement demonstrates the potential for low-power, battery-operated gas sensors in various industries.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateFeb 14, 2017

NASA and MIT Collaborate to develop space-based quantum-dot spectrometer

Researchers are developing a space-based quantum-dot spectrometer that could miniaturize instruments, enabling higher-spectral resolution and more efficient data analysis. The technology uses quantum dots as filters to absorb different wavelengths of light, allowing for precise control over instrument calibration.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateFeb 14, 2017

Thin, flexible, light-absorbent material for energy and stealth applications

A new material developed by UC San Diego engineers can absorb a broad range of infrared wavelengths, enabling potential applications in cooling buildings and cars, enhancing solar cell efficiencies, and blocking thermal detection. The material's unique properties allow it to be customized for specific absorption ranges.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 2, 2017

A big nano boost for solar cells

Researchers have developed a new nano-sized semiconductor that concentrates visible light energy, increasing the efficiency of solar cells. This breakthrough doubles current efficiencies to at least 40%, offering benefits in energy efficiency and design.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 18, 2017
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.

Murky Amazon waters cloud fish vision

Researchers found that three Amazonian species have lost or disabled genes for detecting short wavelengths of light, allowing them to thrive in the murky environment. The study reveals a unique genetic adaptation that enables these fish to perceive their surroundings differently.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalMolecular Ecology·DateJan 4, 2017

New ultrasound technique is first to image inside live cells

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a nanoscale ultrasound technique that can see inside individual living cells without damaging them. This breakthrough method could rival optical super-resolution techniques, which won the 2014 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, by using shorter-than-optical wavelengths of sound.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 21, 2016

Scientists shrink electron gun to matchbox size

Researchers at DESY and MIT create a miniaturized electron gun that accelerates electrons to high speeds using terahertz radiation. The device has the potential to revolutionize ultrafast electron diffraction experiments and enable new applications in physics and materials science.

SourceDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY·JournalOptica·DateNov 22, 2016
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Light detector with record-high sensitivity to revolutionize imaging

Researchers at Aalto University developed a new light detector capturing over 96% of photons covering visible, ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths. The detector's nanostructured surface and inversion layer eliminate reflection losses and electrical losses present in traditional sensors.

SourceAalto University·JournalNature Photonics·DateNov 14, 2016

Graphene plasmons reach the infrared

Researchers at Technical University of Denmark have demonstrated efficient absorption enhancement at a wavelength of 2 micrometers by graphene plasmons. This breakthrough brings graphene into the regime of telecommunication applications.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Letters·DateNov 14, 2016

On-chip observation of THz graphene plasmons

Scientists developed a technique to image THz photocurrents with nanoscale resolution, visualizing strongly compressed THz waves in a graphene photodetector. The imaging technique, called THz photocurrent nanoscopy, provides unprecedented possibilities for characterizing optoelectronic properties at THz frequencies.

SourceElhuyar Fundazioa·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateNov 4, 2016
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.

Flexible optical design method for superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors

Researchers at NICT have developed a flexible optical design method for superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors, enabling high detection efficiency over a precise spectral range while rejecting other wavelengths. This technique has potential applications in quantum cryptography, fluorescence spectroscopy, and remote sensing.

SourceNational Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 24, 2016

Tracking waves from sunspots gives new solar insight

Scientists have tracked a particular kind of solar wave as it swept upward from the sun's surface through its atmosphere, adding to our understanding of how solar material travels throughout the sun. The study provides a novel tool for scientists to study the atmosphere of the sun and sheds light on the coronal heating problem.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 20, 2016

Keeping cool without losing your shirt

AAAS researchers have developed a new type of cloth that can reflect sunlight while allowing heat to radiate from the body, potentially reducing energy costs associated with air conditioning. The fabric, made from nanoporous polyethylene, passes 96% of infrared radiation through its pores, making it highly effective at keeping cool.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateSep 1, 2016
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

NASA's new CO2 sounder nearly ready for prime time

The CO2 Sounder Lidar is a strong contender for the ASCENDS mission, which aims to measure global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. The instrument uses advanced technologies, including a highly sensitive solid-state detector and a rapidly tuning laser system, to achieve unprecedented precision and resolution.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateAug 2, 2016

New metamaterials can change properties with a flick of a light-switch

Scientists design metamaterials that can block or transmit specific wavelengths of light at the command of light pulses, enabling new optical device applications. The new switchable materials have potential to create ultra-thin metasurface lenses and other flat optical components.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateAug 2, 2016

New high-temperature device captures a broader solar wavelength spectrum

Researchers from Aalborg University have developed a heat-resistant device made of tungsten and alumina layers that can absorb sunlight across a broad spectrum, enabling more efficient energy conversion. The device can operate at high temperatures and absorb light from UV to near-infrared wavelengths.

SourceOptica·JournalOptical Materials Express·DateAug 1, 2016
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

The discovery of new emission lines from highly charged heavy ions

Researchers have discovered new spectral lines from highly charged heavy ions in fusion plasmas, which could be useful for plasma application research such as EUV lithography. The study used the LHD facility to create high-temperature plasmas and observe the emission spectrum of extreme ultraviolet wavelengths.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·DateJul 29, 2016

Improving Internet with mid-wavelength infrared

A novel mid-wavelength infrared phototransistor device has the potential to replace traditional radio-frequency wireless data links. This technology uses low-power and low-cost alternative to FSO communications, providing high-speed data links with reduced limitations.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJul 26, 2016

A mini-antenna for the data processing of tomorrow

Researchers have successfully generated spin waves with extremely short wavelengths in the nanometer range, a key feature for their future application. The new method uses a magnetic vortex as a nano-antenna, allowing for precise control over the wavelength and wave properties.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJul 19, 2016
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.

Germs add ripples to make 'groovy' graphene

University of Illinois researchers introduce nanoscale ripples in graphene using rod-shaped bacteria, creating a new material with unique electronic properties. The resulting material exhibits altered conductivity at right angles to the original direction.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalACS Nano·DateJul 11, 2016

A sharper focus for plasmonic lasers

Plasmonic lasers use metal films to confine light energy and have potential applications in integrated optics and ultrafast digital processing. The researchers developed a scheme that emits radiation at extremely long wavelengths with a narrow beam divergence angle of just 4 degrees, the narrowest achieved for such terahertz lasers.

SourceLehigh University·JournalOptica·DateJul 6, 2016

Researchers determine fundamental limits of invisibility cloaks

Researchers have quantified physical limitations on cloaking devices, allowing for calculation of optimal performance before designing a specific cloak. The new framework establishes boundaries on bandwidth capabilities of electromagnetic cloaks for objects of different sizes and composition.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalOptica·DateJul 5, 2016
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.

Meta-lens works in the visible spectrum, sees smaller than a wavelength of light

Researchers from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have demonstrated the first planar lens that works with high efficiency within the visible spectrum of light. The lens can resolve nanoscale features separated by distances smaller than the wavelength of light.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalScience·DateJun 2, 2016
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.

Engineers discover a new gatekeeper for light

Engineers have found a way to control light waves using a non-periodic material structure. This breakthrough opens up opportunities for faster-switching transistors and white light lasers, enabling devices to selectively block or allow specific wavelengths of light

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 26, 2016

Graphene: A quantum of current

A team of international researchers has explained the peculiar behavior of electrons in graphene when passing through narrow constrictions. The results show that the electric current is not continuous, but quantized, exhibiting characteristic steps.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 20, 2016