In-depth articles written by our editorial team focusing on the latest developments in materials science and technology
Photonics is helping automate processes in agriculture and manufacturing such as screening fields for crop quality and plant diseases. With the right spectroscopic and imaging techniques, it is possible to check water levels in plants and determine the nutritional content of plant species.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
21 Feb 2022
In the next few decades, opportunities provided by photonics have the potential to have a much more societal impact. Photonics will be at the heart of some of the most competitive and high-profile marketplaces in history, with a £14.5 billion niche industry.
By Akhlaqul Karomah
18 Feb 2022
Optogenetics is an emerging field that uses light and genetic engineering to detect and control the activity of genetically modified proteins or neurons. Optogenetics has advanced numerous applications in various sectors, from technology to agriculture. Here, we focus on how it is revolutionizing medical research to facilitate rapid diagnosis of disease and offer monitoring and novel treatment options for various diseases.
By Sarah Moore
17 Feb 2022
Lasers have become an indispensable tool in manufacturing. From precision cutting applications to complex micromachining, lasers are now the tools of choice to work with a range of materials and manufacturing processes. One of the key benefits of this level of control, precision, and reduction in stress induced in the material, is that lasers can help dramatically reduce the amount of waste in industrial manufacturing.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
17 Feb 2022
Quantum mechanics technology is expected to transform how the world operates in the near future. The past several years have already seen quantum technologies reach important milestones, with governments heavily investing in further development. This article looks at how photonics is fueling quantum technology applications.
By Ilamaran Sivarajah
16 Feb 2022
This article looks at the history of medical imaging, from Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen's first X-ray to the introduction of magnetic resonance imaging.
By Benedette Cuffari
15 Feb 2022
Hollow-core fibers transmit data much faster in optical networks than conventional optical fibers. This is a technological advancement that is expected to digitally shrink the world.
By Ilamaran Sivarajah
14 Feb 2022
Laser-based methods are widely used as part of diagnostic testing to provide non-invasive alternatives to biopsies whilst still recovering molecular-level information that can be used for an accurate diagnosis.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
11 Feb 2022
To improve the energy density of Li-ion batteries, new high-energy-density battery chemistry must be investigated. The increased capacity will increase the distance an electric car can drive with a fully charged battery. Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is a powerful tool to image battery materials.
By Ilamaran Sivarajah
10 Feb 2022
An international group of physicists from the University of California at San Diego and Extreme Light Infrastructure-Nuclear Physics facility in Romania devised an experiment that uses a tightly focused high-power laser with a peak power density of 5×1022 W/cm2 to generate a magnetic field as strong as that of a neutron star (100 million times stronger than Earth's magnetic field).
By Cvetelin Vasilev
8 Feb 2022