In-depth articles written by our editorial team focusing on the latest developments in materials science and technology
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instruments built into the latest generation of Martian rovers will provide planetary scientists with a wealth of new data on Martian geology – but to learn from it, they will need to overcome a critical challenge with their machine learning models.
By Andrew Messios
9 Mar 2021
Scientists at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois have suggested a new approach to improve AFM-IR measurements' sensitivity.
By Yulia Yancheva
8 Mar 2021
An atomic force microscope (AFM) is a type of scanning probe microscope that was invented in 1985 and quickly became a fundamental instrument used in many different disciplines within science and technology. Recent improvements in AFMs are allowing their use to be expanded into new applications and industries.
By Lara Osborne
8 Mar 2021
Light microscopy uses visible light or photons to illuminate a sample, while electron microscopy uses electrons, as the name suggests. Each technique has its advantages and disadvantages, discussed below.
By Kerry Taylor-Smith
4 Mar 2021
Raman spectroscopy is an ideal tool for performing the microscopic sample analysis on the rock samples gleaned from the surface of Mars on missions such as Perseverance and ExoMars 2022.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
19 Feb 2021
WITec GmbH has upgraded its world-class microparticle analysis system, ParticleScout. The enhancement improves speed and versatility, and is a forerunner in the next generation of Raman microscope technology.
Researchers from Japan and the USA have developed scan-less wide-field imaging methods that can image fluorescence lifetime at unprecedented speeds and capture ultrafast transient phenomena relevant to biomedical research and life sciences.
By Cvetelin Vasilev
9 Feb 2021
Antimony is a metallic element commonly used in the semiconductor industry due to its high charge mobility. However, while it has been traditionally famed for its charge transport capabilities, several recent developments have suggested that antimony thin films may offer some highly desirable, tunable optical properties as well.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
26 Jan 2021
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic results from one of the deadliest infections this generation has seen: SARS-CoV-2. The situation has overwhelmed healthcare institutions worldwide and highlighted the need for high-throughput virus sensing methods to assist in the rapid and early diagnosis of the virus and associated diseases.
By Kerry Taylor-Smith
18 Jan 2021
This article discusses the use of optical chips for detecting COVID-19 antibodies.
By Sarah Moore
12 Jan 2021