A novel approach to design and fabricate thin-film infrared light sources with near-arbitrary spectral output has been developed by engineers from Vanderbilt and Penn State Universities, and could transform molecular sensing technologies.
By Kerry Taylor-Smith
16 Nov 2021
An important part of detecting and understanding the types of microplastics in our oceans so that measures can be taken to tackle the problem is having tools for the identification and classification of microplastics. Methods such as infrared spectroscopy and Raman have proved effective for particle size classification and identification.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
15 Nov 2021
With the creation of afocal three-mirror anastigmats, greater computational processing availability, and the need for miniature digital viewfinders, freeform optics have undergone a period of rapid development.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
15 Nov 2021
Lehigh University researchers have received a $3.5 million grant to develop rapid waste sorting using advanced spectroscopy and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The aim of this research is to make waste-to-energy plants more cost-effective, therefore increasing capacity in the waste-to-energy industry as investment rises to meet demand.
By Ben Pilkington
12 Nov 2021
Optical sensors have helped to identify and quantify contaminants as well as mineral components of soil, reducing our reliance on hazardous reagents.
By Dr. Priyom Bose
9 Nov 2021
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a type of therapy that involves the use of light to activate a drug to trigger a cytotoxic effect. PDT has been used with great success in the treatment of a variety of cancer types, particularly those that are resistant to chemotherapy, as well as for the treatment of skin diseases such as acne and inflammatory rosacea.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
8 Nov 2021
Recent research at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (XFEL) facility has shown that it is possible to achieve conditions in an experiment similar to those at the center of planets.1 The European XFEL project is a unique facility capable of producing incredibly intense pulses of high-energy X-ray radiation.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
5 Nov 2021
The idea of low-energy electronics is designing electrical components with minimal resistance that reduce their overall energy use. It is estimated that, worldwide, over 20 billion kWh of electricity is used every year. An average UK household uses only 3731 kWh over the same period.2 However, a significant portion of that electricity usage could be reduced if all devices and infrastructure were switched to low-energy electronics.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
5 Nov 2021
Researchers from the USA and China have explained the mechanism behind the structural color that appears when light is reflected off a thin film of microscale concave interfaces. The team also proposed a range of possible applications of the technology, including smart road signs that enhance the pattern recognition abilities of autonomous vehicles.
By Cvetelin Vasilev
4 Nov 2021
Neuroscientists can now watch neuron activity deep inside a living human brain thanks to a pioneering new optical technique. A team from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), based in Heidelberg, Germany, described the two-phase microscopy method for in vivo brain imaging in Nature Methods in September 2021.
By Ben Pilkington
4 Nov 2021