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
A team of researchers has developed new imaging technology that can detect defects in solar panels even in bright daylight, overcoming the limitations of previous systems. The novel technology streamlines the inspection process of solar panels and increases the overall efficiency of solar power by detecting defects early on.
By Sarah Moore
3 Nov 2021
The article evaluates the ability of pinhole-type lightfield monitors to provide a convincing 3D experience—images with enough brightness and continuous aspect. The research was published in the journal Optics Express.
By Laura Thomson
3 Nov 2021
Extracting information about dynamic processes in the picosecond (ps) requires extensive modification and optimal control of the operation conditions. This research, published in Ultramicroscopy surpasses these shortcomings by combining a delay line detector with continuous illumination in a transmission electron microscope.
By Laura Thomson
2 Nov 2021
A team at Waterloo has developed new hybrid metalenses for two coherent Raman microscopy techniques, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and stimulated Raman spectroscopy (SRS).3 The team has achieved focal spot sizes for near-infrared light that are nearly at the diffraction limit for this wavelength.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
29 Oct 2021