Researchers have unveiled a novel augmented reality (AR) glasses design that significantly reduces weight and bulk by employing a “beaming displays” approach. This innovative system shifts the image generation burden from the glasses to an external projector. Traditional AR glasses struggle with weight and power limitations due to onboard batteries and electronic components. This new design addresses [..]

Direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communication is emerging as a transformative technology, poised to revolutionize how we connect to the internet and communicate globally. It aims to bridge the digital divide by enabling seamless connectivity in areas where traditional cellular networks are unavailable or unreliable. This technology allows everyday devices like smartphones to connect directly to satellites, [..]

Imagine a world where your light bulbs not only illuminate your home but also provide your internet connection. This is the promise of Li-Fi technology that uses light to transmit data. While Wi-Fi has become a ubiquitous part of our lives, Li-Fi offers a different approach to wireless communication. Li-Fi, short for Light Fidelity, utilizes [..]

In the ever-evolving landscape of biometric authentication, a groundbreaking development has emerged, pushing the boundaries of security and potential applications. Researchers have pioneered a novel method utilizing hyperspectral imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) to identify individuals based on the intricate network of blood vessels within their palms – palm vein biometrics. What sets this approach [..]

The longstanding barrier of light microscopy, the diffraction limit, has been challenged again. While super-resolution techniques like STED and PALM/STORM rely on molecular “ON/OFF” switching and revolutionized imaging, a recent breakthrough demonstrates resolution enhancement without this requirement. Researchers have unveiled a method utilizing a scanning beam with a central zero-intensity line (node). By analyzing the [..]

A breakthrough in volumetric 3D printing, HoloVAM, promises to revolutionize optics and photonics applications, particularly in bioprinting. Researchers have developed a holographic technique that significantly boosts efficiency and speed compared to traditional Tomographic Volumetric Additive Manufacturing (TVAM). Conventional TVAM, while capable of rapid, single-shot 3D printing by solidifying resin with light patterns, suffers from low [..]

Ecological disasters demand rapid and precise toxin analysis to safeguard public health. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), a powerful label-free technique, offers sensitive detection of low-concentration toxins. However, the inherent variability of SERS spectra across different substrates has hindered its widespread application. Researchers have unveiled a machine-learning approach that significantly streamlines SERS analysis, enabling accurate toxin [..]

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking droplet microfluidic component library that is set to democratize microfluidic device fabrication. This innovation offers a rapid, cost-effective alternative to traditional PDMS-based methods, enabling device creation for under $12 and a full design-build-test cycle within a day. The library features biocompatible, high-throughput components capable of complex multistep workflows, including droplet [..]

Modern optoelectronic devices, from smartphone cameras to astronomical instruments, face a growing challenge: extracting more information from photons demands significant energy, limiting performance.  Researchers are tackling this issue by developing novel, energy-efficient, light-sensing smart sensors inspired by the human eye. Current optical sensors typically transmit all raw data to a computer for processing, a power-hungry [..]

Laser-plasma accelerators (LPAs) hold promise for generating compact, cost-effective proton beams, but challenges like target replacement and beam divergence have hindered their progress.  Now, researchers have made a surprising breakthrough using a simple stream of water.  Instead of solid targets, the team used a thin water sheet, replenished after each laser pulse.  This solved the [..]

A team of researchers has developed a new method for diagnosing bacterial infections. The method uses nanomotion detection and machine learning to classify bacteria as virulent, avirulent, or dead. It is faster and more accurate than traditional methods and can also be used to test the effectiveness of different antibiotics. The researchers used nanomotion detection [..]

Physicist Antonio Fiore, previously focused on the physics of optical instrument design, transitioned to biological applications at Janelia three years ago.  Seeking a different impact, he joined the Pedram Lab to develop tools for unexplored areas of biology, maintaining his connection to light microscopy.  This shift has proven fruitful in developing Rhobo6, a novel light [..]

Silicon photonic circuits are revolutionizing various applications, from data centers to biosensors and lidar.  However, integrating lasers directly onto silicon chips has been challenging due to material incompatibility.  Silicon cannot efficiently generate laser light, and traditional laser materials like gallium arsenide (GaAs) suffer from crystal defects when grown on silicon. Researchers have developed a novel [..]

Researchers have developed a quantum-enhanced time-domain spectroscopy technique that doubles the sensitivity of current methods.  This breakthrough utilizes quantum light to overcome limitations imposed by classical light sources. Time-domain spectroscopy, crucial for analyzing molecular composition, relies on ultrashort laser pulses. While effective, its resolution is hampered by “shot noise,” an inherent limitation of classical light.  [..]

New research presents a novel method for estimating body composition using 3D imaging and deep learning.  Traditional methods like DXA scans, while accurate, involve radiation exposure. This research explores a non-invasive optical approach as a potential alternative. The study utilizes a dataset of 4286 3D body scans, some paired with DXA scan data for ground [..]

Coupled semiconductor ring lasers (Coupled lasers) can generate unique optical patterns, paving the way for advancements in spectroscopy and on-chip laser systems.  Researchers demonstrated this by coupling two racetrack quantum cascade lasers (QCLs).  Building on previous work with single racetrack QCLs exhibiting “dark” light pulses (Nozaki-Bekki solitons), the team investigated the effects of strong coupling [..]

The increasing need for robust digital security has spurred the development of innovative encryption methods.  Researchers have recently unveiled a novel optical system leveraging holograms to encode information, creating a virtually impenetrable layer of security. This holographic encryption breakthrough promises to revolutionize secure communication channels and safeguard sensitive data. This new system utilizes holograms to [..]

Hypotonia is a serious condition that numerous things can cause. It can make it difficult for infants to move and breathe. In the past, it was not easy to diagnose hypotonia’s cause. However, recent advances in genomic sequencing have made it possible to diagnose infants with hypotonia more quickly and accurately. A new study has [..]

A team of researchers has developed a new, ultra-thin metasurface that can generate circularly polarized light. This breakthrough could lead to more compact optical devices and has implications for medical imaging, communications, and quantum physics. Traditional methods for producing circularly polarized light are often bulky and inefficient. However, the new metasurface is only a few [..]

In a breakthrough for integrated photonics, researchers have demonstrated a high-power tunable laser on silicon photonics that reaches close to 2 Watts of output power. This is a significant milestone, as it is the first time that a high-power tunable laser has been demonstrated on silicon photonics. The new laser is based on silicon photonics, [..]