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Converting Heat into Electricity with Light
Researchers at Rice University have found a new way to improve a key element of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems, which convert heat into electricity via light. Using an unconventional approach inspired by quantum physics, Rice... -
New and Improved, Next-Generation Perovskite Solar Cell
Existing perovskite solar cells, which have the problem of not being able to utilize approximately 52% of total solar energy, have been developed by a Korean research team as an innovative technology that maximizes... -
Smart Robots Could Withstand Waves to Cut Green Energy Costs
Underwater robots that can predict waves in real-time could reduce the cost of producing offshore renewable energy, a study suggests. New technology that enables robots to work stably in turbulent seas could make it cheaper,... -
Scientists Discover Laser Light Can Cast a Shadow
Can light itself cast a shadow? It may sound like a philosophical riddle, but researchers have found that under certain conditions, a laser beam can act like an opaque object and cast a shadow. The discovery challenges the... -
Unidirectional Imaging Breakthrough
Traditional imaging systems are bidirectional—if I can see you, you can also see me. Researchers at UCLA recently developed a new type of imaging technology that could revolutionize how we capture and process visual... -
Plasmonic Platform Detects Chirality of Molecules
Promising UCF technology is illuminating new ways to examine molecules with precision, an advancement that can help enhance drug development and new therapies. The new technology, a plasmonic platform that significantly improves... -
Agricultural Robotics Fights Superweeds
Most corn and soybean fields in the U.S. are planted with herbicide-resistant crop varieties. However, the evolution of superweeds that have developed resistance to common herbicides is jeopardizing current weed management...
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Ultrafast Laser Method Assists in Directing Light
Photonic technologies and applications often require light signals to be manipulated in three dimensions such as in optical computing, fiber imaging, data transport and quantum technologies. To be useful, the shape and direction of light must be... -
Sub-50 Femtosecond Pulse Lasers for Gentler Multiphoton Microscopy
Finding the ideal ultra-fast laser source for a multiphoton imaging setup is not trivial. It is a fine balance between peak power, pulse energy and laser wavelength. In this white paper we discuss important laser parameters and the impact these... -
Optics Measure How Microplastics Hinder Light Flow in Our Oceans
Plastics have only been around since the 1950s and yet they’re everywhere: scattered in our lakes, rivers, floating on the top of oceans, and dropping to the bottom. Back in the 1950s and 60s, plastics were hailed as a useful invention, used... -
Terahertz Microscopy Explores New Material for Solar Cells
A team of scientists from the Department of Energy’s Ames National Laboratory gained insight into a possible alternative material for solar cells. The team, led by Jigang Wang, senior scientist from Ames Lab, developed a microscope that uses... -
Gaps noted in lung cancer diagnostics and treatment
Lung cancer is most common cancer in men and the 2nd most common cancer in women according to World Cancer Research Fund International. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death overall and among both men and women, according to the American... -
Advances in Optical Coherence Tomography
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) uses light for cross sectional imaging and is most commonly used for medical diagnostics, but it also has uses in applications such as analyzing paint on automobiles, nondestructive testing, and more. The global... -
Brain Research Advances with Light-Based Technologies
Common methods of brain imaging present many challenges: some are invasive, others may contain harmful radiation, and many are difficult to use or require the patient to remain absolutely still throughout the process. Today researchers are...
