optical

Recent research has made significant strides in the development of optical neural networks, presenting a sustainable alternative to the energy and resource-intensive models currently in use. By leveraging light propagation through multimode fibers and a minimal number of programmable parameters, researchers have achieved comparable accuracy to traditional digital systems with significantly reduced memory and energy requirements. This innovative approach offers a promising pathway toward energy-efficient and highly…

Apple Vision Pro, the first mixed-reality headset from Apple, features one of the highest-resolution display systems money can buy. But for people with vision correction needs, those brilliant displays — sporting resolutions of 4K per eye — will end up looking dull and blurry. Apple thought of this, and has partnered with Zeiss to offer custom optical inserts for Vision Pro at $150 a pop. However, the purchase process isn't as simple as walking into an Apple Store and picking up a fresh pair of lenses. There are plenty…

The magnetic properties of a material can affect how it interacts with light. Credit: Ihar Faniayeu/University of GothenburgResearchers have discovered how to make an optical metamaterial that would underpin a variety of new technologies.A new approach has allowed researchers at Aalto University to create a kind of metamaterial that has so far been beyond the reach of existing technologies. Unlike natural materials, metamaterials and metasurfaces can be tailored to have specific electromagnetic properties, which means…

Photo: nikkytok / Shutterstock.com (Shutterstock)There’s good news if you’re running out of space on your Google account. Researchers from Scientists from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology just figured out how to fit up to a petabit of data onto an optical disk by storing information in 3D. In other words, that’s 125,000 gigabytes on a single DVD-sized disk, or what experts refer to as a “big boy.”What Drew Noomi Rapace to Constellation?Optical disks like DVDs and Blu-rays are cheap and durable but…

Xiaomi and Leica join forces in building the world's most advanced optical institute for smartphone technologies. It's called Xiaomi x Leica Optical Institute and the two companies will share expertise in building a complete product that involves not only smartphone camera optics but also computational photography and AI. The institute will focus on four major technical factors that make a cameraphone great - ultra-precision optical lenses in a small form factor suitable for smartphones, computational photography,…

Researchers at Osaka University have developed a groundbreaking flexible optical sensor that works even when crumpled. Using carbon nanotube photodetectors and wireless Bluetooth technology, this sensor enables non-invasive analysis and holds promise for advancements in imaging, wearable technology, and soft robotics. Credit: SciTechDaily.comResearchers at Osaka University have created a soft, pliable, and wireless optical sensor using carbon nanotubes and organic transistors on an ultra-thin polymer film. This innovation…

After decades of physics-based theorizing, researchers have succeeded in creating a novel optical metamaterial using conventional materials. Its enhanced electromagnetic effect may make true one-way glass a reality and solar panels more efficient.A traditional material’s response to electric and magnetic fields – and, therefore, to light – is determined by atoms. In optical metamaterials, however, atoms are replaced by meta-atoms that can be structurally engineered to possess properties rarely seen in nature, enabling a…

Scientists have designed a striking new contact lens that could revolutionize ophthalmology. It's based on a spiral pattern that lets the eye focus at different distances and in varying lighting conditions.Beyond contact lenses, its inventors say the tech could be applied to a range of miniaturized imaging systems, including consumer gadgets like virtual reality headsets, to offer more versatility and flexibility than existing lenses.The lens, called a spiral diopter, causes incoming light to spin in an optical vortex,…

The last rays of an orbital sunset illuminate Earth’s atmosphere in this photograph from the International Space Station as it orbited 259 miles above Central America. In the foreground from left are Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus resupply ship, with its prominent cymbal-shaped UltraFlex solar arrays, and the Soyuz MS-24 crew spacecraft. Credit: SciTechDaily.comThe International Space Station (ISS) has returned to its standard configuration of seven Expedition 70 crew members conducting advanced microgravity research and…

This high exposure photograph from the International Space Station shows Earth’s atmospheric glow and a starry sky as the orbital complex soared 258 miles above the Pacific Ocean northeast of Papua New Guinea. At left, are the station’s Nauka science module and the Prichal docking module, both from Roscosmos. Credit: NASAFour Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) astronauts continue waiting for favorable weather conditions before ending their stay at the International Space Station (ISS). Meanwhile, the seven-member Expedition 70 crew…