Optics

When most of us go to the beach, we like to play in the sand, frolic in the surf and people watch.I like all those things, too. But I am also a massive science nerd, and that means that despite the distractions, I cannot tear my attention away from the horizon.Oh, that line separating Earth from sky, planet from heavens and here from infinity—my eye is drawn to the horizon as inexorably as matter to a black hole. I get squinty and teary trying to focus on it, which is a fool’s errand because, in a sense, the horizon…

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (left) and Galaxy S24 Ultra Andy Boxall / Digital Trends When did camera zooms get so complicated? These days, we don’t just have a single number like 3x to deal with, but many other zoom levels,. we also need to understand optical zoom, hybrid zoom, periscope zoom, Space Zoom, and a whole lot more. Samsung has confused the issue again with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which has a 5x optical zoom and a 10x hybrid zoom, meaning it’s different from the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The question is, do the changes…

Artistic representation of quantum interference between a thermal state and a heralded parametric single-photon state. Credit: IOPFinding offers new starting points for research into photonic quantum information systems.An international team of researchers from Leibniz University Hannover (Germany) and the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow (United Kingdom) has disproved a previously held assumption about the impact of multiphoton components in interference effects of thermal fields (e.g. sunlight) and parametric single…

OnePlus 12 (left) and Google Pixel 8 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends The OnePlus 12 is every bit a worthy successor to the brilliant OnePlus 11, and the camera is shaping up to be one of the brand’s highest specced yet. But what happens when it meets the Google Pixel 8? The Pixel 8 is one of the best camera phones you can get and is even cheaper than the OnePlus 12, so if you want to take a lot of photos, which one will serve you better? We find out in our comprehensive test. Comparing the camera specs OnePlus 12 Andy…

Researchers used a stack of spinning metasurface devices to capture spectral and polarization details of thermal radiation as well as the intensity information that is acquired with traditional thermal imaging. Credit: Xueji Wang, Purdue UniversityBy gathering more intricate thermal data, this novel method could enhance autonomous navigation, material recognition, security, and other applications.Researchers have created a novel technology utilizing meta-optical devices for thermal imaging. This method offers more…

Carl Sagan popularized the maxim that “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” This advice should not be optional for policy makers. In today’s world of misinformation, conspiracy driven decision-making and sensationalist-dominated governance, our capacity for rational, evidence-based critical thinking is eroding, with deleterious consequences for our ability to effectively deal with multiplying challenges of ever increasing complexity.As director of the Department of Defense’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution…

A galaxy has been discovered that, unlike any other known in the modern universe, seems to be essentially devoid of stars. The galaxy—a floating hunk of dust and gas aimlessly adrift in space, found only thanks to its subtle, serendipitous signature in a radio telescope—is nearly as massive as the Milky Way yet invisible to the naked eye. The discovery could “upend what we think we know about galaxy formation,” says Pieter van Dokkum, a Yale University astrophysicist, who was not part of the finding.Called J0613+52, the…

Recent studies challenge the quantum Cheshire cat effect’s initial interpretation, highlighting the role of contextuality in quantum mechanics. This research suggests that the perceived separation of particles and their properties is a result of how quantum systems are measured, not an actual physical phenomenon. Understanding this could unlock new insights into quantum mechanics and its applications. Credit: SciTechDaily.comWhat actually happens is much weirder, and may help us understand more about quantum mechanics.The…

In the summer of 1989, from a remote expanse of our solar system where sunlight is merely a tepid glow, NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft radioed to Earth humankind's very first images of Neptune. The pictures revealed the sun's outermost planet was a stunning, deep blue orb. In contrast, Uranus, Neptune's planetary neighbor and the first to be discovered with a telescope, appeared noticeably paler.Both seemingly twin worlds have a lot in common. They're roughly the same size, almost equally massive and are both enveloped with…

A groundbreaking phase imaging method, resistant to phase noise and effective in dim light, has been developed by international researchers. This technique, detailed in Science Advances, enhances imaging capabilities in fields ranging from medical research to art preservation. (Artist’s concept.) Credit: SciTechDaily.comInnovative quantum-inspired imaging technique excels in low-light conditions, offering new prospects in medical imaging and art conservation.Researchers at the University of Warsaw’s Faculty of Physics…