light

Squeezing Light into Sub-Wavelength Spots

harminka — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:25:42 -0500

In a new study, physicists at the University of Toronto have invented a simple structure called a meta-screen, designed to focus light into tiny spots smaller than the wavelength of the photons in use. These sub-wavelength spots overcome the diffraction limit, thus allowing even the smallest details of an object to be visualized.

New metamaterial proves to be perfect absorber of light

harminka — Fri, 30 May 2008 05:58:01 -0500

A team of scientists from Boston College and Duke University has developed a highly-engineered metamaterial capable of absorbing all of the light that strikes it – to a scientific standard of perfection – they report in the latest edition of Physical Review Letters.

Argonne scientists develop way to predict properties of light nuclei

harminka — Thu, 22 May 2008 07:58:10 -0500

Scientists have spent 70 years trying to predict the properties of nuclei, but have had to settle for approximate models because computational techniques were not equal to the task.

JILA solves problem of quantum dot 'blinking'

harminka — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:56:37 -0600

Quantum dots—tiny, intense, tunable sources of colorful light—are illuminating new opportunities in biomedical research, cryptography and other fields. But these semiconductor nanocrystals also have a secret problem, a kind of nervous tic. They mysteriously tend to “blink” on and off like Christmas tree lights, which can reduce their usefulness.

Lichtenberg Figures-Edge Dendritic

admin_huliq — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 08:48:26 -0600

Marvel at the beauty of contained lightning in a scientific sculpture!

Mammalian eye detects light for non-visual phenomena

harminka — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:25:16 -0600

In addition to allowing us to see, the mammalian eye also detects light for a number of “non-visual” phenomena. A prime example of this is the timing of the sleep/wake cycle, which is synchronized by the effects of light on the circadian pacemaker in the hypothalamus.

Toshiba Lights up New York's Times Square with Brand Promotion Signboard

harminka — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 02:21:45 -0600

Toshiba will start to light up the city today, when it switches on a new LED signboard to send its message shining out over Times Square. The new display brings Toshiba's message to the heart of New York's business and entertainment district, and is part of enhanced global marketing activities to promote recognition of the Toshiba brand.

Ultrafast optical shutter is switched entirely by laser light

harminka — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:46:08 -0600

It’s a rare case of all light and no heat: A new study reports that a laser can be used to switch a film of vanadium dioxide back and forth between reflective and transparent states without heating or cooling it.

Learning wave nature of light

harminka — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 03:52:31 -0500

Around the world, students learn about the wave nature of light through the interference patterns of “Young’s double-slit experiment,” first performed more than 200 years ago and still considered among the most beautiful physics experiments.

Faucet Light, Science Fun in Kitchen and Bathroom

admin_huliq — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:18:20 -0500

Internal Clock, External Light Regulate Plant Growth

harminka — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:05:35 -0500

Most plants and animals show changes in activity over a 24-hour cycle. Now, for the first time, researchers have shown how a plant combines signals from its internal clock with those from the environment to show a daily rhythm of growth.

How light can be used to operate micromachines

harminka — Thu, 31 May 2007 15:04:54 -0500

A research team led by Umar Mohideen, a physicist at the University of California, Riverside, has demonstrated in the laboratory that the Casimir force - the small attractive force that acts between two close parallel uncharged conducting plates - can be changed using a beam of light, making the remote operation of micromachines a possibility.