Jeff Hecht

3 days ago | optica-opn.org | Yijie Shen |Edwin Cartlidge |Jeff Hecht

Feature Articles Topological Light Waves: Skyrmions Can Fly Harnessing an emerging class of structured waves as counterparts of localized topological quasiparticles could revolutionize information technology. by Yijie Shen Squeezing on a Chip Bulk optics gives us light beyond the quantum limit, but integrated photonics promises an extended reach—from biological imaging to quantum computing.

1 week ago | newscientist.com | Jeff Hecht

More Everything ForeverAdam Becker (Basic Books On sale 22 April (US); 8 May (UK))With Elon Musk and his minions stomping through Washington government offices like Godzilla in Tokyo, and other tech multi-billionaires having gained US President Donald Trump’s ear, the super-rich are getting super-scary. Science writer Adam Becker shares his disconcerting analysis in He finds would-be rulers of the universe with egos the size of planets…

Nov 6, 2024 | skyandtelescope.org | Jeff Hecht

Scientists have found possibly the oldest and largest crater on Venus — and it’s like none they’ve ever seen on our sister planet. Detailed mapping of one of the oldest terrains on Venus has revealed a giant impact structure of a type never before seen on any terrestrial planet. Oddly, the keys to understanding it came from studying craters on two icy moons of Jupiter. Venus is the least understood of the rocky planets because its thick atmosphere obscuring its surface.

Oct 31, 2024 | spie.org | Jeff Hecht

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) was in trouble a dozen years ago. The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) wanted the giant laser to show the feasibility of igniting a fusion chain reaction by heating and compressing tiny pellets of hydrogen fuel. The laser had reached the 1.8 megajoules (MJ) lab researchers expected would be needed, but the fusion yield was far short of ignition, the point where the fusion yield exceeded the energy delivered to the fuel pellet.

Oct 21, 2024 | skyandtelescope.org | Jeff Hecht

Scientists have traced 70% of meteorite falls to three collisions that occurred in the asteroid belt within the past 40 million years. At last, we know where most meteorites come from. Two studies published in Nature have traced 70% of meteorite falls to three collisions in the asteroid belt that occurred within the past 40 million years. Previously, scientists had only identified the origins of 6% of meteorite falls: the Moon, Mars, and the asteroid 4 Vesta.