Patricia Daukantas

2 months ago | optica-opn.org | Patricia Daukantas

As the saying goes, the nose knows. But sometimes the human olfactory system needs a boost—and a new interferometric technique can distinguish the faintest traces of gas molecules. Researchers at a US laboratory have modified cavity ringdown spectroscopy to enhance the method’s sensitivity in the mid-infrared region, where many interesting molecules have their spectral signatures (Nature, doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08534-2 ).

Feb 12, 2025 | optica-opn.org | Patricia Daukantas

For half a century or more, astronomers have searched the universe for clues to the nature of dark matter: a hypothetical type of matter that does not interact with electromagnetic radiation. With light detectors off the table, scientists must use unconventional technologies to seek evidence of dark matter’s existence. Researchers in Australia and Germany have developed a new technique that searches for subtle interactions between potential dark matter and electrons (Phys. Rev.

Jan 29, 2025 | optica-opn.org | Patricia Daukantas

In the tiny world of living cells, bioluminescent proteins don’t need external light for excitation, unlike their fluorescent cousins. This quality gives bioluminescence the upper hand in experiments requiring precise imaging and tracking of biological processes. But this advantage comes with costs: a limited number of colors and problems with detecting these colors simultaneously.

Jan 20, 2025 | optica-opn.org | Patricia Daukantas

[Getty Image] Imagine this scenario: A finance worker signs onto a video call with several company officials. The firm’s chief financial officer asks the employee to deposit millions of dollars into a specific bank account. Only after the transaction goes through does the truth come out: Everyone else on the video was a fake, and the money went straight to a fraudster.

Jan 16, 2025 | optica-opn.org | Patricia Daukantas

Some plants never see direct sunlight; they live their lives in light filtered by a forest canopy. Other plants grow under artificial light, like LED fixtures that can be tuned to provide optimum wavelengths for growth. But scientists still don’t know exactly how plants carry out photosynthesis under these conditions.