Subscribe now

light

Physics

Doughnut-shaped swirls of laser light can be used to transmit images

Ultra-fast pulses of laser light can be shaped into vortices similar to smoke rings – when chained together, they can carry enough information to transmit a simple image

News

Free

Physics

Quantum forces used to automatically assemble tiny device

News

Free

light-trapping device

Chemistry

Gold flecks make super-transparent glass fully opaque from one side

News

Free

Schematic image of GaN hollow nanowires on a sapphire substrate.

Technology

Lasers smaller than a human hair emit doughnut-shaped light

News

Subscriber-only

abstract image of light

Physics

Einstein may be wrong about how mirrors travelling at light speed work

News

Subscriber-only

The new design could be used on contact lenses

Technology

Spiral scratches on contact lenses can turn them into multifocals

News

Free

Chemistry

Light-sensitive molecules could make carbon capture more efficient

News

Free

Space

Galaxy smash-ups may explain strange light from early universe

News

Free

Ant head with compound eyes

Technology

‘Insect-eye’ compass can navigate by the sun even on a cloudy day

News

Subscriber-only

Nobel prize for physics goes to trio who sliced up time with light

Physics

Nobel prize for physics goes to trio who sliced up time with light

Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier figured out how to generate attosecond pulses of light, which last a billionth of a billionth of a second and can be used to make movies of electrons - a find that has won them the 2023 Nobel prize in physics

News

Subscriber-only

Definition

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

light

Free

Technology

Extremely thin lightweight lenses take amazing images of the universe

News

Subscriber-only

Technology

Thin reflective film that mimics butterfly wings can keep cars cool

News

Free

Gold nuggets - thin gold wafers can generate their own glow

Physics

Gold flakes glow when they are bathed in light and now we know how

News

Subscriber-only