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Category: innovation – Page 50

Transparent Camera Built With See-Through Photoarray

đŸ‘ïžđŸ” Scientists have developed a transparent camera using see-through technology, paving the way for hidden eye tracking devices in everyday objects. #InvisibleInnovation

The problem is that placing a camera in front of the eyes tends to block the view. And mounting them further away makes them less accurate, more bulky and often more power hungry because of the extra data processing they require. This has limited their utility in many situations.

What eye trackers need is a way of hiding light sensitive pixels in plain sight.

Enter Gabriel Mercier at The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology in Spain and colleagues who have built transparent photodetectors that can make cameras more or less invisible. They have tested their device and shown it could enable a new generation of eye tracking devices built into ordinary objects such as spectacle lenses, computer monitors and windows. “The operation and appearance of transparent image sensors present a fundamental shift in how we think about cameras and imaging, as these devices can be concealed in plain sight,” they say.

Large-scale programmable logic array achieves complex computations

Researchers have developed a cutting-edge optical computing system that represents a major leap in the field of optical logic.

Traditionally, optical logic computing—using light to perform logical operations—has faced challenges when trying to handle more than four inputs due to limitations in


Researchers have long sought to harness the power of light for computing, aiming to achieve higher speeds and lower energy consumption compared to traditional electronic systems. Optical computing, which uses light instead of electricity to perform calculations, promises significant advantages, including high parallelism and efficiency. However, implementing complex logic operations optically has been a challenge, limiting the practical applications of optical computing.

A recent breakthrough by researchers at Huazhong University of Science and Technology and the Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics has pushed the boundaries of optical computing. As reported in Advanced Photonics, they developed a large-scale optical programmable array (PLA) capable of handling more complex computations. This new optical PLA uses parallel spectrum modulation to achieve an 8-input system, significantly expanding the capabilities of optical logic operations.

The researchers demonstrated the potential of their optical PLA by successfully running Conway’s Game of Life, a well-known two-dimensional cellular automaton. This achievement marks the first time such a complex model has been executed on an optical platform without relying on for nonlinear computing.

Geologists Crack 134-Million-Year-Old Mystery of Amethyst Geode Formation

New research from the University of Göttingen reveals that amethyst geodes in Uruguay formed at low temperatures from groundwater-like fluids, proposing a new model for their formation based on extensive geological surveys and innovative analytical methods.

Amethyst, the violet variety of quartz, has been used as a gemstone for centuries and is a key economic resource in northern Uruguay. Geodes are hollow rock formations often with quartz crystals, such as amethyst, inside.

In Uruguay, amethyst geodes have been found in cooled lava flows dating back to the original breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana approximately 134 million years ago. However, their formation has remained a mystery.

New Method Revolutionizes Quantum Information Transfer Across Wavelengths

A recent breakthrough in frequency conversion has achieved substantial bandwidth, opening new possibilities for more efficient quantum information transfer and advanced integrated photonic systems.

Advancements in quantum information technology are enabling faster and more efficient data transfer. A major challenge, however, lies in transferring qubits—the fundamental units of quantum information—across different wavelengths while preserving their crucial properties, such as coherence and entanglement.

As reported in Advanced Photonics, researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) recently made significant strides in this area by developing a novel method for broadband frequency conversion, a crucial step for future quantum networks.

New camera lets us see the colors of the world through the eyes of animals

A new camera system is making it possible for humans to see colors in the way animals do, opening up a vivid new perspective on the natural world.

Led by researcher Vera Vasas, who has spent years studying animal vision, this innovative project is changing how we understand what animals actually see.

In collaboration with colleagues from the Hanley Color Lab at George Mason University, Vasas has developed a tool that lets us experience the world through the eyes of different species.

Breakthrough Technique Could Reveal Alien Communications Between Planets

A new study by Penn State and the SETI Institute explored alien signal detection in the TRAPPIST-1 system using innovative techniques focused on planetary alignments.

Astronomers have developed a new technique to search for radio signals from planets beyond our solar system, particularly those aligned with both each other and Earth. These signals would be similar to those used for communication with rovers on Mars. Penn State astronomers, in collaboration with scientists at the SETI Institute, spent 28 hours using the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) to scan the TRAPPIST-1 star system for signs of alien technology. This effort represents the longest focused search for radio signals from TRAPPIST-1 to date.

Although no evidence of extraterrestrial technology was found, the project introduced a new method for future searches. The research has been accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal.

Innovative electrolytes could transform steelmaking and beyond

Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology by conducting leading-edge basic and applied research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science.

Ultrafast Laser Pulses Reveal Molecular Fingerprints in a Trillionth of a Second

A new technique called ‘femtosecond-fieldoscopy’ developed by the Max Planck Institute enables the precise detection of biomarkers in minute liquid quantities using ultrashort laser pulses.

This method provides a clear molecular ‘fingerprint’ for identifying specific molecules and opens up possibilities for advanced biomedical research and applications.

Breakthrough in Biomarker Detection.

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