A Look Back At The Year That Was

By John Oncea, Editor

It’s that time again. Let’s take a look at the most-read articles that appeared on Photonics Online this past year. Why, it’s become an annual event!
Did you know that there’s no such thing as a “first annual” event because something can’t be annual unless it has happened at least twice? Instead, the beginning of an activity, institution, time, or other event is “inaugural.”
As in, here’s a link to my inaugural look back at the year that was in photonics. This year-end review featured methane super emitters, the Valley of Death, hidden cities, and maple syrup.
And what were the most-read articles on Photonics Online in 2024? Well, you’ll have to read this, the second annual look back at the year that was in photonics, to find out.
Doppelgangers, Jimmy Buffet, And The Eclipse
The most-read article during the first quarter of 2024 also was the most-read article of the year: China, U.S. Launch “Doppelganger” Secretive Spaceplanes Within Weeks Of Each Other. It’s a look at spaceplanes and their potential for espionage and conflict plus a rare opportunity to use the word doppelganger.
Next up was a look at the life of Jimmy Buffet … hold on. Being told it was this story about non-invasive ways to check for skin cancer, of which Buffet died in 2023. The third most-read article of the quarter examined how hyperspectral imaging is used in agriculture, from picking the perfect pepper to weed detection and management.
The final two selections – Did Science Really Do Rosalind Franklin Dirty? and How To Protect Your Camera When Photographing An Eclipse – were also two of my favorites to write. Franklin played an instrumental role in Watson and Crick’s discovery of DNA but didn’t get the credit she deserved until years later. Despite this, she remained a resolute scientist who often worked long hours in the laboratory where her colleagues respected her as a brilliant but sometimes reserved scientist.
The story about protecting your camera was pretty straightforward but reading it reminds me of the time I got to spend with my family viewing the April 8th event. We were in the path of totality for 3 minutes and 41 seconds and it proved to be pretty special.
James Webb, Ronald Reagan, And Richard Nixon
The second quarter’s most-read article was this story about DEWs and it was fun to trace their development from 212 BCE to today. This story was a wild ride, from Archimedes to WW II to Ronald Reagan and more.
The next most-read article of the quarter also featured a U.S. President in the form of Richard Nixon. Using his call to the moon as a jumping-off point, we learned about free space optical communications, a transformative technology that will enable unprecedented data capabilities for space missions, allowing them to transmit more data than ever before while reducing size, weight, and power requirements.
Stories three and four both featured the James Webb Space Telescope, starting with a look at some of the discoveries it helped make. These include identifying the most distant galaxy ever observed, spotting dozens of rogue JuMBOs, potential signs of alien life, and much more.
The second JWST story focused on what’s coming next – the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope. Set to launch in 2027, Roman will have a field of view at least 100 times larger than Hubble’s and may be able to measure light from a billion galaxies in its lifetime. Roman’s stated mission includes settling essential questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and astrophysics and it will be able to block starlight to directly see exoplanets and planet-forming disks and complete a statistical census of planetary systems in our galaxy.
Wrapping up the quarter was a more down-to-earth article looking at the optics that drive unmanned ariel vehicles. UAVs utilize various optical components for communication, guidance, data transmission, and image capture and these components are technologically well beyond the types of elements found in drones for recreational use, many of which we touched on here.
Quantum, Green Energy, And Metaphotonics
Like many Americans, I spent part of the year’s third quarter focused on the debate. But instead of politics, the debate I was interested in and wrote about focused on which technology was best for autonomous vehicles. I’m guessing some of you felt the same way as this look at LiDAR vs. camera-based systems was the quarter’s most-read article.
Next up, we wrestled with a paradox. Specifically, how can quantum computing be here, be at least a decade away, and not even be real – all at the same time? To quote ambiguous Facebook relationship statuses, “It’s complicated.”
Something not as complicated, thanks to Oregon State University researchers, is turning sunlight and water into green energy. The OSU team developed a highly efficient photocatalyst using metal-organic frameworks and metal oxides. It rapidly produces hydrogen from sunlight and water, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based hydrogen production.
Coming in at number four was this look at the use of hyperspectral imaging by the military. Some of the uses are identifying targets quickly and precisely, detecting chemical and biological threats, and finding buried landmines. We also looked at some specific use cases in both the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the Israel-Hamas war.
Last but not least, we took a look at two technologies that are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in optical technologies, paving the way for more compact, efficient, and intelligent photonic devices across various fields. By combining metaphotonics and artificial intelligence we can expect to see significant advancements and innovations in optical technologies by enabling capabilities in the design and functionality of optical devices, enhancing both their efficiency and performance.
More Quantum, Remote Sensing And War, And A Revolution
The most-read story of quarter four once again involved the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the Isreal-Hamas war, this time focusing on how remote sensing is being used in both instances. The technology was once rudimentary aerial photography but has evolved into a sophisticated, multi-faceted intelligence-gathering system that plays a crucial role in modern warfare and strategic planning.
Another technology that has gone through a rapid evolution as of late, LiDAR, was the focus of the second most-read story of the quarter. While it offers many advantages, it’s not without limitations. We looked at both the pros and cons of the technology before deciding if LiDAR is worth the hype.
LiDAR wasn’t the only technology we debated about in quarter four. We also took time to consider the pros and cons of quantum including its use in computing, sensing, and communication. TLDR? Their integration is expected to unlock transformative capabilities across multiple industries and scientific domains. However, overcoming the current limitations and challenges will require continued research, development, and investment.
The next story also was about technology but this time it was of a more traditional kind – high-speed and scientific cameras. Both of these cameras have benefitted from advancements in photonics and sensor technology and, as a result, seen significant improvements that have enhanced their performance and expanded their applications.
We wrap up the best of the fourth quarter by looking at the latest and greatest optical component innovations. Before we got to that, however, we looked at the Assyrians and a bunch of Europeans who helped set the stage for today’s breakthroughs including coatings engineered at the nanoscale level, micro-optics for miniaturization, and coherent pluggable optics.
My Faves
“What were my personal favorites,” you ask. Well, in addition to the Rosalind Franklin, eclipse, DEW, Roman, and James Webb stories these six were fun to research and write.
The first was a Valentine's Day-inspired article on three couples who found love in the lab, followed by a deep dive into the establishment of a secure, 2,400-mile-long link by scientists from Russia and China using a quantum satellite. The second story also provided me with the best comment of the year, courtesy of railman3001:
You do understand that belief in quantum communications implies implicit belief in parallel dimensions, where copies of each one of us live out different, close, or the same lives we each live here in this dimension?? That implies a creator of maximum efficiency conducting parallel simulations where we are testing our certain hypotheses in parallel. This is one of the reasons I do not believe in quantum anything.
No, I did not realize that at the time but am fascinated by the concept.
Other stories I was most entertained by – and hopefully the parallel dimension Johns were too – include this look at how mass spectroscopy helped solve a cheating scandal at the Lake Powell fishing tournament, the use of spectroscopy by Big Egg, and how the use of LiDAR revolutionized research in Antarctica.
Last but not least, did you ever wonder how in this day of cable and fiber internet a community could be thankful for high-speed broadband satellite communication? Well, for the 270 or so residents of Tristan da Cunha, a British Overseas Territory in the middle of the South Atlantic between South America and Africa, communication with the outside world wouldn’t exist without the “old school” technology.
I hope you enjoyed reading all of what I wrote as much as I enjoyed writing it. And please don’t hesitate to send me an email (joncea@vertmarkets.com) or connect with me on LinkedIn if you have something you’d like me to write about.
Thanks for a great year and here’s to an even better 2025!