Articles by Abby Proch

1. The Future Of Metasurface Optics — A Q&A With Metalenz CEO Robert Devlin 7/1/2022

   Metalenz CEO Robert Devlin, who cofounded the company alongside Harvard University Professor of Applied Physics Federico Capasso, discusses the company’s beginnings, how its business partnership evolved, the challenges of integrating into consumer products, and what he believes is the future of metasurface optics. 

2. Bright Ideas — Laser Systems Needed To Refuel UAS, Everlasting Laser Built With BEC 6/29/2022

   Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, DARPA is asking industry to help outfit refueling aircraft with lasers to recharge UAS, an everlasting laser is built with Bose-Einstein Condensate, and nanoscale flying robots with light-up wings are explored as light-based communicators.

3. Bright Ideas — NASA To Reveal First JWST Color Images, Optical Laser Communications Advances 6/17/2022

   Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, NASA announced the first images from JWST will be revealed on July 12. Northrop Grumman and BlueHalo are making strides in optical laser communications. And, Optica covers the Russia-Ukraine war by chronicling the challenges faced by researchers whose personal lives and scientific work are threatened by the conflict. 

4. Bright Ideas — Micrometeoroid Jolts JWST, Study Finds The Perfect Wavelength to Kill COVID 6/15/2022

   Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, a micrometeoroid careened into the James Webb Space Telescope, damaging one of the mirror segments, while the Mars Ingenuity copter had a mishap of its own. Plus, scientists conducted what may be the most comprehensive study yet to determine which wavelengths best kill SARS-CoV-2.

5. A Lesson In Bioluminescence: Swimming With The Dinos 6/13/2022

   Forget swimming with the dolphins. Last month, I swam with the dinos. Well, technically, dinoflagellates. These single-cell creatures are responsible for one of nature's most captivating and inspiring phenomenon — bioluminescence — which has gone on to influence advances in medical imaging. 

6. Bright Ideas — DoD Strategic Review To Determine Space Weapon Priorities, Mitsubishi Electric Claims First Laser Terminal To Integrate Spatial Acquisition 6/8/2022

   Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, the DoD affirmed that it will supply the the Biden Administration with the results of a strategic space review that aims to determine the appropriate mix of offensive and defensive capabilities. Plus, Mitsubishi Electric claims it has developed the first laser terminal that employs both optical communication and spatial laser acquisition. 

7. State Of The Art: How XRD/XRF Reveals A Piece's Hidden Composition 6/6/2022

   The mystique of the "Salvator Mundi," a $450 million painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, has brought art authentication and preservation processes front and center for historians, critics, and auctioneers. Enter eXaminart, whose portable XRD/XRF instrument has the power to help preservation scientists — and even authenticators — virtually peel back the layers of paint to discover a piece's true origins. 

8. Bright Ideas — Russia's Latest Laser Weapon Likely All Talk, "Wonder Material" Graphyne Created 5/23/2022

   Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, a Russian official says the country's newest directed-energy laser weapon can "burn up" a target — and critics balk at the claim. Scientists are on their way to developing a usable amount of graphyne. Plus, DARPA and CACI successfully conducted optical communication between satellites in LEO.

9. What Can We Learn About Light From The Mantis Shrimp? 5/16/2022

   What can mantis shrimp and Sir Isaac Newton tell us about our understanding of light and color and what it means to see a rainbow? Relive one of my favorite episodes of Radiolab, now nearly a decade old, and what it can teach us about our gifts and our limitations. 

10. Bright Ideas — JWST and LISA Reach Milestones, Women The Focus Of New Scholarship And Industry Award 5/11/2022

    Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, NASA revealed the latest alignment and instrument setup successes for the James Webb Space Telescope. Plus, Edmund Optics and MKS Instruments put women first with the launch of a new scholarship opportunity and acceptance of an industry gender-balance award, respectively.