From The Editor

  1. The Wow! Signal: 72 Seconds That Still Remain A Mystery 9/7/2023

    The "Wow! signal" is the name given to a strong and unusual radio signal detected by Dr. Jerry R. Ehman on August 15, 1977. This signal was detected at Ohio State University's Big Ear radio telescope, which was used for the SETI program. The Wow! signal is notable for being one of the most famous and intriguing potential instances of a signal from an extraterrestrial civilization.

  2. Nuclear Dreams: The Race To Build Project Orion 9/6/2023

    ​Project Orion was a conceptual design for a spacecraft propulsion system that was developed during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Ambitious and innovative, the project's goal was to develop a spacecraft capable of carrying humans to distant destinations – including Mars and beyond – using nuclear explosions for propulsion.

  3. SWIR, MWIR, And LWIR: One Use Case For Each 8/31/2023

    SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR describe different ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum, primarily in the context of infrared (IR) radiation. All three correspond to a specific range of wavelengths within the IR spectrum, and they are commonly used in various applications including remote sensing, thermal imaging, and spectroscopy.

  4. Hyperspectral Imaging’s Role In Life Sciences 8/28/2023

    ​Hyperspectral imaging is a rapidly developing technique with a multitude of spectral imaging systems having been explored over the last few decades. These systems are being researched for their potential use in the life sciences industry.

  5. Improving The Military’s Use Of Night Vision 8/24/2023

    The use of night vision devices by the military first started in 1939. Numerous technological advances have been made since then, to the point we may soon see contact lenses provide the same advantages without the bulkiness of cumbersome headgear.

  6. NASA, ESA, And Space Photonics 8/21/2023

    The history of photonics began in 1960 with the invention of the laser. Two years later the first laser echoes reflected off the moon. Thus began the field of space photonics, enhancing on-board data handling, high-resolution measurement systems, processing units, and more.

  7. How NASA Uses High-Speed Cameras During Launch And In Flight 8/18/2023

    Artemis I was an uncrewed test flight that orbited and flew beyond the moon in late 2022. The primary goals of the mission were to demonstrate Orion's systems in a spaceflight environment and ensure a safe re-entry, descent, splashdown, and recovery. Let’s take a look at the cameras used to capture Artemis I’s launch and flight.

  8. What’s In A Name? 8/16/2023

    Did you ever wonder where the word “photonics” came from? Well, if you have, this is the article for you. If not … well … read this anyway, you just might learn something.

  9. LiDAR: Uncovering Ancient Cities And Roads, And Guiding Futuristic Robot Dogs 8/9/2023

    LiDAR can be used to map structures, improve self-driving cars, aid in disaster recovery, and a whole lot more. Let’s take a look at how it helped discover ancient cities and roads, as well as how it is helping develop robotic dogs.

  10. The Cobots Are Coming! The Cobots Are Coming! 8/7/2023

    Using 2D or 3D vision to guide robots can improve flexibility and lower costs in various industrial applications. With the rise of collaborative robots, also known as cobots, there are now more opportunities to integrate machine vision into the work environment.