From The Editor
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Everybody Loves LiDAR
10/27/2023
LiDAR – is there anything it can’t do? Invented in the 1960s on the heels of the invention of the laser, LiDAR became commercially viable in the late 1980s. Today, it’s omnipresent, allowing us to do things we’ve never seen before in ways we never imagined.
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I’m Going As A Nobel Prize Winner For Halloween
10/20/2023
This year’s batch of Nobel Laureates all seem to be fine scientists, researchers, authors, and leaders who don’t seem to have anything to do with Halloween. But don’t worry, we found some past award winners who do!
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Visualizing Combustion Dynamics: NASA And High-Speed Cameras
10/17/2023
Combustion is a chemical process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give off heat. Burning a candle, a fire in a fireplace, pressing the gas pedal … these are a few everyday examples of the result of combustion, all of which happen faster than the eye can see. NASA, however, can precisely and accurately study combustion through the use of high-speed cameras.
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Using IR At The Border To Fight … The Canadian Cartel?
10/12/2023
Infrared is used at the border for surveillance, detecting people or vehicles crossing the border, and detecting disguises at security checkpoints. Could it have helped take down the Maple Mafia?
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My Flex Sig, Fiber Optics, And OCT
10/5/2023
Fiber optics are omnipresent in medicine, helping improve procedures and outcomes. Here we dig into one specific technology making use of fiber optics: optical coherence tomography. As a bonus, you also get to read about my flexible sigmoidoscopy, performed nearly 30 years ago and burned into my mind forever.
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NIRS: A Quick And Easy Way To Detect Allergens
10/3/2023
A University of Illinois study used near-infrared spectroscopy to detect allergens in quinoa flour. The method is highly accurate and researchers say it will not be difficult to develop low-cost miniature sensors based on their methodology.
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Clear Vision: Optical Coatings, Rain Sensors, And Safer Roads
9/26/2023
Rain sensors play a critical role in the automotive industry, enhancing safety while driving. Optical coatings, thin layers applied to optical components to control light reflection, transmission, and absorption, help rain sensors do their thing.
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Optifab 2023: Who, What, Where, When, And Why
9/22/2023
Rochester, New York will be the site for SPIE Optifab 2023. Check out all you need to know about North America’s largest optical manufacturing conference and exhibition.
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24 Ways Biophotonics Improves Medical Imaging And Robotic Surgery
9/19/2023
Biophotonics, when applied to medical imaging or robotic surgery, significantly advances healthcare by offering a multifaceted approach to diagnosis, treatment, and surgery while improving patient care and outcomes.
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Why Connected Cars Are A Privacy Nightmare
9/15/2023
When it comes to connected cars and privacy consider this: sex toys typically provide more detailed security information about their products. So, when your privacy policies and protections are worse than those of a sex toy, you might have a problem.