Biotechnology & Medical News

  1. Bright Ideas — “Optrodes” Could Revolutionize Prosthetics, Luminar Lidar Hits Production 11/9/2022

    Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in optics and photonics. This week, NASA finally pins down a launch date for Artemis I Moon Mission, Luminar lidar hits the production lines, "optrodes" signal possible shift in development of prosthetic limbs. 

  2. Bright Ideas — NIF Celebrates 1 Year Since 1.4 MJ Achieved, Laser-Mounted Strykers Headed For Fort Sill 8/17/2022

    Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, three new peer-reviewed papers chronicle the journey and incredible results of the National Ignition Facility's Aug. 8, 2021 shot that generated 1.3 megajoules. Plus, Army Stryker vehicles affixed with 50-kW lasers will soon be en route to a Midwest air defense battery, and DARPA picks 11 teams to enable LEO-based optical communications terminal. 

  3. 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.

  4. 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. 

  5. Researchers Take Optical Coherence Tomography To The Next Level 6/1/2022

    ​With clearer imaging and enhanced resolution, new OCT approach could improve medical diagnostic imaging.

  6. SPIE-CLP Journal Advanced Photonics Announces Annual Best Papers Recognition 5/31/2022

    Advanced Photonics, an open access journal published by SPIE, and Chinese Laser Press has presented its 2021 Editor-in-Chief Choice Awards for the best papers published in the journal.

  7. 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. 

  8. SPIE Journal "Neurophotonics" Publishes Extensive Status Report On Tools For Brain Science 4/28/2022

    “Neurophotonic tools for microscopic measurement and manipulation” is the first of two field status reports to be published by Neurophotonics this year.

  9. Deep Learning Poised to Improve Breast Cancer Imaging 2/24/2022

    ​A new algorithm allows real-time reconstruction of images that combine optical and magnetic resonance imaging data.

  10. Bright Ideas — New Photonic Chip Yields Higher-Contrast Microscopy, OCT Imaging Goes Deeper Into Skin 12/8/2021

    Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, Chinese researchers presented a new planar photonic chip that doesn’t require a "bulky" condenser or special objective to conduct darkfield or total image reflection (TIR) microscopy. A new DARPA Young Faculty Award recipient is exploring a ne way to control the propagation of light that would enhance power efficiency and thereby improve communications technologies.  And, biomedical engineers have found a way to increase optical coherence tomography (OCT) depth through the skin by 50 percent.