No need to “keep your eyes on the skies,” as they say. In this week’s Bright Ideas, we rely on two optical systems for our view into the unknown. Optica walks us through a wider and more detailed understanding of the James Webb Space Telescope’s incredible MIDI, or Mid-Infrared Instrument, as it prepares to deliver a never-before-seen look in the beyond.  And the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter shows us the most holistic view of the Sun to date — all thanks to its Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI).

Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, two new COVID-19 tests crop up as quicker, more dynamic alternatives to PCR and antigen methods. NASA offers up the very first images taken by its James Webb Space Telescope. And, NASA voices its concern over the growing number of Starlink satellites in LEO.

Methane gas is 25 times more potent than CO2 at locking heat in the earth’s atmosphere and has more than doubled in concentration over the past two centuries. In an effort to curb the damage done by this potent greenhouse gas, the Biden administration has urged the EPA to implement rules that further reduce methane emissions, particularly in the oil and gas industry. Rising to the challenge of identifying those methane leaks are photonics firms employing existing technologies to tackle an age-old problem in new ways. 

Bright Ideas presents the most captivating news and innovations in photonics. This week, NASA updates its launch time for the James Webb telescope, Intel opens a new photonics research center, a first-of-its-kind optical oscilloscope is created, and one scientist thinks mouse fur might have heat-sensing properties. 

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.

G&H is recognized for the diversity of their acousto-optic, electro-optic, crystal-optic, fiber optic, and precision optic products. G&H's engineers bring decades of experience, working closely with program managers at prime aerospace and defense suppliers. 

Driven by passion and precision, G&H supplies solutions to life sciences customers worldwide, supported by highly qualified people.

Driven by passion and precision, G&H engineering is found at the bottom of our oceans through to orbits in outer space.

At Photonics West 2017, Frank Weiss with G&H offered practical advice on considerations one should take into account when specifying fiber optics for deployment in rugged environments, including life cycle requirements, the pitfalls of underspecifying, and the potential headaches that can be involved in not paying close attention to export control parameters.

Hyperspectral imaging technology has advanced significantly in the last 50 years, and Greg Staples with Bayspec talked with us for a few minutes at the 2016 SPIE DCS exhibition about how it has changed.