Optical methods are experimental and analytical techniques that exploit the interaction of electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet, visible, or infrared ranges with matter to probe, manipulate, or measure physical, chemical, or biological systems. They encompass approaches such as absorption, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopy, interferometry, optical microscopy, and optical coherence tomography, relying on phenomena including reflection, refraction, diffraction, scattering, and emission. These methods provide high spatial and temporal resolution, enable non-contact and often non-destructive measurements, and are widely used for quantitative imaging, material characterization, environmental sensing, and in situ monitoring of dynamic processes in both fundamental research and applied technologies.
What do microplastics, water color, and satellites have in common? Dr. Karl Kaiser, professor of marine and coastal environmental science in the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies at Texas A&M University at Galveston ...
Environment
8 hours ago
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Light does a lot of work in the modern world, enabling all types of information technology, from TVs to satellites to fiber-optic cables that carry the internet across oceans. Stanford physicists recently found a way to make ...
Optics & Photonics
Jan 28, 2026
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Accurate measurements of surface currents are crucial for coastal monitoring, rip current detection, and predicting the path of pollutants. Several methods exist to measure surface currents, some of which are costly and time-consuming. ...
Earth Sciences
Jan 26, 2026
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Researchers at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT-Italian Institute of Technology) have developed an innovative microscopy technique capable of improving the observation of living cells. The study, published in Optics Letters, ...
Optics & Photonics
Jan 15, 2026
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Early detection of declining forest health is critical for the timely intervention and treatment of droughted and diseased flora, especially in areas prone to wildfires. Obtaining a reliable measure of whole-ecosystem health ...
Ecology
Jan 8, 2026
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A research team from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has advanced the characterization and retrieval capability evaluation of microphysical properties of Venusian clouds and haze.
Planetary Sciences
Dec 29, 2025
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Escalating pollution and contamination of water and soil are emerging as serious threats to plant growth and its overall health. Plants are exposed to environmental pollutants for extended periods and exhibit changes in their ...
Plants & Animals
Dec 15, 2025
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Photoplethysmography (PPG) is an optical sensing technique that measures blood volume changes and underpins devices ranging from hospital-grade pulse oximeters to consumer wearables that track heart rate, sleep, and oxygenation.
Optics & Photonics
Dec 10, 2025
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SINKER is an innovative new instrument equipped with advanced microscopes and cameras to collect detailed data about carbon sinking in marine snow.
Earth Sciences
Oct 30, 2025
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Can we reveal objects that are hidden in environments completely opaque to the human eye? With conventional imaging techniques, the answer is no: a dense cloud or layer of material blocks light so completely that a simple ...
Optics & Photonics
Oct 2, 2025
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