https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Astronomers may have just confirmed one of the quirkiest aspects of quantum mechanics: that seemingly empty space can alter the behavior of light. This phenomenon, called "vacuum birefringence," was first predicted nearly 90 years ago by Werner Heisenberg, one of the founding fathers of quantum mechanics. He suggested that even a perfect vacuum should be teeming with "virtual particles" that rapidly pop in and out of existence. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-rare-ultra-magnetic-star-key.html Astronomy Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:20:06 EDT news705226981 The task of gently transporting a microscopic particle from one point to another along a winding path, and then bringing it back using nothing more than a single, compact chip is a challenge we set out to address in our new study, now published in Nature Communications. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-optical-metaconveyors-enable-programmable-nanomanipulation.html Nanophysics Wed, 13 May 2026 18:00:02 EDT news697800686 Researchers have recently found a new way to summon useful structures in magnetic materials using light, heat, and electric fields. This new method, described in a new study published in Physical Review Letters, may lead to more energy-efficient and flexible technologies for data storage and optical devices. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-liquid-crystal-demand-skyrmions-room.html Condensed Matter Wed, 13 May 2026 12:40:02 EDT news697890165 Can light behave like a whirlwind? It turns out it can—and such "optical tornadoes" have now been created in an extremely small structure by scientists from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw, the Military University of Technology, and the Institut Pascal CNRS at Université Clermont Auvergne. This discovery opens a new pathway for creating miniature light sources with complex structures, potentially enabling the development of simpler and more scalable photonic devices in the future, for applications such as optical communication and quantum technologies. The research is published in the journal Science Advances. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-physicists-laser-tornado-miniature-synthetic.html Optics & Photonics Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:40:04 EDT news693834802 After decades of intense research, surprises in the realm of semiconductors—materials used in microchips to control electrical currents—are few and far between. But with a pair of published papers, materials engineers at Stanford University debut a promising approach to using a well-studied semiconductor to improve infrared light-emitting diodes and sensors. They say the approach could lead to smaller, sleeker, and less expensive infrared technologies for environmental, medical, and industrial uses. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-infrared-devices-century-materials.html Condensed Matter Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:20:01 EST news691948681 Lasers, devices that emit intense beams of coherent light in specific directions, are widely used in research settings and are central components of various technologies, including optical clocks (i.e., systems that can keep time relying on light waves as opposed to the vibrations of quartz crystals) and gravitational wave detections. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-ultra-stable-lasers-crystalline-mirrors.html Optics & Photonics Wed, 18 Feb 2026 08:00:03 EST news690543559 Efficient generation and reliable distribution of quantum entangled states is crucial for emerging quantum applications, including quantum key distribution (QKDs). However, conventional polarization-based entanglement states are not stable over long fiber networks. While time-bin entanglement offers a promising alternative, it requires complex infrastructure. In this study, researchers explore how stable time-bin entangled states can be generated and distributed using commercially available components, paving the way for practical quantum communication networks. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-shelf-components-enable-deployment-ready.html Optics & Photonics Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:47:57 EST news690565621 Dark matter is a type of matter that is predicted to make up most of the matter in the universe, yet it is very difficult to detect using conventional experimental techniques, as it does not emit, absorb, or reflect light. While some past studies gathered indirect hints of its existence, dark matter has never been directly observed; thus, its composition remains a mystery. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-pulsars-probe-dark.html Astronomy Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:20:01 EST news689850791 Mid- and far-infrared birefringent crystals are key functional materials for polarization control, laser technologies, and infrared photonics. However, existing materials generally suffer from limited infrared transparency, an intrinsic trade-off between large birefringence and wide transmission windows, and challenges in optical characterization due to restricted crystal dimensions. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-scientists-high-hg-based-crystal.html Condensed Matter Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:42:22 EST news688920121 A team of researchers studying the uncertainties associated with a phenomenon known as cosmic birefringence has developed a method to reduce uncertainties in its observational measurements, according to a new study published in Physical Review Letters on January 27. The study is the first to quantitatively address the uncertainty surrounding the birefringence angle, which is a crucial observational quantity that could provide clues to unknown physical theories breaking the universe's left-right symmetry, and to understanding dark matter and dark energy. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-subtle-rotations-ancient-decoding-universe.html Astronomy Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:14:25 EST news688821241 Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV, 100–200 nm) light sources are indispensable for advanced spectroscopy, quantum research, and semiconductor lithography. Although second harmonic generation (SHG) using nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals is one of the simplest and most efficient methods for generating VUV light, the scarcity of suitable NLO crystals has long been a bottleneck. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-abf-crystal-high-vacuum-ultraviolet.html Condensed Matter Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:00:34 EST news688812721 Many organisms leverage showy colors for attracting mates. Because color is a property of light (determined by its wavelength), it is easy for humans to see how these colors are used in animal courting rituals. Less obvious to humans is the polarization of light—a property of light related to the direction the wave is oriented in. Humans can't perceive polarization, which may be why we weren't aware of the interesting way cuttlefish use it to attract mates. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-cuttlefish-polarized-display-invisible-humans.html Plants & Animals Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:00:02 EST news688741069 Researchers from TU Delft and Radboud University (The Netherlands) have discovered that the two-dimensional ferroelectric material CuInP₂S₆ (CIPS) can be used to control the pathway and properties of blue and ultraviolet light like no other material can. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-material-blue-ultraviolet-advanced-chipmaking.html Condensed Matter Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:50:02 EST news684517303 An international team of researchers has developed a novel technique to efficiently excite and control highly-confined light-matter waves, known as higher-order hyperbolic phonon polaritons. Their method not only sets new records for the quality and propagation distance of these waves but also uses a sharp boundary to create a form of pseudo-birefringence, sorting and steering the waves by mode into different directions. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-exotic-nanolight.html Optics & Photonics Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:09:04 EDT news679057741 Imagine a whirlpool spinning in a river, or a tornado swirling through the sky. They don't just spin on the spot: they travel forward while maintaining that spiraling motion inside them. These twisting motions, called vortices, are powerful and organized spirals. Now, imagine light that behaves the same way: a beam of light that spins as it moves forward. This "twisted" light, known as an optical vortex, can carry more information than normal light, opening the door to faster internet and ultra-secure communications. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-ultra-thin-materials-optical-vortices.html Optics & Photonics Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:27:03 EDT news674836021 An evaporating colloidal particle–laden droplet leaves behind a ring-like residue after drying. We routinely observe this ubiquitous phenomenon for dried coffee drops; thus, it is known as the "coffee-ring effect." As a droplet evaporates, the edges dry faster than the center, pulling fluid—and suspended particles—outward. This creates a dense ring of material at the periphery of the droplet. It's a familiar sight to anyone who's spilled tea or coffee, but for scientists working on coatings and inks, this effect can be frustrating. In many applications, a uniform deposit is far more useful than a ring. https://phys.org/news/2025-07-coffee-saucer-patterns-graphene-oxide.html Nanophysics Thu, 17 Jul 2025 08:25:04 EDT news671959492 A multinational research team, including engineers from the University of Cambridge and Zhejiang University, has developed a breakthrough in miniaturized spectrometer technology that could dramatically expand the accessibility and functionality of spectral imaging in everyday devices. https://phys.org/news/2025-07-plastic-based-spectrometers-compact-solution.html Optics & Photonics Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:15:51 EDT news671444135 Scientists at the University of Oxford have unveiled a pioneering method for capturing the full structure of ultra-intense laser pulses in a single measurement. The breakthrough, published in close collaboration with Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich and the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, could revolutionize our ability to control light-matter interactions. https://phys.org/news/2025-06-scientists-technique-capturing-ultra-intense.html Optics & Photonics Thu, 26 Jun 2025 05:00:02 EDT news670068479 Infrared optoelectronic functional materials are essential for applications in lasers, photodetectors, and infrared imaging, forming the technological backbone of modern optoelectronics. Traditionally, the development of new infrared materials has relied heavily on trial-and-error experimental methods. However, these approaches can be inefficient within the extensive chemical landscape, as only a limited number of compounds can achieve a balance of several critical properties simultaneously. https://phys.org/news/2025-05-machine-approach-discovery-high-infrared.html Condensed Matter Fri, 09 May 2025 12:51:02 EDT news666013861 The Field Museum in Chicago and the Foundation for Scientific Advancement reported that sediment-encased maturation of pine resin produces a hardened, translucent substance that closely mimics natural copal and amber in appearance, texture, and chemical signature. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-scientists-lab-grown-amber-resin.html Biotechnology Wed, 26 Mar 2025 10:20:01 EDT news662202619 Long-wave infrared birefringent crystals are essential materials in infrared optical applications in fields such as infrared imaging, laser technology, and optical communications. Due to limitations in birefringence, infrared transmission, and crystal growth, high-performance long-wave infrared birefringent crystals have rarely been reported. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-oxygenation-strategy-facile-route-infrared.html Analytical Chemistry Tue, 25 Mar 2025 14:48:02 EDT news662132881 A study led by the University of Portsmouth has achieved unprecedented precision in detecting tiny shifts in light displacements at the nanoscale. This is relevant in the characterization of birefringent materials and in high-precision measurements of rotations. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-quantum-unprecedented-precision-displacement.html Optics & Photonics Thu, 20 Mar 2025 14:14:04 EDT news661698840 The ultrafast dynamics and interactions of electrons in molecules and solids have long remained hidden from direct observation. For some time now, it has been possible to study these quantum-physical processes—for example, during chemical reactions, the conversion of sunlight into electricity in solar cells and elementary processes in quantum computers—in real time with a temporal resolution of a few femtoseconds (quadrillionths of a second) using two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES). https://phys.org/news/2025-03-method-electron-motion-solids-unveiled.html Condensed Matter Tue, 11 Mar 2025 12:31:04 EDT news660915061 Terahertz (THz) waves, situated between the microwave and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, have drawn considerable attention over the past two decades. https://phys.org/news/2025-01-scientists-device-modulate-polarization-thz.html Optics & Photonics Thu, 23 Jan 2025 11:03:03 EST news656852581 In the world of modern optics, frequency combs are invaluable tools. These devices act as rulers for measuring light, enabling breakthroughs in telecommunications, environmental monitoring, and even astrophysics. But building compact and efficient frequency combs has been a challenge—until now. https://phys.org/news/2025-01-compact-gen-photonics.html Optics & Photonics Wed, 22 Jan 2025 11:00:01 EST news656756627 Copper-oxide (CuO2) superconductors, such as Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ (Bi2212), have unusually high critical temperatures. Optical reflectivity measurements of Bi2212 have shown that it exhibits strong optical anisotropy. However, this has not been studied through optical transmittance measurements, which can offer more direct insights into bulk properties. https://phys.org/news/2024-12-room-temperature-superconductivity-uncover-optical.html Optics & Photonics Thu, 12 Dec 2024 11:41:03 EST news653226061 Researchers at MIT recently published the first results of an experiment aimed at searching for axion dark matter by probing the axion-induced birefringence of electromagnetic waves. While these findings, published in Physical Review Letters, did not lead to the observation of signals associated with these hypothetical dark matter particles, they established a new technique to search for axions using a tunable optical cavity. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-results-axion-dark-birefringent-cavity.html Astronomy Fri, 18 Oct 2024 06:40:01 EDT news648301156 Advancements in quantum information technology are paving the way for faster and more efficient data transfer. A key challenge has been ensuring that qubits, the fundamental units of quantum information, can be transferred between different wavelengths without losing their essential properties, such as coherence and entanglement. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-wavelength-conversion-paves-efficient-quantum.html Optics & Photonics Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:25:03 EDT news648228301 The negative impact of human activity on Earth doesn't just affect our planet's atmosphere—it goes much deeper, into its soils. For instance, excessive application of manure or sewage sludge can increase heavy metal concentrations in agricultural land where vital crops are grown. One of these heavy metals is zinc, a micronutrient necessary for plant and animal health. In excess, however, zinc can be extremely damaging to sensitive plant species. https://phys.org/news/2024-07-reveals-key-gene-metals-soil.html Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 18 Jul 2024 16:04:59 EDT news640537495 While taking snapshots with the high-speed electron camera at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Acceleratory Laboratory, researchers discovered new behavior in an ultrathin material that offers a promising approach to manipulating light that will be useful for devices that detect, control or emit light, collectively known as optoelectronic devices, and investigating how light is polarized within a material. Optoelectronic devices are used in many technologies that touch our daily lives, including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), optical fibers and medical imaging. https://phys.org/news/2024-07-high-electron-camera-uncovers-behavior.html Nanophysics Wed, 10 Jul 2024 14:38:02 EDT news639841081